With Dota 2 Patch 7.35d, the most important update in the history of MOBAs, the game has become even better.
This update completely changes how heroes are chosen in matchmaking. The goal is to fix long-standing problems and make the whole experience better for players. Let’s get into the specifics of this new way to choose heroes in Dota 2!
The pre-game hero ban part in Dota 2 has been something to plan for and something to get angry about for years. The system was meant to give players some power over heroes they wouldn’t have to fight, but it also made things hard. Players who only had a few heroes could be at a disadvantage, and the ten-second timer often made people make hasty choices or miss by chance.
Valve, the company that made Dota 2, changed the way heroes are banned completely in Dota 2 Patch 7.35d. The pre-game ban process is no longer there. Instead, a system based on Dota 2 hero ban preferences has been put in place.
Players can now declare their Dota 2 hero ban preferences right from their accounts thanks to the new system. Players can choose up to four heroes they don’t want to face in future matches by going to the “Heroes” tab. As a player, you can be sure that at least one of your banned heroes will be banned when you join a matchmaking game. This gives you some power over your in-game experience without putting you under the stress of a timed ban phase.
This innovative approach offers several advantages over the previous system:
Dota 2 Patch 7.35d also adds a cool new option for people who pay for Dota Plus. With this change, the Dota Labs project moves into an experimental phase. Here, Valve is looking into ways to make the matchmaking process more clear to players.
The first experiment is based on matchmaker statistics for Dota 2. Users of Dota Plus will now get details about how the matchmaker rated the game after they’ve found a match. This includes rough scores for skill level and player behavior. After that, players can either accept the match or re-queue for a game that fits their tastes better.
More control over your matchmaking experience is what this tool is meant to give players. Valve stresses, though, that the information is meant to let people say what they want rather than give them a competition edge. For instance, the system might show that there is a high or low skill range in the match, but it won’t say whether you or your team are on the high or low end.
Valve is making matchmaking more player-centered by adding the Dota 2 hero ban preference system and the Dota Plus matchmaking statistics experiment. These features are meant to fix problems that have been around for a while, make the game better for players, and give each person the power to find matches that are a better fit for them.
Valve is aware of the risks that come with these kinds of changes, though. Dota Labs is a testing place where developers can see how players interact with the game and get useful feedback. With this information, Valve can improve the system, find out how well it works, and maybe even add it to the main Dota 2 experience.
This table summarizes the key changes introduced in Dota 2 Patch 7.35d.
| Section | Description |
| Neutral Creep Updates | Adjustments were made to experience gain and gold bounties from neutral creeps. |
| Mud Golem & Satyr Mindstealer | Gold bounty decreased. |
| Item Updates | Balance changes were implemented for various items. |
| Black King Bar | Avatar cooldown increased. |
| Divine Rapier | Damage bonus and spell amplification functionality reworked. Now offers a toggle between bonus damage and spell amplification. |
| Eye of Skadi | Health and mana bonuses increased. |
| Helm of the Dominator & Helm of the Overlord | Dominating a creep now grants the caster the gold bounty. |
| Javelin, Mjolnir & Maelstrom (and other related items) | Chain lightning proc chance decreased. |
| Magic Stick & Magic Wand | Energy charge cooldown increased. |
| Manta Style | Mirror image cooldown increased. |
| Null Talisman & Oblivion Staff | Mana regen bonuses adjusted. |
| Orchid Malevolence | Mana regen and intelligence bonuses decreased, Soul Burn mana cost increased. |
| Bloodthorn | Intelligence bonus decreased, Soul Rend mana cost increased. |
| Parasy | Witch Blade intelligence as damage per second decreased. |
| Revenant’s Brooch | Phantom Province can no longer apply critical strikes. |
| Shadow Blade & Silver Edge | Shadow Walk duration increased. |
| Neutral Item Updates | Adjustments were made to various neutral items. |
| Hero Updates | A large number of heroes received balance changes. Refer to the table for details on each hero. |
Here’s a breakdown of the Hero Updates by category:
The release of Dota 2 Patch 7.35d is a big step forward for the game. Valve is making it possible for millions of Dota 2 players around the world to have a better and more unique matchmaking experience by putting player preferences first and encouraging openness. The future of matchmaking in Dota 2 will be very interesting to watch as the Dota Labs trial goes on.
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