Life has winners and losers, and the same applies to Dota 2’s Outlanders update. The update brought two new heroes, Snapfire and Void Spirit, along with several changes that have significantly affected the win rates of various heroes.
A Reddit user compiled two weeks’ worth of data into a chart that shows the changes in heroes’ win and pick rates compared to the previous Dota 2 patch. Lone Druid and Tiny have emerged as the most improved heroes in Dota 2, showcasing their dominance.
On the other hand, Lycan and Chaos Knight, who received skill reworks, have experienced significant drops in their win rates. The changes have affected these strength carries negatively in the new meta.
Winners
Tiny
Tiny has always been a versatile hero in the meta, regardless of the patch or year. With Patch 7.23, Tiny’s damage was slightly reduced, but he gained a new ability, Tree Grab. This permanent ability provides damage buffs and cleave, making Tiny a formidable right-click carry. Despite the intended laning nerf, Tiny has become a farming monster, capable of clearing creeps and heroes effortlessly. His low cooldowns allow him to engage in battles frequently, and his permanent Tree Grab gives his team an advantage in taking objectives after winning fights. Tiny is now an ultimate flex pick, excelling in every role. It’s no surprise that his win and pick rates have significantly increased.
Lone Druid
Sylla, the Lone Druid, received significant buffs in the Outlanders update. Additionally, the introduction of neutral items has further increased his win rate. With 12 inventory slots thanks to his Spirit Bear, Sylla can now hold onto neutral items and boost the overall team strength. The buffs to his True Form and Savage Roar make him practically unkillable and difficult to lock down. These enhancements have made Lone Druid one of the strongest carry heroes in the game. However, his power may be adjusted in future updates.
Treant Protector
Rooftrellen, the Treant Protector, initially struggled after the Outlanders patch, but the changes brought him back into the game. Nature’s Guise returned as a passive ability, and Living Armor became a global heal that repels pushes effectively. These improvements have made Treant Protector stronger than other heroes in the current meta.
Losers
Lycan
Lycan’s Howl received a significant rework, transforming it into a teamfight skill that reduces the enemy’s attack damage and armor. This change has impacted Lycan’s pushing speed, as he excels at fast-paced pushing. Additionally, the long cooldown of his ultimate ability, Shapeshift, doesn’t align well with the current meta of frequent skirmishes. Without his ultimate, Lycan doesn’t contribute much as a physical damage carry.
Chaos Knight
Chaos Knight underwent changes to his skills, particularly Reality Rift and Phantasm. The modifications to these skills, along with the nerf to Chaos Strike, have made him less sustainable in fights and have compromised his laning phase. The longer cooldown of Phantasm means that he often joins fights at a weaker state, and both he and his illusions are more susceptible to physical damage. While he may pair better with armor reduction heroes, Chaos Knight is no longer the tank he used to be.