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The highly anticipated 7.23 patch for Dota 2 has finally been released.
As expected, the first day of the patch has been chaotic with numerous opinions from both professional players and casual gamers. While things haven’t completely settled, let’s take a look at some of the changes and determine what’s popular and what’s not.
Great changes
New heroes are unique and interesting
Once again, IceFrog, the main developer of Dota 2, has delivered in this department. Both new heroes—Void Spirit and Snapfire—have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. They offer a different playstyle compared to other heroes in their respective categories.
Void Spirit, the third melee Intelligence hero, may appear to be an Agility carry, but he is actually a spellcaster who confuses enemies by using delays and stalls. On the other hand, Snapfire, the third ranged Strength hero, may look like an Intelligence support, but plays more like a utility core who deals damage from far away.
Both heroes bring a fresh perspective to the game, deviating from the conventional design of older heroes. It’s always exciting to see new mechanics and creative thinking being introduced to Dota 2.
Outposts
Dota 2 is more than just an action-adventure RPG—it’s a game centered around controlling areas. At the highest level of play, map control is crucial and often determines a team’s advantage, rather than the gold lead or kill score.
With the 7.23 patch, Valve has introduced Outposts as another objective that rewards map control. The addition of personal couriers and the removal of side shops has enabled the introduction of Outposts, which provide players with experience. This change also benefits support players, reducing the experience gap between them and core players in the late game. With heroes now able to reach level 30, experience has become an even more valuable resource that professional players will undoubtedly fight over.
Memeworthy Aghs
Instead of simply increasing numbers or adding new skills, Aghanim’s upgrades that modify a hero’s skill and allow for an alternative playstyle are a great addition. While their competitive viability is still uncertain, these upgrades add a fun element to the game.
Dota 2 is a game where small advantages can make the difference between life and death. However, it is also a game known for its craziness. When Valve committed to giving every hero an Aghanim’s upgrade, it was clear that some of them wouldn’t be very viable—but they can still be fun to use. These upgrades may not be competitive, but they are all the more hilarious. Who wouldn’t want to be a Shapeshifted Sven, launching themselves at enemies and obliterating them?
Needs some work
Neutral items
To put it simply, neutral items are ridiculous.
At first glance, neutral items may seem like a way to introduce additional comeback mechanics. The first item drops almost immediately, but the subsequent ones become rarer and rarer. Alternatively, these items may serve as game-enders by providing powerful options that cannot be purchased, such as Aegis of the Immortal, Cheese, or Refresher Shard.
However, the biggest problem lies in the fact that there are sixty-two new items locked behind RNG, with no ability for players to choose what they want to obtain. This undermines the itemization aspect of competitive Dota 2. While Roshan, Shrines, and Outposts reward map control, strategic maneuvering, and skill, neutral items seem to disregard all of that.
Neutral items have existed in various forms throughout gaming history, but having them in a competitive esport seems like a significant oversight.
That said, Valve and IceFrog are known for listening to community feedback. In the past, they have removed updates based on feedback, such as when they realized that forced interactions were a bad idea and removed Brewmaster’s Cinder Brew interactions with “fire damage.” However, if IceFrog believes neutral items are a good idea, they may become an integral part of Dota 2, much like talents, shrines, and other game-changing elements.