Valve Releases Patch 7.28a for Dota 2 Mistwood Update
Valve has recently released Patch 7.28a to further balance the Mistwood update in Dota 2. The update comes just five days after the release of the season-defining Mistwood patch. Normally, this type of patch drops after The International in September, so fans were eagerly awaiting the much-needed buffs and nerfs.
The Mistwood patch introduced 120 new spells, one for each hero on the roster. It also addressed the issue of certain heroes overshadowing others in both public and competitive matches. Sven and Outworld Destroyer, the two most problematic heroes, saw their win rates drop significantly. Outworld Destroyer, in particular, has been the subject of balancing changes that turned it into a Dota 2 meme.
While Patch 7.28a introduced several tweaks, the most significant changes were made to Lifestealer and Outworld Destroyer. However, it seems that these heroes were hit harder with nerfs than they received buffs.
Attribute and Talent Changes
– Arc Warden:
– Base strength reduced from 25 to 23.
– Level 10 Talent (Right) +250 Flux Cast Range reduced to +200.
– Level 20 Talent (Right) +125 Spark Wraith Damage reduced to +150.
– Batrider:
– Movement speed increased from 290 to 295.
– Clinkz:
– Level 15 Talent (Right) -7 seconds Skeleton Walk Cooldown reduced to -10 seconds.
– Enigma:
– Level 15 (Right) Talent changed from 10% Cooldown Reduction to 8% Cooldown Reduction.
– Keeper of the Light:
– Level 15 (Right) Talent changed from 6 seconds Blinding Light Cooldown reduction to 8 seconds.
– Lifestealer:
– Attack damage max increased from 27 to 30.
– Attack damage min increased from 21 to 24.
– Lycan:
– Level 15 (Left) Talent changed from 10% Cooldown Reduction to 8% Cooldown Reduction.
– Mirana:
– Level 15 (Right) Talent reduced from -3.5 seconds Arrow Cooldown to -3 seconds.
– Level 20 (Right) Talent changed from +10% Spell Amplification to +8% Spell Amplification.
– Ogre Magi:
– Attack damage max reduced from 43 to 40.
– Attack damage min reduced from 37 to 34.
– Outworld Destroyer:
– Level 15 (Left) Talent changed from +6 Armor to +8 Armor.
– Level 25 (Left) Talent changed from 20% Spell Lifesteal to 30% Spell Lifesteal.
– Base movement speed increased from 310 to 315.
– Snapfire:
– Level 10 (Left) Talent changed from +15 Movement Speed to +20 Movement Speed.
– Vengeful Spirit:
– Attribute strength gain increased from 2.4 to 2.6.
Ability Changes
– Alchemist:
– Greevil’s Greed: Recent kill window reduced from 40 to 36.
– Axe:
– Counter Helix: Aghanim’s Shard upgrade now increases Axe’s attack speed by 25, up from 20.
– Bounty Hunter:
– Track: Aghanim’s Shard version grants 600 vision, reduced from 800.
– Broodmother:
– Silken Bola: Now deals 75 damage.
– Clinkz:
– Death Pact: Bonus damage changed from 4/9/14% to 4/8/12%.
– Invoker:
– Ice Wall: Aghanim’s Shard upgrade increases wall length by 320 distance units.
– Juggernaut:
– Swiftslash: Ability cast range reduced from 650 to 600.
– Swiftslash: Ability cooldown increased from 15 to 20.
– Blade Fury: Aghanim’s Shard upgrade now deals 75% damage instead of 100%.
– Keeper of the Light:
– Chakra Magic: Changed mana restore from 80/160/240/320 to 100/180/260/340.
– Illuminate: Changed max damage from 200/300/400/500 to 225/325/425/525.
– Solar Bind: Changed ability cooldown from 22/20/18/16 to 23/20/17/14.
– Kunna:
– Tidal Wave: Mana cost reduced from 150 to 75.
– Tidal Wave: Cooldown reduced to 14 from 16 seconds.
– Leshrac:
– Nihilism: No longer causes increased damage.
– Legion Commander:
– Duel: Overwhelming Odds strike interval increased to two seconds from 1.5.
– Duel: Overwhelming Odds cast immediately after using Duel with Aghanim’s Shard.
– Lifestealer:
– Ghoul Frenzy: Movement slow changed from 6/12/18/24% to 10/15/20/25%.
– Open Wounds: Ability mana cost reduced from 125 to 75.
– Rage: Move speed bonus changed from 15% to 15/16/17/18%.
– Lion:
– Mana Drain: Attack speed debuff with Aghanim’s Shard increased from 90 to 120.
– Lone Druid:
– Save Roar: Duration with Aghanim’s Shard increased to five seconds from four.
– Luna:
– Lucent Beam: Stun duration with Aghanim’s Shard increased from 1.1 to 1.2 seconds.
– Mirana:
– Sacred Arrow cooldown: Value reduced from 3.5 to three.
– Monkey King:
– Shadow Tree Dance: Cooldown with Aghanim’s Shard increased to 0.4 seconds from 0.3 seconds.
– Nature’s Prophet:
– Wrath of Nature: Duration with Aghanim’s Scepter increased to 3.4 seconds max from three seconds.
– Nyx Assassin:
– Impale: Ability mana cost changed from 95/115/135/155 to 105/120/135/150.
– Vendetta: Ability mana cost changed from 140/200/260 to 160/220/280.
– Ogre Magi:
– Ignite: Ability mana cost increased from 100 to 110 (+10).
– Omniknight:
– Hammer of Purity: Bonus damage increased from 25 to 50.
– Outworld Destroyer:
– Arcane Orb: Ability cooldown changed from 6/4/2/0 to 4/3/2/0.
– Arcane Orb: Mana pool to damage changed from 14% to 16%.
– Sanity’s Eclipse: Radius changed from 375/475/575 to 400/500/600.
– Phantom Assassin:
– Phantom Strike: Bonus attack speed changed from 100/125/150/175 to 75/100/125/150.
– Phantom Lancer:
– Spirit Lance: Illusion damage with Aghanim’s Shard increased from +20% to +30%.
– Pudge:
– Dismember: Aghanim’s Shard upgrade now reduces Dismember’s cooldown by seven in all usage cases.
– Riki:
– Sleeping Dart: Ability cooldown reduced from 20 to 15.
– Rubick:
– Arcane Supremacy: Cast range changed from 75/125/175/225 to 100/150/200/250.
– Shadow Shaman:
– Shackles: Serpent Wards with Aghanim’s Shard now last seven seconds instead of eight.
– Slark:
– Fish Bait: Ability cooldown reduced from 20 to 12.
– Fish Bait: Ability mana cost reduced from 100 to 50.
– Fish Bait: Bait duration increased from four to six.
– Sniper:
– Concussive Grenade: Now deals 125 damage.
– Spirit Breaker:
– Netherstrike: Aghanim’s Shard no longer changes the cast behavior.
– Netherstrike: Aghanim’s Shard now grants two seconds of spell immunity after a successful cast.
– Templar Assassin:
– Psionic Trap: Silence duration increased from 2.5 to three seconds.
– Terrorblade:
– Demon Zeal: Berserk bonus movement speed increased from 25 to 50.
– Demon Zeal: Duration increased from six to seven.
– Tidehunter:
– Tidal Wave (Aghanim’s Scepter upgraded version of Gush): Ability cooldown reduced from 16 to 14.
– Tidal Wave: Ability mana cost reduced from 150 to 75.
– Timbersaw:
– Flamethrower: Damage per second increased from 75 to 90.
– Flamethrower: Slow percentage increased from 20% to 25%.
– Tinker:
– Defense Matrix: Barrier duration increased from 10 to 12.
– Defense Matrix: Damage absorb increased from 200 to 275.
– Tusk:
– Frozen Sigil: Movement slow changed from 20% to 30%.
– Frozen Sigil: Movement speed increased from 310 to 340.
– Vengeful Spirit:
– Nether Swap: Ability cooldown changed from 60/45/30 to 50/40/30.
– Vengeance Aura: Base damage bonus changed from 8/16/24/32% to 11/18/25/32%.
– Wave of Terror: Ability damage changed from 60/80/100/120 to 70/90/110/130.
– Viper:
– Poison Attack: Aghanim’s Shard max stack increase from +2 to +3.
– Visage:
– Silent as the Grave: Scepter upgrade no longer provides flying vision.
– Wraith King:
– Mortal Strike: Critical damage changed from 150/190/230/270% to 140/180/220/260%.
– Zeus:
– Static Field: Health reduction changed from 6/8/10/12% to 4/6/8/10%.
The update also addressed some particle bugs affecting cosmetic items such as Pudge’s immortal item, Scavenging Guttleslug. Hoodwink, a recently released hero, received a nerf in a separate update, reducing her damage and area of effectiveness.
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