Dota 2’s Metagame Shifts in Preparation for Bali Major
The release of the New Frontiers update on April 20, 2023, brought significant changes to Dota 2’s metagame. Patch 7.33 introduced balance tweaks and a revamped map, forcing professional players to devise new strategies ahead of the Bali Major.
Prior to the Bali Major, the world’s top Dota 2 teams participated in DreamLeague Season 20, honing their skills and mastering new techniques. The group stages of the Bali Major have already seen clear favorites emerge, and unless teams discover fresh picks and strategies, the meta is likely to remain unchanged during the playoffs.
Top Performing Heroes at Dota 2’s Bali Major
Morphling
Located near a beautiful beach, the Bali Major offers the perfect environment for Morphling to shine. This carry hero has become a go-to pick for many teams.
Morphling’s ultimate ability has become an excellent counter to Universal heroes in Dota 2. Additionally, the hero’s versatility allows it to take on spellcasters with game-changing abilities. With recent stuns nerfed, locking down Morphling has become more difficult, as seen in the Bali Major.
Timbersaw
Timbersaw’s dominance began at DreamLeague Season 20 before the Bali Major. This hero rose to popularity as a counter to Universal heroes who were wreaking havoc as cores in patch 7.33.
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In addition to countering Universal heroes, Timbersaw’s tankiness makes it an effective frontliner. The hero can also farm quickly, allowing for earlier acquisition of teamfight-centric items compared to its opponents.
Techies
Techies reached its peak in popularity back in 2015 when it was picked in The International finals. Since then, the hero has fallen out of favor. However, IceFrog gave Techies a chance to shine again in Dota 2 with the 7.31 update.
With multiple buffs and a rework, Techies has now become a formidable hero. As a Universal hero, Techies’ long range and high base damage make it a versatile support pick. Its kit also includes an instant stun ability called “Blast Off!” and a Disarm, further expanding its utility.
Enchantress
Enchantress is known for dominating the laning phase. Equipped with potent early-game abilities like Impetus, the hero excels in winning lanes. Although other heroes may offer more utility, Enchantress’s ability to disrupt enemies’ game plans is highly valuable in professional Dota 2 matches.
Pugna
Pugna has consistently found its place in the meta regardless of the patch. The hero’s pushing abilities allow teams to control the map more effectively. Pugna’s Life Drain ability, which can be used aggressively or defensively, ensures its relevance in professional matches. However, the hero is best suited for ending matches quickly.
Underperforming Heroes at Dota 2’s Bali Major
Keeper of the Light
Although Keeper of the Light had a stellar moment during the Dota 2 group stages, the hero has struggled to find a place in the current meta. Other heroes simply outshine Keeper of the Light in its traditional support role. Supports with strong lockdown abilities have been more favored in the Bali Major.
Lina, once an ultimate carry hero in Dota 2, fell out of favor after patch 7.33. Despite a few shining moments, the new Lina lacks the power to outscale the most popular heroes in the current meta.
Queen of Pain
Queen of Pain has experienced a series of nerfs since patch 7.33. The cumulative effect of these adjustments has negatively impacted the hero’s overall performance. Queen of Pain has struggled to keep up with the popular heroes at the Bali Major, making it a suboptimal pick in most situations.
Muerta
Muerta initially faced criticism after patch 7.32e for being too weak as a carry hero. However, subsequent buffs made the hero too strong, resulting in significant nerfs in the post-7.33 changelists. Unfortunately, Muerta has struggled to keep up with other cores in the current meta.
Venomancer
Venomancer has proven challenging to integrate into strategies in Dota 2. The hero’s slow movement speed often makes it an easy target for ganks in the early game. If Venomancer is unable to farm efficiently, it struggles to obtain the necessary items to remain relevant throughout the match.
meta, Bali Major, Dota 2 heroes, Morphling, Timbersaw, Techies, Enchantress, Pugna, worst-performing heroes, Keeper of the Light, Lina, Queen of Pain, Muerta, Venomancer