While much of the attention in Dota 2 Patch 7.38c went to nerfs, several heroes received low-key buffs that could have a serious impact on upcoming games. Whether it’s returning forgotten faces to the mid lane or boosting the viability of fringe picks, these changes might just redefine which heroes sneak into your pubs—or even pro drafts.

Let’s take a look at the top underrated buffs and what they could mean for Dota’s evolving landscape.

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Templar Assassin: A Surprising Mid Lane Resurgence?

After being left out of the meta for quite some time, Templar Assassin has received meaningful buffs:

  • Refraction instances increased from 2/3/4/5 to 3/4/5/6.
  • Lower cooldown on Refraction.

Combined with recent buffs to Desolator (+5 bonus damage), TA may be on the verge of a comeback.

These changes boost her laning phase, farming efficiency, and overall survivability. Players who enjoy snowballing tempo mids should definitely revisit TA.

Silencer: Smarter and Deadlier Than Ever

Silencer’s innate ability, Brain Drain, received a logic fix thatactually works as a quality-of-life buff:

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  • Intelligence is now stolen even if Silencer is out of range, as long as the enemy dies while affected by one of his debuffs.

This means smarter positioning, more flexibility, and reliable scaling into the mid and late game.

Wraith King: Buffed for Bone Guard Dominance

Wraith King hasn’t been in the spotlight for a while, but his Bone Guard facet received a round of buffs worth paying attention to:

  • Skeletons last longer.
  • Cooldown reduced.
  • Level 10 Talent removed—now gains the key effect earlier.

This could make Wraith King a great pick for players who struggle with early farm patterns or need a tanky frontliner that scales with minimal micromanagement.

Ringmaster: A Case for Sideshow Secrets

The newer hero Ringmaster remains a novelty, but his Sideshow Secrets facet just got more enticing:

  • Crystal Ball now reveals exact positions of enemies.
  • Unicycle is less fragile (not canceled by terrain, bumps, or minor damage).
  • Weighted Pie slows enemy movement by 45%.

With smarter initiation tools and improved chase/escape, Ringmaster may actually begin to see serious experimentation in coordinated stacks.

While Tiny’s Grow damage was slightly reduced at higher levels, the movement speed bonus was tweaked to be stronger at level 1:

  • Movement bonus changed from 10/20/30% to 15/20/25%.

This may encourage players to experiment with mobility items like Harpoon or Silver Edge earlier, helping Tiny rotate or farm more aggressively.

Tiny’s core build (Echo Sabre, Shard, BKB, Harpoon) still fits, but the patch gives him more nuance and faster tempo potential.

Conclusion: The Hidden Strengths of 7.38c

While the spotlight has been on hero nerfs, Patch 7.38c quietly empowered a handful of heroes that could thrive in the current meta:

  • Templar Assassin can dominate tempo again.
  • Silencer gains more consistency.
  • Wraith King and Ringmaster offer creative options.
  • Tiny remains a strong and versatile threat.

If you’re looking to surprise your enemies—or just spice up your ranked grind—now is the time to experiment with these sleeper picks.

Patch 7.38c might not have shifted the meta dramatically, but those who read between the lines will find underrated power in overlooked places. Will you be the first to capitalize?

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FAQs

Q: Is Templar Assassin viable again in 7.38c?

A: Yes, thanks to increased Refraction charges and a Desolator buff. Great pick for snowball mid players.

Q: What changed for Silencer in this patch?

A: His Brain Drain now gives intelligence from kills affected by debuffs—even if he’s out of range.

Q: Should I try Ringmaster now?

A: Definitely. With buffs to his souvenirs, he has more tools for outplay and initiation.

Q: Did Tiny get buffed or nerfed?

A: Slight nerfs to late-game Grow, but early mobility was buffed. Still a strong core.

Q: What’s Wraith King’s best build now?

A: Bone Guard facet with jungle rotation is very effective. Armlet or Radiance as first core.