Valve ships broad Dota 2 patch with hero buffs and nerfs

Valve released a Dota 2 balance 7.41d patch today on Steam, available globally through the game client. The update adjusts mana costs, cooldowns, damage values and talents across dozens of heroes to tighten balance in ranked and professional play.

Key highlights include changes to several popular picks. Ancient Apparition’s Cold Feet damage per second rises to 25/45/65/85, while Chilling Touch has a shorter cooldown. Clockwerk’s Power Cogs now cost a flat 75 mana, apply pushback and damage even to heroes with no mana, and have rescaled damage to 55/110/165/220; he also gains small boosts to base intelligence, health regeneration and early damage. Ember Spirit’s Sleight of Fist bonus hero damage drops to 40/80/120/160. Invoker’s Ghost Walk cooldown moves from 32 to 40 seconds, with Chaos Meteor contact damage reduced and Ice Wall’s slow progression adjusted. Spectre’s Haunt mana cost increases to 125/175/225; Shadow Step’s cast range is set to 1000 with illusion damage taken at 175%, and her Aghanim’s Scepter fear lasts two seconds.

Offlane and initiator tools see targeted tweaks. Brewmaster’s Thunder Clap slow lasts longer as it levels, while his level 10 Brewlings damage and level 20 Primal Split cooldown talents are trimmed. Mars now turns toward the cast direction when using God’s Rebuke with Bulwark on, Arena of Blood’s spear damage is higher at levels two and three, and Dauntless’ radius increases to 900. Timbersaw’s Whirling Death stat loss duration is shorter early, Flamethrower slows more, and his level 20 Chakram slow talent increases. Tiny’s Toss flight time falls to 1.1 seconds, Tree Grab’s cooldown is longer early, Tree Throw’s range drops to 1000, his Shard slow is stronger and lasts longer, and Tree Volley’s mana cost falls to 150.

Support casts are rebalanced. Disruptor’s Thunder Strike costs less mana and his intelligence gain is higher. Dazzle’s Poison Touch applies a slightly stronger slow per hit. Dark Willow’s Cursed Crown cast range expands to 700. Rubick’s Fade Bolt base damage is lower at early levels and its debuff lasts nine seconds. Shadow Shaman’s Mass Serpent Ward gold bounty is down to 20–26. Warlock’s Upheaval cooldown falls to 45/40/35/30 seconds, and his level 25 talent boosts Fatal Bonds targets by five. Pugna gains more base mana regeneration and longer Nether Ward cast range. Visage’s Grave Chill attack speed drain is redistributed to front-load more impact early.

Mid and carry staples shift as well. Gyrocopter loses the extra night vision from Flak Cannon, and Side Gunner no longer double-fires during Flak; Call Down’s slow increases to 60% and his level 25 Flak cooldown reduction talent rises to six seconds. Hoodwink’s Acorn Shot has a longer early cooldown and Scurry’s movement speed bonus is lower at early levels. Huskar’s Burning Spear burn damage is reduced by one per tick per level. Juggernaut’s Blade Fury now costs 110 mana. Lina’s Dragon Slave costs less mana at all levels. Leshrac’s Pulse Nova drains less mana per second and Nihilism’s slow increases to 40%. Lion’s Finger of Death gains 25 damage per kill instead of 30. Vengeful Spirit’s Magic Missile deals more damage at every rank. Morphling’s Aghanim’s Scepter reduces illusion incoming damage to 200% from 300%.

Utility cores receive updates. Spirit Breaker’s Charge of Darkness is cheaper to cast, while his base attack speed is lowered to 110 and Aghanim’s Scepter Greater Bash deals less damage to creeps. Sven’s Storm Hammer stun extends up to 1.75 seconds and God’s Strength grants 40% slow resistance. Techies’ Reactive Tazer disarm duration is slightly lower at most levels, and Proximity Mines’ debuff lasts four seconds. Templar Assassin’s base attack speed is reduced to 90, and her level 10 Psionic Trap slow talent rises to +15%. Elder Titan’s Natural Order radius expands to 375 and Earth Splitter slows more at early levels. Earth Spirit’s passive bonus damage per unused Stone Remnant charge increases to 3%.

Late-game carries see further tuning. Spectre’s Spectral Dagger movement speed swing changes to 14/16/18/20%. Troll Warlord’s Battle Trance movement speed is now a flat 35% at all levels. Wraith King’s Vampiric Spirit lifesteal is set to 20% plus 0.5% per level, his level 10 lifesteal talent is reduced, and Aghanim’s Scepter Reincarnation cooldown becomes 170/140/110 seconds. Weaver’s Threads of Fate slow duration doubles to 0.4 seconds. Broodmother’s Spiderlings gain more health. Chaos Knight’s Phantasm illusions deal 60/80/100% damage.

Roamers and niche picks also change. Riki’s Smoke Screen cooldown progression is smoothed, Blink Strike’s bonus damage favors earlier casts, and Backstab is more effective on allies at 30%. Phoenix’s Fire Spirits attack speed slow is reduced at low levels and his Sun Ray percentage damage talent is weakened. Night Stalker’s level 25 Dark Ascension cooldown reduction talent is slightly smaller.

The update is live for all regions today through Steam and the in-game client.

Previously, we reported that Dota 2’s first live orchestral concert, Immortal Symphony, will debut July 11 in Shanghai, ahead of The International 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Arena.