Biggest winners and losers of Dota 2 Patch 7.33

The hugely anticipated patch 7.33 for Dota 2 is live and fans finally got the impactful changes they have longed to see for more than a year.

The mega April 20 update contains many of the drastic gameplay changes players expected to drop in March 2023, but Dota 2 fans woke up to a bad surprise in the form of 7.32e back then. This was another content update that was packed with numeric balance changes, which didn’t scratch the itch for the community.

Now that a patch worthy of the name IceFrog is here, Dota 2 enthusiasts are diving into the patch notes of 7.33 to identify the winners and losers.

Biggest losers in Dota 2 New Frontiers update

Clinkz

Clinkz went through lots of changes in patch 7.33. Valve did quite a number on the agility hero who rocked a 55 percent win rate before the patch. The changes certainly overcomplicated Clinkz, and it looks like most of the changes were for the worse since his win rate tanked more than 14 percent after the patch.

Clinkz went from being one of the top heroes in the Dota 2 meta to the bottom of the barrel overnight—not a good start to patch 7.33 by any means—but with a little time and adjustment from players, the skeleton archer we all know and love will find a way through.

• Clinkz changes
  • Base Damage increased from 15-21 to 19-25
  • Base Strength increased from 16 to 17
  • Searing Arrows Ability removed
  • Strafe: New ability. Clinkz and his Burning Skeleton Archers in 1200 AoE gain bonus attack speed and attack range. Attack speed bonus is 100/140/180/220 for Clinkz and 50% for the skeletons. Attack range bonus is +200 for Clinkz and the skeletons. Duration: 3.5s. Cooldown: 30/25/20/15s. Mana Cost: 75/80/85/90. Casting Strafe does not break Skeleton Walk invisibility.
  • Tar Bomb: New Ability. Unit targeted. Clinkz throws a projectile that deals 40/60/80/100 magic damage on impact, commanding Clinkz and all Burning Skeleton Archers in range to attack the target. The 275 radius area around the target is also covered in tar for 5 seconds. Any enemy that walks across the tar gets slowed by 16/19/22/25% and receives additional 15/25/35/45 physical damage from all attacks by Clinkz or his Burning Skeleton Archers. The effect persists for 2.5 seconds after leaving the area. Affects buildings. Cast Range: 1000. Cooldown: 7/6/5/4s. Mana Cost: 40/45/50/55.
  • Death Pact: Now a basic ability
    • Now has 1/1/2/2 charges, and 40s charge restore time
    • Now creates a Burning Skeleton Archer in place of a killed creep (only one skeleton from this ability can exist at a time). Skeleton Hits to kill: 3. Skeleton Damage: 20%. Skeletons deal 25% less damage to buildings
    • Heal and Bonus Health is now 125/200/275/350
    • Mana Cost decreased from 100 to 60
    • Creep Max Level is now 4/5/6/6
  • Skeleton Walk: Now an ultimate ability
    • Duration increased from 25/30/35/40s to 35/40/45s
    • Bonus Movement Speed rescaled from 15/30/45/60% to 30/45/60%
    • Mana Cost increased from 80 to 80/105/130
    • Cooldown rescaled from 20/19/18/17s to 18s
    • Now summons 2/3/4 Burning Skeleton Archers (only one pack of skeletons from this ability can exist at a time)

Related: Here are the full Dota 2 New Frontiers 7.33 patch notes

Anti-Mage

Since March, Anti-Mage saw a rise in popularity. The hero was finally getting some spotlight, but the nerf hammer hit his basic kit in 7.33. From stealing less mana to having to work with a slower Blink in the early game, Anti-Mage will take longer to come online. Depending on where the meta goes, he might struggle to retain his seat.

• Anti-Mage changes in Dota 2 patch 7.33
  • Base Strength decreased from 21 to 19
  • Base Health Regen increased from 0.25 to 0.75
  • Mana Break: Mana Burned per hit decreased from 28/40/52/64 to 25/30/35/40
  • Mana Break: Max Mana Burned per hit increased from 1/1.8/2.6/3.4 percent to 1.6/2.4/3.2/4 percent
  • Mana Break: Now plays a slightly different sound when the target is below 50 percent mana
  • Blink: Cooldown increased from 12/10/8/6s to 13.5/11/8.5/6s
  • Talent: Level 20 Talent Blink Cast Range decreased from +250 to +200

Zoo meta, Lycan, and Broodmother

The pre-7.33 era was mainly defined as the Zoo meta. Two of the biggest offenders of this style were Lycan and Broodmother. Both heroes now belong to a new attribute group called Universal, and their future in patch 7.33 is currently unknown.

Speaking from personal experience, I’ve witnessed drastic changes usually ending up overpowered in Dota 2, so there’s also a decent chance these two may continue to be relevant. Their stance in the meta will depend on how the meta develops after 7.33, but they aren’t off to a great start.

• Lycan changes in Dota 2 patch 7.33
  • Now is a Universal Hero
  • Base Damage decreased from 24-29 to 8-13
  • Strength gain decreased from 3.4 to 3.0
  • Agility gain decreased from 1.7 to 1.4
  • Intelligence gain decreased from 1.7 to 1.2
  • Damage on level 1 decreased by 3 (from 50-55 to 47-52)
  • Damage gain per level decreased from +3.4 to +3.36
  • Summon Wolves: Mana Cost decreased from 125/130/135/140 to 115/120/125/130
  • Howl: Mana Cost rescaled from 35/40/45/50 to 40
  • Howl: Now also fears enemy-controlled units (non-heroes) for 1/1.5/2/2.5s
• Broodmother changes in Dota 2 patch 7.33
  • Now is a Universal Hero
  • Base Damage decreased from 29-35 to 11-17
  • Strength gain decreased from 3.2 to 2.0
  • Base Agility decreased by 1
  • Agility gain decreased from 3.4 to 2.4
  • Intelligence gain decreased from 2.0 to 1.4
  • Damage on level 1 decreased by 5 (from 48-54 to 43-49)
  • Damage gain per level increased from +3.4 to +3.48
  • Insatiable Hunger: Base Attack Damage Bonus rescaled from +35/45/55/65 flat Damage to +30/40/50/60 percent Base Damage
  • Insatiable Hunger: Aghanim’s Shard Base Attack Damage Bonus Increase per second rescaled from +12 flat Damage to +4 percent Base Damage
  • Spin Web: Health Regen decreased from 5/7/9/11 to 2/5/8/11
  • Spawn Spiderlings: Damage decreased from 260/340/420 to 220/320/420
  • Talent: Level 15 Talent Spin Web Restore Time decreased from -10s to -7s
  • Talent: Level 20 Talent +25 Agility replaced with +35 Attack Speed.

Biggest winners in Dota 2 New Frontiers update

Phantom Lancer

Phantom Lancer underwent some minor modifications, such as an increased attack range and relocation of his Shard upgrade to Aghanim’s Scepter. However, Valve did PL a solid with an upgraded ultimate ability that makes him even more formidable.

With the new Shard upgrade, PL can turn invisible for eight seconds while gaining a 15 percent boost in movement speed. This ability only has a 15 second cooldown, making PL extremely hard to take down.

• Phantom Lancer changes
  • Base Attack Range increased from 150 to 225
  • Spirit Lance: Aghanim’s Shard Upgrade moved to Aghanim’s Scepter
  • Spirit Lance: Spirit Lance now bounces twice on enemies, prioritizing Heroes (can bounce back to the original target). Also increases slow amount by 10 percent and Spirit Lance illusion damage by 40 percent
  • Juxtapose: Now upgradable by Aghanim’s Shard
  • Juxtapose Shard Upgrade: Allows Juxtapose to be activated to create 1 illusion at Phantom Lancer’s location, giving him instant invisibility. Move Speed Bonus: 15%. Duration: 8s. Cooldown: 15s

Bristleback

Bristleback received a significant buff to his signature passive ability of the same name. The passive now grants Bristleback a Warpath stack whenever it’s activated, and allows him to shoot multiple quills when he takes excess damage over the threshold.

Additionally, the recent update has increased the number of ancient camp locations on the map, making it easier for Bristleback to farm. Not only Bristleback can deal more damage under pressure now, but he can also farm faster and come online earlier.

• Bristleback changes
  • Bristleback: Now provides Warpath stacks with each Quill Spray released
  • Bristleback: Taking excess damage over the Quill Spray threshold is maintained and multiple Quill Sprays can trigger from a single source of damage
  • Hairball: Mana Cost decreased from 100 to 75

Radiant side

Wherever Valve put the Roshan pit on the map, Dire always had the advantage when it came to securing the Aegis. With patch 7.33, there are two Roshan pits on the map, and the Aegis’ guardian will spend the daytime in the Radiant pit before moving to the Dire pit at night.

This change aims to finally bring balance to the Roshan advantage debate that’s been active since the inception of Dota.

• Roshan changes in Dota 2 patch 7.33
  • Removed Roshan pit from the river
  • Added two Roshan pits in the corners of the map. As the day turns to night and vice-versa, Roshan uses the Twin Gates to teleport to the other pit: he stays on the Radiant side during the day and at Dire during the night. While going to the new location Roshan has 200 bonus movement speed, phased movement, and a 200 magic damage Debuff Immunity piercing knockback
  • Roshan’s current pit is highlighted on the minimap
  • Roshan no longer drops Aghanim’s Shard on the second death.
  • Roshan now drops Cheese starting on the second death.
  • On the third death onwards, Roshan now drops Aghanim’s Scepter when killed on the Radiant side and a Refresher Shard when killed on the Dire side.
  • Roshan’s HP increase per minute increased from 115 to 130
  • Roshan’s Base Armor increased from 20 to 30