Patch 7.38c has landed with a flurry of minor adjustments, but within those walls of text lie some clear victors—and a few unfortunate casualties. Whether you’re grinding ranked or prepping for pro play, it’s crucial to know who’s been powered up and who got quietly left behind.
This article breaks down the heroes and items that gained the most, and those that may see a steep fall from favor.
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Winners: Heroes Rising in Power and Utility
Keeper of the Light (Kotl)
Kotl’s buffs focused on mana regeneration and spell flexibility, making him a versatile pick for both support and core roles.
Whether played as a lane support or a mid-pushing tempo core, Kotl now brings more sustainability and longer-range utility to teamfights.
Windranger
+3 base damage sounds small, but for Windranger, it’s huge. Her laning just got sharper, and her right-click build even more viable.
This opens the door for mid or offlane WR to come back into themeta with more bite.
Silencer
Now gaining six stolen intelligence stacks when enemies die while silenced, Silencer is more rewarding and more terrifying in mid-to-late fights.
Silencer is no longer just a lane annoyance—he scales harder than before and punishes mispositioning severely.
Sniper
Changes to channeling mean Assassinate is no longer interrupted by item usage like Glimmer Cape. Combined with minor mana fixes, Sniper is just smoother.
He’s still fragile, but the quality-of-life improvements may help him carve out a niche in the right drafts.
Losers: Nerfs That Might Hurt (or Kill)
Tinker
The nerf? A 2% reduction in Aghanim’s Scepter size and a 10 mana increase on Defense Matrix.
Though not a direct downgrade, the lack of meaningful changes means Tinker remains problematic—but Valve’s unwillingness to fix him may ironically be the biggest nerf. Expect continued bans.
Dazzle
Dazzle lost his +90 Attack Speed talent, which was a core part of his DPS and hybrid carry potential.
He’s still a great support with strong healing and armor shred, but his damage ceiling got chopped.
Void Spirit
No longer leashing enemies with Aether Remnant and now suffering slower cast speeds, Void Spirit feels gutted.
Expect a massive drop-off in play until he receives a serious rework.
Wraith King
A buff in theory—his skeletons got cooldown reductions—but his level 10 talent was removed, and it hurts more than it helps.
He remains a safe pick, but don’t expect Wraith King to dominate drafts.
On the Fence: Heroes That Could Go Either Way
Juggernaut
He received solid buffs, including improvements to healing and some minor damage scaling—but not enough to guarantee meta relevance.
But “surely” doesn’t always mean success. We’ll have to see how it plays out in competitive matches.
Enchantress
She got a 50 HP reduction, which many believe is a joke compared to her laning dominance.
Still broken? Possibly. But pros may test other picks given this light tap.
Patch 7.38c didn’t redefine the game, but it has quietly reshuffled the tier list. Windranger, Kotl, Silencer, and others are ready to make a comeback—while Void Spirit, Tinker, and Dazzle will need to find new footing.
Whether you’re drafting for ranked or just trying new strats, keep your eye on the patch notes—and the reactions. Sometimes, the smallest changes make the biggest waves.
FAQs
Q: Which hero was buffed the most?
A: Likely Windranger or Silencer due to impactful stat and ability scaling changes.
Q: Which hero got nerfed the hardest?
A: Void Spirit, who lost his core crowd control mechanic.
Q: Is Tinker still broken?
A: Yes. Despite the patch note, his playstyle and output remain untouched.
Q: Should I stop picking Dazzle?
A: No—but don’t expect to carry games with right-clicks anymore.
Q: What item changes affected these heroes the most?
A: Glimmer Cape now working mid-channel helps supports like Sniper and Kotl significantly.
