If you’re struggling to find a strong, meta-defining support in Dota 2 patch 7.38c, look no further. Ancient Apparition has risen as one of the most reliable and powerful position 5 heroes this patch. With the dominance of high HP, regeneration-heavy carries like Slark, Wraith King, Morphling, and Huskar, AA counters them all while remaining a proactive, team-oriented hero.

Let’s break down why Ancient Apparition should be your go-to support pick right now.

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Strength Heroes Everywhere: Why AA Is So Valuable

The current meta is heavily dominated by strength cores and tanky agility carries that abuse regeneration and sustain. Heroes like Slark, Ursa, Monkey King, Morphling, and Huskar have become staples in drafts thanks to their mid-game survivability.

Even with buffs to Spirit Vessel in patch 7.38c, it hasn’t been enough to truly counter this trend. Enter Ancient Apparition’s Ice Blast: the ultimate weapon against HP regen and heals, instantly killing targets who fall belowa threshold.

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By picking AA, you’re giving your team a global threat against all of these heroes, preventing them from abusing their regeneration to stay in fights.

AA’s Buffs in 7.38c Make Him Even Stronger

Patch 7.38 introduced several important buffs for Ancient Apparition:

  • Cold Feet Stun Duration Buffed: Stuns are longer at higher levels, making ganks and pick-offs easier.
  • Ice Blast Silenced Cast: AA can now launch Ice Blast even when silenced, increasing his reliability.
  • Death Rhyme Scaling Improved: Death Rhyme stacks increase whenever you use Chilling Touch, making AA more aggressive during the laning phase.

These changes solidify AA as a pick that requires minimal gold investment but offers maximum impact.

The Perfect Build for Ancient Apparition

Skill Build:

  • Level 1: 1 point in Chilling Touch — secure that range creep and early harass.
  • Next Priority: Max Ice Vortex first for cheap mana cost, great scouting, and magic amplification.
  • Follow Up: Max Cold Feet second for synergy with Ice Vortex, stacking slows, and reliable stuns.
  • Ultimate: Always skill Ice Blast at 6, 12, and 18.

This combination enables AA to stay far away from danger while still impacting fights massively.

Itemization:

  • Rod of Atos: Root into Cold Feet guarantees stuns.
  • Aghanim’s Shard: Applies Cold Feet to everyone hit by Ice Blast.
  • Glimmer Cape / Force Staff: Standard support survivability tools.
  • Aether Lens: Improves the range of all abilities.
  • Eul’s / Ghost Scepter: Additional defensive options if needed.

At level 15, always take the talent that reduces Ice Vortex cooldown to spam the spell nonstop in fights.

How AA Synergizes with Meta Ganking Heroes

One of AA’s most overlooked strengths is how he boosts other gankers’ kill potential. Once AA hits level 6, his Ice Blast becomes a game-changer for:

  • Bounty Hunter
  • Lion
  • Puck
  • Queen of Pain
  • Legion Commander

Instead of needing to bring overwhelming numbers to a fight, your allies only need to initiate while AA delivers the finishing blow globally.

FAQs

Q: Why is Ancient Apparition strong against the meta carries?

A: His Ice Blast disables healing and regeneration, which punishes strength and regen-heavy heroes like Wraith King, Morphling, and Huskar.

Q: When should I pick AA?

A: He’s a safe first-phase support pick and thrives in any lineup needing global pressure and anti-heal.

Q: How do I survive as AA?

A: Play far back, use Ice Vortex to scout, and build items like Glimmer Cape and Force Staff for defensive positioning.

Q: Is AA good in pubs or only in pro matches?

A: AA excels in both. His abilities don’t require complex combos or high mechanical skill, making him a reliable pub stomper.

If you’re serious about winning more games in the current meta, adding Ancient Apparition to your pool is a no-brainer. He punishes healing-heavy heroes, synergizes with gankers, and scales well into the late game—all while being deceptively simple to play.