Dota 2’s latest patch, 7.38b, has sent shockwaves through the competitive landscape, shaking up the tier list with significant nerfs and buffs. While many of the top picks from 7.38 and 7.37e have been hit with the nerf hammer, some heroes remain dominant, and others have risen to prominence. If you’re looking to climb MMR or gain an edge in your ranked games, understanding the new meta is crucial.

From the resurgence of Ember Spirit to the continued dominance of Storm Spirit and Huskar, we’ll break down the best heroes in this patch and how to play them effectively. Let’s dive in!

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The Return of Ember Spirit

One of the biggest winners in Patch 7.38b is Ember Spirit. Despite some minor nerfs, he remains a force to be reckoned with due to his mobility, burst potential, and item synergy.

“What made him powerful is still relevant—his ability to easily gank around the map and quickly return back to his lane with his Fire Remnants.” — Torte De Lini

Why Ember Spirit is Strong

  • The 7.38 Bottle Change allows Ember to teleport back to base, refill his bottle, and instantly return to lane with Fire Remnant.
  • The Orb of Corrosion rework benefits him greatly, enhancing his harassment potential in the mid lane.
  • Mage Slayer + Flame Guard combo increases survivability and adds significant damage reduction.
  • Sanji and Yasha boost both movement speed and tankiness, making Ember Spirit even harder to bring down.

While he struggles against some of the patch’s meta carries, Ember excels at shutting down mid heroes like Invoker and Storm Spirit, making him a strong pick for midlane dominance.

Storm Spirit and Huskar: Mid Lane Powerhouses

If you thought Storm Spirit was going anywhere, think again. The hero remains a top-tier midlaner, with little to no direct nerfs in 7.38b.

“Not a single change to Storm Spirit. He still dominates mid and rotates for easy kills.” — Torte De Lini

Storm Spirit’s Strengths in 7.38b

  • Ball Lightning mobility makes him hard to pin down.
  • Galvanized and innate ability synergy offer incredible mana regeneration, enabling aggressive rotations.
  • Counters most mid heroes, except for Huskar and Invoker.

Huskar’s Resurgence

Huskar has become a major counter to Storm Spirit and Ember Spirit, thanks to his new facet, Cauterize. This facet provides survivability even when skipping Black King Bar, making him even deadlier.

“Huskar is a great answer for tempo lineups, and his lane domination remains unrivaled.” — Torte De Lini

  • Innate life regeneration from Berserker’s Blood allows him to sustain through harass.
  • Helm of the Iron Will first item makes him nearly unkillable in lane.
  • Aghanim’s Scepter forces enemies to attack him, shutting down slippery heroes like Ember Spirit.

Bounty Hunter: The Undying Assassin

Despite only minor buffs, Bounty Hunter continues to be a menace in 7.38b, thriving in the newly expanded map.

“With sentries covering less space and jungle camps being more spread out, Bounty Hunter has more room to hunt.” — Torte De Lini

Why Bounty Hunter is Thriving

  • Increased damage amplification on Track means he snowballs even harder from early kills.
  • Stronger synergy with gank-heavy heroes like Night Stalker and Queen of Pain.
  • Through and Through facet boosts late-game damage, making him relevant even when playing from afar.

Shadow Shaman: The Ultimate Disabler

Another hero who has seen a surprising surge in power is Shadow Shaman, thanks to his new facet, Chicken Fingers.

“Shadow Shaman now gets a free Hex on his attack every 15 seconds—making him even more annoying to deal with.” — Torte De Lini

What Makes Shadow Shaman OP?

  • Hex into Shackles combo can completely lock down heroes like Slark and Phantom Assassin before they can react.
  • Level 15 talent applies Break on Hex, shutting down passives like Lifestealer’s Rage.
  • New Aghanim’s Scepter upgrade allows him to shackle allies while damaging enemies.

With the right setup, Shadow Shaman is now one of the deadliest supports in the game, making him a must-pick in many drafts.

Slark and Ursa: The New Carry Kings

Patch 7.38b has created space for some fresh faces in the carry role, with Slark and Ursa emerging as top-tier picks.

Slark’s Strengths

  • Silver Edge build counters Lifestealer and Dragon Knight by breaking their passives.
  • New Orb of Corrosion enhances his ability to snowball with Essence Shift.
  • Dark Pact and Depth Shroud allow for safe engagements and disengagements.

Ursa’s Comeback

Ursa has benefited from nerfs to Tiny and Dragon Knight, making space for his aggressive laning presence.

“Ursa shrugs off crowd control thanks to Enrage’s dispel and his upgraded Earthshock.” — Torte De Lini

  • Natural counter to tanky offlaners like Dark Seer and Dawnbreaker.
  • Insane lockdown potential with Basher and Abyssal Blade synergy.
  • High tempo playstyle punishes weak early-game carries.

Honorable Mentions: Dark Seer and Queen of Pain

Two heroes that are quietly climbing the ranks are Dark Seer and Queen of Pain.

  • Dark Seer’s early Vanguard into Halberd build forces fights where enemies lack spell immunity.
  • Queen of Pain’s new Succubus innate ability enhances her already strong laning and ganking potential.

Patch 7.38b has brought some exciting shifts to the meta, with new faces emerging while old favorites remain strong. Whether you’re looking to dominate mid with Ember Spirit, control fights with Shadow Shaman, or snowball with Bounty Hunter, now is the time to refine your picks and strategies.

Who are your go-to heroes in 7.38b? Let us know in the comments!

FAQs About Dota 2 Patch 7.38b

Q: Is Ember Spirit still a good pick in 7.38b?

A: Yes! Despite slight nerfs, he remains a strong midlaner with powerful ganking potential and excellent item synergy.

Q: Which carries are best in this patch?

A: Slark and Ursa are dominating the carry role, with Slark countering tanky heroes and Ursa excelling in lane aggression.

Q: How does Huskar counter Storm Spirit?

A: Huskar’s Aghanim’s Scepter forces Storm Spirit to attack him, preventing him from using Ball Lightning to escape.

Q: Is Bounty Hunter viable in high-rank games?

A: Yes! His increased Track gold and better jungle maneuverability make him a valuable pick in the right hands.