posted by Malystryx.GDS,
A new balance patch has landed ahead of the start of the new season bestowing buffs on some underplayed heroes including the likes of Lion and Tiny. Buffed Heroes

Tiny and Lion the big winners of 7.06F
The two heroes to receive quite significant buffs are Tiny and Lion. Lion's level 20 talent has been changed to +300 Finger of Death Damage, which means if you have the Aghs upgrade which allows you to hit multiple opponents in the vicinity you will be even more lethal.

His stun duration was also buffed at levels 1, 2 and 3. If you're a fan of Lion this change should hopefully make you smile at the potential carnage you could cause with a Dark Seer by your side.

Lion: Earth Spike stun duration increased from 1.1/1.6/2.1/2.6 to 1.4/1.8/2.2/2.6
Lion: Level 20 Talent changed from +8% Spell Amplification to +300 Finger of Death Damage


Tiny on the other hand received two straight buffs which was much needed considering how little the hero is used competitively.

Not only does his Toss now cost less to cast but his attack range has been almost doubled when in possession of an Aghanim's Scepter. The combination of Avalanche into Toss was quite mana heavy early on but the reduction from 120 to 90/100/110/120

Tiny: Toss manacost reduced from 120 to 90/100/110/120
Tiny: Grow Scepter attack range bonus increased from 85 to 150


Windranger buff not all its cracked up to be?
Windranger has remained a very niche pick for quite a period of time with ro Omar 'w33haa' Aliwi probably the only player keen on the markswoman of the woods.

The latest patch has improved Shackleshot stun duration quite significantly at lower levels but unfortunately the cooldown on the spell has been increased from a flat 12 seconds to 18/16/14/12. So you're going to be rewarded more for landing a Shackleshot but you will have less opportunities to do so at lower levels, which makes it seem unlikely more people will play the hero. Tell us what you think in the comments. Overall buff or nerf?

Windranger: Shackles duration increased from 1.5/2.25/3/3.75 to 2.0/2.6/3.2/3.8
Windranger: Shackles cooldown increased from 12 to 18/16/14/12


Nerfed Heroes
As usual some popular picks of the last patch - in particular TI7 - have been slightly nerfed. One standout hero of the International 7 was Lich, which was also part of the Liquid draft that ended their series 3-0 against Newbee in the Grand Finals.

The nerf to his Ice Armor slow is fairly negligible but the fact Chain Frost now no longer applies a ministun is a BIG deal. The ministun made escaping or casting spells a pain for people caught by it but now it will far more easy to deal with.

Lich: Chain Frost no longer applies a ministun
Lich: Ice Armor slow from 30% to 24/26/28/30%


Earthshaker was the most picked hero at TI7, and the support hero became first ban material especially against the eventual winners Team Liquid, so a nerf coming his way was almost inevitable.

Not only has his primary stun Fissure increased in cooldown but also Enchant Totem which was essentially spammable due to its non-existent mana cost, is now far more mana intensive at the lower levels.

Earthshaker: Fissure cooldown increased from 15 to 18/17/16/15
Earthshaker: Enchant Totem manacost increased from 20/30/40/50 to 35/40/45/50



Item changes
Mask of Madness: Armor reduction increased from -5 to -6
Mask of Madness: Cooldown increased from 20 to 22
Helm of the Dominator: Attack Speed Aura increased from 10 to 15
Force Staff: Cast range reduced from 800 to 750
Diffusal Blade: Agility reduced from 25/35 to 20/30

Entire Hero changes (in alphabetical order)
Ancient Apparition: Ice Blast manacost increased from 100/125/150 to 150
Bane: Base Strength, Agility and Intelligence increased by 1
Bane: Nightmare cast point reduced from 0.5 to 0.4
Batrider: Firefly manacost increased from 100 to 125
Bloodseeker: Rupture manacost increased from 150/200/250 to 200/225/250
Chen: Hand of God heal increased from 225/350/475 to 250/375/500
Earthshaker: Fissure cooldown increased from 15 to 18/17/16/15
Earthshaker: Enchant Totem manacost increased from 20/30/40/50 to 35/40/45/50
Lich: Chain Frost no longer applies a ministun
Lich: Ice Armor slow from 30% to 24/26/28/30%
Lion: Earth Spike stun duration increased from 1.1/1.6/2.1/2.6 to 1.4/1.8/2.2/2.6
Lion: Level 20 Talent changed from +8% Spell Amplification to +300 Finger of Death Damage
Lycan: Howl no longer provides a net heal on buff application/loss (always maintains the same HP percentage now)
Nature's Prophet: Base movement speed reduced from 295 to 290
Nature's Prophet: Sprout flying vision reduced from 750 to 500
Necrophos: Reaper's Scythe cooldown increased from 90/80/70 to 100
Necrophos: Ghost Shroud magic resistance penalty increased from -20% to -25%
Nightstalker: Darkness duration reduced from 50 to 40
Nyx Assassin: Base damage reduced by 3
Puck: Illusory Orb flying vision reduced from 550 to 450
Shadow Demon: Level 15 Talent from +8% Spell Amplification to +10%
Shadow Demon: Level 15 Talent from +75 Cast Range to +100
Skywrath Mage: Mystic Flare manacost reduced from 350/575/800 to 300/550/800
Skywrath Mage: Level 15 Talent increased from +10% Spell Lifesteal to +15%
Spectre: Haunt illusion damage increased from 30% to 40%
Spirit Breaker: Base movement speed reduced from 290 to 285
Sven: Stormbolt stun duration reduced from 2 to 1.7/1.8/1.9/2.0
Sven: Warcry cooldown increased from 34/28/22/16 to 35/30/25/20
Tiny: Toss manacost reduced from 120 to 90/100/110/120
Tiny: Grow Scepter attack range bonus increased from 85 to 150
Undying: Tombstone attacks required increased from 3/4/5/7 to 4/5/6/8
Venomancer: Plague Wards vision reduced from 1200/800 to 800/800
Windranger: Shackles duration increased from 1.5/2.25/3/3.75 to 2.0/2.6/3.2/3.8
Windranger: Shackles cooldown increased from 12 to 18/16/14/12
Winter Wyvern: Level 15 Talent increased from +20 Movement Speed to +35
Winter Wyvern: Level 15 Talent increased from +50 Damage to +75
Wraith King: Reincarnation cooldown reduced from 240/140/40 to 200/120/40
Wraith King: Level 15 Talent increased from +15 Movement Speed to +30

Which change stands out for you?

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