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Dota 2’s 6.88c post-International patch nerfs most picked, buffs unpicked heroes

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After The International’s unprecedentedly balanced hero selection, it seems almost a shame for Icefrog to come and rejig how some of Dota 2’s heroes work. However, the perfect imbalance has not yet been achieved, so tinker he must.

Read more: The best Dota 2 players in the world.

This is just a small patch issued before what many expect will be the much larger “Journey” update this Fall which introduces the first brand new hero to Dota, Monkey King, after the last old hero, Underlord, is added on August 23.

It’s specifically tailored towards the meta we saw evolving at TI6 with all of the most picked heroes receiving a nerf to their most abusable abilities (Mirana’s aghs upgrade in particular) and five of the mere six unpicked heroes receiving buffs to bring them back to the table. See the full list of changes below:

Dota 2 Patch 6.88c General Changes

  • Lane creeps now give 35% of experience when denied by neutrals rather than 20% (normal player denies give 50% experience)

Dota 2 Patch 6.88c Hero Changes

Bloodseeker –buffed

  • Rupture damage increased from 26/42/60% to 30/45/60%

Drow Ranger –nerfed

  • Gust cooldown increased from 13 to 16/15/14/13

Elder Titan –nerfed

  • Echo Stomped units no longer get targeted by towers or creeps (like nightmare)

  • Echo Stomp damage decreased from 85/110/135/160 to 70/100/130/160

Faceless Void –nerfed

  • Chronosphere cooldown increased from 130/115/100 to 140/125/110

Leshrac –buffed

  • Leshrac’s movement speed increased from 320 to 325

Lina –buffed

  • Lina’s Base Attack Time improved from 1.7 to 1.6

Mirana –nerfed

  • Starstorm Aghanim upgrade no longer releases a second meteor

Oracle –nerfed

  • False Promise cooldown increased from 90/60/30 to 100/65/30

Shadow Demon –nerfed

  • Disruption illusion damage taken increased from 150% to 200%

Timbersaw –nerfed

  • Reactive Armor duration decreased from 14/16/18/20 to 10/13/16/19

Treant Protector –buffed

  • Living Armor regeneration bonus increased from 4/7/10/13 to 4/8/12/16

Visage –buffed

  • Stone Form stun delay reduced from 0.85 to 0.55