posted by Smyke,
Since 7.20 finally hit the server, we have already had three patches to balance the heroes. Now, a fourth update has been released. Four items received nerfs, while 34 heroes were balanced in the new patch.




Wraith Band, Bracer, Null Talisman and Power Treads — four items were changed in 7.20e, and all of them nerfed. Meanwhile 14 of the balanced heroes got nerfed in the new patch.


Phantom Assassin is one of the heroes that was changed most — all four abilities received nerfs:

  • Phantom Assassin: Phantom Strike duration reduced from 2.25 to 2
  • Phantom Assassin: Stifling Dagger mana cost increased from 30/25/20/15 to 30
  • Phantom Assassin: Coup de Grace critical damage reduced from 210/330/450% to 200/325/450%
  • Phantom Assassin: Blur mana cost increased from 30 to 50



These are major updates that could drastically reduce the pick rate of the carry hero. Before 7.20 PA was on a solid pick rate of 25%, and since the changes he's been picked around 41% of the time.


Meanwhile, Lone Druid himself was nerfed, but his Bear got some important buffs:

  • Lone Druid: Base movement speed reduced from 340 to 330
  • Lone Druid: Spirit Bear movement speed increased from 340/350/360/370 to 340/355/370/385
  • Lone Druid: Level 10 Talent reduced from +150 Attack Range to +125
  • Lone Druid: Level 20 Talent improved from -0.2 Spirit Bear Base Attack Time to -0.3


While they reduced the movement speed of LD, his Bear will move faster in the new patch. They also balanced his talent tree once again in favour of the Bear.


Dazzle is being picked in core positions more and more in the new patch, although he's one of the most traditional support heroes in the game. IceFrog didn't forget about him in the new patch:

  • Dazzle: Poison Touch cast range reduced from 600/700/800/900 to 500/600/700/800
  • Dazzle: Poison Touch manacost increased from 80/100/120/140 to 95/110/125/140
  • Dazzle: Shallow Grave cooldown increased from 60/45/30/15 to 60/46/32/18


While Poison Touch has been very strong lately, Valve tried to nerf it by increasing the mana cost and reducing the cast range. Is it enough to reduce the hero's viability in a carry position?


Here are the complete patch notes:


Dota 2 Update - December 9th, 2018:



Items:
  • Wraith Band: Bonus agility reduced from +8 to +6 (cost reduced by 25)
  • Bracer: Bonus strength reduced from +8 to +6 (cost reduced by 25)
  • Null Talisman: Bonus intelligence reduced from +8 to +6 (cost reduced by 25)
  • Power Treads: Bonus damage reduced from 16 to 12



Heroes:
  • Anti-Mage: Counterspell duration reduced from 1.4 to 1.2
  • Anti-Mage: Counterspell mana cost increased from 40 to 45/50/55/60
  • Beastmaster: Level 25 Talent reduced from +40 Inner Beast Attack Speed to +30
  • Brewmaster: Drunken Brawler critical damage reduced from 200/220/240/260% to 170/200/230/260%
  • Brewmaster: Drunken Brawler cooldown increased from 20/19/18/17 to 23/21/19/17
  • Bristleback: Strength gain increased from 2.2 to 2.5
  • Bristleback: Bristleback now considers damage from towers as valid
  • Chaos Knight: Chaos Strike lifesteal increased from 35/45/55/65% to 50/55/60/65%
  • Dark Seer: Surge speed reduced from 36/54/72/90% to 30/45/60/75%
  • Dazzle: Poison Touch cast range reduced from 600/700/800/900 to 500/600/700/800
  • Dazzle: Poison Touch mana cost increased from 80/100/120/140 to 95/110/125/140
  • Dazzle: Shallow Grave cooldown increased from 60/45/30/15 to 60/46/32/18
  • Death Prophet: Spirit Siphon charge replenish time reduced from 60/55/50/45 to 60/52/44/36
  • Death Prophet: Exorcism damage increased from 56-61 to 59-64
  • Ember Spirit: Strength increased from 20 + 2.4 to 21 + 2.6
  • Grimstroke: Ink Swell max stun duration reduced from 1.7/2.4/3.1/3.8 to 1.4/2.2/3/3.8
  • Grimstroke: Soulbind cooldown increased from 90/70/50 to 100/75/50
  • Gyrocopter: Agility gain increased from 2.8 to 3.1
  • Huskar: Level 10 Talent reduced from +20 Damage to +15
  • Juggernaut: Omnislash bonus damage from 30/45/60 to 30/40/50
  • Keeper of the Light: Will-O-Wisp off period increased from 1.75 to 1.85
  • Keeper of the Light: Will-O-Wisp AoE increased from 650 to 675
  • Lifestealer: Agility gain increased from 1.9 to 2.4
  • Lina: Base armor increased by 1
  • Lone Druid: Base movement speed reduced from 340 to 330
  • Lone Druid: Spirit Bear movement speed increased from 340/350/360/370 to 340/355/370/385
  • Lone Druid: Level 10 Talent reduced from +150 Attack Range to +125
  • Lone Druid: Level 20 Talent improved from -0.2 Spirit Bear Base Attack Time to -0.3
  • Magnus: Empower bonus damage reduced from 20/30/40/50 to 10/20/30/40%
  • Magnus: Empower cleave reduced from 20/38/56/74% to 14/34/54/74%
  • Magnus: Reverse Polarity cooldown increased from 120 to 130
  • Night Stalker: Dark Ascension cooldown reduced from 160/140/120 to 140/130/120
  • Outworld Devourer: Equilibrium mana restore from 80/100/120/140% to 65/90/115/140%
  • Phantom Assassin: Phantom Strike duration reduced from 2.25 to 2
  • Phantom Assassin: Stifling Dagger mana cost increased from 30/25/20/15 to 30
  • Phantom Assassin: Coup de Grace critical damage reduced from 210/330/450% to 200/325/450%
  • Phantom Assassin: Blur mana cost increased from 30 to 50
  • Puck: Base armor increased by 1
  • Puck: Illusory Orb cooldown reduced from 14/13/12/11 to 13/12/11/10
  • Queen of Pain: Agility increased from 18 + 2 to 22 + 2.2
  • Queen of Pain: Scream of Pain mana cost reduced from 110/120/130/140 to 95/110/125/140
  • Riki: Base damage increased by 3
  • Sand King: Sand Storm damage reduced from 25/50/75/100 to 20/40/60/80
  • Shadow Fiend: Base armor increased by 1
  • Slark: Level 20 talent reduced from +1.5s Pounce Leash to +1.25s
  • Spectre: Haunt illusion damage increased from 40/55/70% to 40/60/80%
  • Storm Spirit: Base damage increased by 2
  • Sven: Base movement speed increased from 290 to 295
  • Sven: Warcry shield health is 25% stronger on your hero
  • Terrorblade: Metamorphosis movement speed loss increased from 25 to 30
  • Undying: Flesh Golem cooldown increased from 110 to 125
  • Undying: Level 10 Talent reduced from +10 Health Regen to +8
  • Ursa: Base movement speed increased from 305 to 315
  • Venomancer: Poison Nova damage increased from 30/55/80 to 40/65/90



What changes did Valve miss? Which hero should be balanced better?




Photo credit: Twitter - @wykrhm

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