(image source: reddit.com)
Knowing the meta-game is an absolute must for winning games at higher levels of play. In this guide, we’ll discuss the strongest heroes of the current patch (7.28c). Since Riki doesn’t dominate ranked matches, the game looks completely different, but what about heroes like Puck, Morphling, Beastmaster, or Wraith King? What else has changed in the game? Let’s find out!
Patch 7.28c — Most notable balance changes
To better understand the meta-game and the specific heroes’ features, let’s talk about the most significant changes that came out in the latest patch.
- Wraith King
- Wraithfire Blast skill cooldown increased to 17/14/11/8 (from 14/12/10/8)
- Reduction of damage dealt by skeletons summoned with the Vampiric Spirit ability by 3
- Beastmaster
- Reduction of base attack speed by 10 (now 100, previously 110)
- The movement speed of Call of the Wild Boar changed to 320/330/340/350 (from 350)
- Keeper of the Light
- Recall ability delay increased to 5/4/3 (previously 3)
- Earthshaker
- Fissure ability stun time reduced by half
- Lycan
- Summon Wolves ability time reduced to 50 seconds (from 55)
- Shadow Shaman
- Shackles Shard cast range reduced to 125 (from 150)
- Puck
- Base damage range reduction to 46-54 (from 46-57)
- Waning Rift damage reduced to 70/130/190/250 (from 70/140/210/280)
- Morphling
- Morph cooldown changed to 140/100/60 (from 160/100/40)
- The morph scepter reduces Morph cooldown by 20 seconds
- Reduction of Morph scepter bonus cast range to 300 (from 600)
- Outworld Destroyer
- Reduction of Movement Speed to 320 (from 325)
- Reduction of base armor by 1
Patch 7.28c Tier list
Before we get to the tier list, let’s explain what each tier means.
- Tier S — Over-tuned heroes that dominate the meta-game.
- Tier 1 — Effective heroes who have a significant advantage over the rest due to their powerful abilities.
- Tier 2 — Heroes, who are similarly strong to those in Tier 1 but have their weaknesses that get in the way of consistently winning games.
- Tier 3 — Heroes that are hard to call weak but significantly stand apart from those in higher tiers. It may be that a Tier 3 hero can fit into a tournament strategy and thus be worth playing.
- Tier 4 — Weak heroes that you probably shouldn’t play if you care about winning.
Tier S
(image source: wewatch.gg)
- Puck (a real one-man army)
In patch 7.28c and tournament play, Puck is the best mid-laner you can pick. Despite many nerfs in the past, it’s still a solid choice, even more so after the Outworld Destroyer and Batrider nerfs. If you have the opportunity to pick him and you care about winning games — go for it!
Dota 2 Tier list : Tier 1
(image source: reddit.com)
Many players expected that Mars and Wraith King would get strong nerfs, and after many months of dominating the meta-game, they’d be a bit weaker — however, this didn’t happen.
We’ve seen the power of these heroes in the FMWH Dota 2 Championship tournament, the winner of which was Team EHOME. Other than that, it appears that the Nyx Assassin and Lion are slightly stronger in patch 7.28c, which makes us put them in Tier 1.
- Mars
- Wraith King
- Phoenix
- Enigma
- Oracle
- Monkey King
- Earth Spirit
- Void Spirit
- Death Prophet
- Keeper of the Light
- Phantom Assassin
- Nyx Assassin
- Lion
Dota 2 Tier list : Tier 2
(image source: Valve/reddit.com)
Nerfs from patch 7.28c proved too strong for heroes like Morphling and Beastmaster, dropping them from the top of Tier 1 to mid-Tier 2. They’re still strong, and we’re likely to see them at most tournaments, but they don’t have the power they used to have.
- Tidehunter
- Timbersaw
- Invoker
- Pangolier
- Morphling
- Beastmaster
- Earthshaker
- Visage
- Tinker
Dota 2 Tier list :Tier 3
(image source: reddit.com)
As in previous patches, you might have wanted to pick either Mirana or Lycan — now that seems like a bad idea. The only use for these heroes is tournament play; they’re too inconsistent for ranked games.
- Ogre Magi
- Alchemist
- Zeus
- Lycan
- Batrider
- Night Stalker
- Weaver
- Storm Spirit
- Mirana
Dota 2 Tier list :Tier 4
(image source: reddit.com)
And we come to Tier, where we have heroes who should rather never
be your pick, unless for memes. But on the other hand — would it be healthy for the game if heroes like Juggernaut or Phantom Lancer were good?
- Io
- Tusk
- Juggernaut
- Grimstroke
- Phantom Lancer
- Riki
- Nature’s Prophet
- Razor
- Ursa
- Rubick
- Shadow Shaman
- Dragon Knight
- Necrophos
Summary
Now you know which are the best heroes of patch 7.28c. We hope that our tier list was helpful for you and wish your team the best of luck in your ranked matches!