Dota 2 Patch 7.38 has brought major changes to the game, shaking up the carry role and making some heroes significantly stronger while leaving others in the dust. If you want to dominate your ranked games, knowing which heroes to pick (and which to avoid) is crucial.

“We’re going to be going over our carry tier list here, talking about the worst heroes that are carries and the best carries in the game.” — Speed, GameLeap

In this tier list, we break down the strongest and weakest carries in Patch 7.38 to help you climb the MMR ladder with ease.

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E-Tier: Avoid These Carries

Some heroes have been hit hard by nerfs and are no longer viable in the current meta. Unless you’re a specialist, steer clear of these heroes:

  • Lina – “This hero was gutted completely. It was already bad, and now it’s even worse.”
  • Templar Assassin (TA) – A high-skill hero that requires extreme game knowledge and doesn’t scale well in most pub games.

D-Tier: Too Difficult or Weak for Most Players

These heroes can work in the right hands, but their high skill cap or recent nerfs make them unreliable picks for most players:

  • Windranger – Primarily played as a support now.
  • Chaos Knight (CK) – His win rate has plummeted after the patch.
  • Terrorblade – “Too technical, requires strong micro and perfect timing to shine.”
  • Bristleback – Should be played as an offlaner rather than a carry.
  • Morphling – “Way too hard to play unless you’re a specialist.”

C-Tier: Situational Picks

These heroescan be decent choices in the right circumstances, but they lack consistency:

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  • Phantom Assassin (PA) – Nerfed crit damage and worse scaling make her an underwhelming carry.
  • Faceless Void – Strong in team fights, but his numbers aren’t great in this patch.
  • Ursa – Weird mid-game timing where he needs too many items to be effective.
  • Pudge – “Rotten Limbs facet could make him viable, but no one has figured out the best build yet.”

B-Tier: Solid, But Not Overpowered

These heroes are decent picks, but they either require good execution or are overshadowed by stronger options:

  • Naga Siren – Strong in specific combos like Dark Seer + Jakiro.
  • Troll Warlord – Battle Fury buffs help, but he remains situational.
  • Bloodseeker – Still viable, but his scaling took a hit.
  • Slark – “Has some really good meta matchups that make him viable.”
  • Clinkz – “A great pub hero thanks to invisibility and strong scaling.”

A-Tier: Strong and Reliable Picks

These heroes are consistently strong in Patch 7.38 and should be picked if available:

  • Wraith King – His Bone Guard facet makes him one of the safest carries in the game.
  • Medusa – “Venomous Volley + Manta build is still strong, even after nerfs.”
  • Tiny – “Incredibly tanky, amazing talents, and strong scaling into the late game.”
  • Dragon Knight (DK) – Even after nerfs, DK remains a top-tier scaling hero.

S-Tier: The Best Carries in Patch 7.38

These heroes are undisputedly the strongest in the meta and will give you the best chance to win games:

1. Abaddon

  • The highest win rate carry in the game.
  • Extremely easy to play and hard to kill.
  • Can be built as a tanky frontliner or a scaling DPS machine.
  • “If you first-pick Abaddon every game, you’ll go up in MMR.”

2. Lifestealer

  • Dominates the current patch.
  • “There are very few bad matchups for Lifestealer.”
  • Can build Radiance + Manta for insane scaling.
  • “His W resets on kills, giving him endless sustain in fights.”
  • One of the best safelane tower holders, keeping his team in control of Tormentor fights.

Pick These Carries to Climb the Ranks

Patch 7.38 has completely changed the carry landscape, and if you want to maximize your win rate, you need to pick the right heroes.

  • Avoid E-Tier and D-Tier heroes unless you’re a specialist.
  • B-Tier heroes are playable, but A-Tier and S-Tier carries will give you the best results.

If you’re looking to dominate ranked games, consider spamming Abaddon or Lifestealer. Both heroes are easy to play, incredibly strong, and fit the current meta perfectly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which carries should I avoid in Patch 7.38?

Avoid Lina, Templar Assassin, Windranger, Chaos Knight, and Terrorblade unless you are highly skilled with them. These heroes struggle to scale, are too difficult for most players, or were heavily nerfed.

What are the best carries in Patch 7.38?

The best carries right now are Lifestealer and Abaddon. Both have high win rates, strong scaling, and dominate in most matchups.

Why is Lifestealer so strong in this patch?

Lifestealer scales better than almost every other carry, has a free BKB with Rage, and can reset his W on kills, allowing him to sustain himself endlessly in fights. He also has very few bad matchups in this meta.

Is Abaddon really that easy to play?

Yes! Abaddon is one of the simplest and most effective heroes in the game. His built-in save (Aphotic Shield), tanky nature, and strong item scaling make him one of the highest win rate carries in this patch.

Which carries are still viable but not top-tier?

Heroes like Wraith King, Medusa, Tiny, and Dragon Knight are solid choices in the current patch. They scale well, offer utility, and are easy to execute, making them strong picks for climbing MMR.

Why is Phantom Assassin weaker now?

PA’s ultimate crit damage was nerfed, making her much less explosive in fights. She also struggles with item timings and has a weaker laning stage, making her a risky pick compared to other carries.

What’s the best carry for beginners in this patch?

If you’re new to Dota 2 carries, Wraith King and Abaddon are perfect choices. They have straightforward item builds, strong survivability, and simple mechanics, making them very forgiving for new players.