Massive Map Changes and New Mechanics in Patch 7.38
Dota 2’s latest major update, Patch 7.38, introduces a host of changes that significantly alter the game’s landscape. This is not just a balance update—this is a complete shake-up with map changes, new neutral item mechanics, hero adjustments, and more. If you’re a dedicated Dota 2 player, this patch is something you’ll want to dive into right away.
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The Map Overhaul: Roshan, Tormentors, and More
Valve has introduced major map changes, including shifts in Roshan’s location, river mechanics, and how certain objectives function.
“Roshan is now in the middle of the map. Funny enough, when it changes from day to night or night to day, it will run across the middle of the map which is really bizarre. You can get bumped by it.”
– GameLeap
Roshan’s New Behavior
- Roshan now moves across the map at specific times, potentially interfering with fights or objectives.
- New disarm ability added to Roshan’s skillset, making fights more challenging.
- Roshan will now pick up and throw heroes it collides with, adding an unexpected layer of chaos.
The River and Speed Boosts
- The river now has a current that affects movement speed.
- Moving downstream grants a speed boost, while moving upstream remains neutral.
Wisdom and Lotus Run Changes
- These runes now require capture time, meaning you need to stand in the zone uncontested to claim them.
- This change prevents supports or high-ping players from getting out-clicked in crucial rune fights.
Neutral Items: A New Crafting System
Neutral items have undergone a complete transformation, shifting from random drops to a crafting system.
How It Works
- At minute 5and every 10 minutes thereafter, heroes gain shards from neutral camps.
- These shards allow you to craft neutral items, rather than relying on random drops.
- You get three shards per camp clear—two for the player and one for a random teammate.
This system ensures greater strategic choice, as players can now build neutral items that fit their playstyle instead of relying on luck.
“You get to choose one of these items that will give you some sort of active or passive buff, and then the stats are something you can choose.” – GameLeap
This adds a new layer of strategy, making the neutral item meta even deeper than before.
Tormentors: A More Valuable Objective
The Tormentor system has been reworked to provide significant gold and healing, making it a more important objective in every game.
- Spawns at minute 15 (minute 7:30 in Turbo mode).
- Grants 250 gold to every team member.
- Still provides an Aghanim’s Shard to a random hero.
- If all team members already have Shards, it grants 280 bonus gold instead.
With such high gold payouts, Tormentors have become a high-priority objective, sometimes even more valuable than Roshan in the early game.
Universal Hero Nerfs and Other Core Changes
Universal heroes, which gained bonus damage from stats, have been nerfed.
- Stat efficiency reduced, meaning buying attributes is now less effective.
- Base attributes have been compensated slightly, but scaling is weaker.
- This change affects heroes like Abaddon, Chen, and others who relied on attribute scaling.
Other mechanical updates include:
- Skill points can now be spent on stats at level 2 instead of level 6.
- Reflected spells now retain buffs from the original caster.
- Slow resistance now affects minimum movement speed, making slow-resist heroes even harder to pin down.
Quality of Life Changes: Better UI and New Features
Patch 7.38 introduces several new UI and gameplay enhancements to make life easier for players:
- Roshan’s status is now visible on the UI, eliminating the need for manual tracking.
- New Backpack Grace Period: When you receive an item during a fight, there’s a 3-second grace period before it goes inactive.
- Better visual indicators for item effects, making it easier to track spells like Glimmer Cape and Lotus Orb.
These small but impactful changes improve the user experience without altering core gameplay too much.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Dota 2 Patch 7.38
How does the new neutral item system work in Dota 2?
Neutral items no longer drop randomly. Instead, at minute 5 and every 10 minutes thereafter, heroes earn shards from neutral camps, which can be used to craft a desired neutral item.
Where is Roshan located in Dota 2 Patch 7.38?
Roshan now starts in the middle of the map and moves at day/night transitions. He can also bump into players, throwing them and dealing damage.
What is the biggest change to the Dota 2 map in this patch?
One of the biggest changes is that the river now has a current, giving heroes a speed boost when moving downstream. Additionally, runes like Wisdom and Lotus now require standing in a capture zone to be claimed.
Are Tormentors still important in Dota 2?
Yes, even more than before! Tormentors now grant 250 gold to all teammates, in addition to an Aghanim’s Shard, making them a crucial objective.
What are the biggest universal hero nerfs in Patch 7.38?
Universal heroes now gain less bonus damage from stats, making attribute-based scaling much weaker. To compensate, base attributes have been slightly adjusted.
How does the new Backpack Grace Period work?
When you receive an item mid-fight, there is now a 3-second grace period before it becomes inactive in your backpack. This allows quick swaps without cooldown penalties.
How do Wisdom and Lotus runes work now?
Instead of simply clicking to pick them up, players must stand inside a zone uncontested for a short period to claim them. This change encourages more fights around these objectives.
What does Roshan’s new disarm ability do?
Roshan now disarms heroes for two seconds when he roars, making fights around him more challenging.
What are the key UI improvements in Patch 7.38?
- Roshan’s spawn status is now visible on the UI.
- Better visual indicators for item effects like Glimmer Cape.
- A new system for tracking power rune, wisdom rune, and bounty rune timers.
How has slow resistance changed in Patch 7.38?
Slow resistance now affects minimum movement speed, meaning slowed heroes will move faster than before if they have slow resistance items or talents.
