While we’re all waiting for the big Dota 2 update leading up to the showpiece event that is The International 10, there’s still a bit of time to exploit the most problematic heroes and builds to rack up a bit of juicy MMR as Valve take their sweet time. These are the heroes you should definitely try if you haven’t yet, though you have no doubt been on the receiving end of their nasty capabilities sometime during this meta.
Templar Assassin: kill them all
An emphasis on carries and cores has been a big part of the 7.29d metagame in Dota 2 and it should be of little surprise to anyone who has played the game recently to see Templar Assassin sitting proudly atop a list like this one.
Psi Blades coupled with items that boost her already considerable attack range provided Templar Assassin players borderline unfair kiting opportunities and broken long-range attacks, making her the ultimate pick-or-ban hero of this meta.
The experts at Dota 2 betting site Rivalry have specifically highlighted this phenomenon as the reason behind OG’s successful push through the European last chance qualifiers as Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan relied on the hitherto unorthodox tactic of using the hero in the safe lane, setting up incredible power spikes to turn around their must-win series against Tundra Esports, securing a spot at TI10 in spectacular fashion to set up a chance for an unprecedented three-peat.
Broodmother: someone, somewhere is going to ragequit
Despite back-to-back nerfs made to this hero, and limited impact on the professional field of play, Broodmother still remained a nightmarish foe to face throughout 7.29d in pub matches across the entire range of MMR levels. Though she’s evidently no longer the completely broken character she once was, the combination of the Spiderites and the Webs makes her one of the most effective heroes to push with even in this current significantly diminished state.
Winter Wyvern: giving the cold shoulder
Another standout hero in the TI10 WEU last chance qualifiers was Winter Wyvern, with its flexibility across multiple positions highlighting just why the dragon is in such a dire need of adjustments (pun one hundred percent intended).
Cold Embrace is simply way too effective at changing the balance of team fights, especially when you consider just how effective her healing kit can be once you apply the right items to your build along the way, with Holy Locket being seen as public enemy number one to those concerned about the hero’s potency.
This amount of stall and heal available will always take over the game unless you’re able to shut down the Winter Wyvern player in the early laning stages of the match, which can be incredibly difficult to do so. It’s no wonder that Tundra Esports’ Cinderella run to the finals of the European last chance qualifiers of TI10 made heavy use of this hero, featuring her in an unorthodox position in the mid lane.
Just like with so many other innovations, it seemed obvious the moment someone went ahead and did it at a high level of play: she is surprisingly effective at kiting and frighteningly effective as a split-pusher, while Splinter Blast works very well to secure your early farming. Much like Templar Assassin, the hero’s toolkit is simply just too universal right now.
What to expect from patch 7.30 in Dota 2
The overhaul is expected to launch sometime after the end of the Nemestice battle pass, and it is clearly going to be the version of the game that The International 10 will be played on. As such, the heavy experimentation by the teams and top players involved in the biggest Dota 2 esports tournament in the world could very well speed up the process that is solving the meta, and come November, we should all have a very clear idea of what’s broken and what isn’t in the new landscape.
The heroes mentioned above are all expected to be hit by the nerf bat in one way or another, but seeing how a very healthy portion of the entire character pool was showcased at the last chance qualifiers, Icefrog may play it a bit safe and conservative with this one. Only time will tell.