Dota 2 Patch 7.38d: A Subtle Tune-Up for Wandering Waters

On April 17, 2025, Valve released Dota 2 Patch 7.38d, a minor balance update following the game-changing Patch 7.38 that introduced the Wandering Waters map and sweeping gameplay changes. While not as transformative as its predecessor, Patch 7.38d fine-tunes heroes, items, and mechanics to stabilize the meta, address community feedback, and refine the dynamic introduced in February 2025. With no major terrain changes or new heroes, this patch focuses on balancing outliers and enhancing competitive play, particularly as The International 2025 looms. Here’s a detailed breakdown of Patch 7.38d, its impact, and what it means for players.

Overview of Patch 7.38d

Patch 7.38d, detailed on the official Dota 2 website, is a compact update compared to the sprawling Patch 7.38, which revamped the map with streams, repositioned Roshan, and introduced craftable neutral items. The latest patch targets hero balance, with adjustments to 32 heroes, alongside tweaks to neutral items and minor bug fixes. It aims to curb dominant heroes like Dragon Knight and Jakiro, buff underperformers like Morphling and Kez, and refine gameplay fluidity after two months of Wandering Waters. Community sentiment on platforms like Reddit and X reflects cautious optimism, with players appreciating the quick response to meta imbalances but craving more substantial content.

Key Hero Changes

Winners

• Morphling: After a sharp win rate drop from 50% to 41% in Patch 7.38, Morphling receives buffs to his reworked abilities. Attribute Shift now costs less mana (8 per second from 10), and Adaptive Strike’s stun duration scales better at early levels (1.2–1.8 seconds). These changes aim to ease his learning curve, with Dotabuff showing a 2% win rate increase to 43% in pubs.
• Kez: The newest hero, introduced in November 2024, gets a much-needed boost. His Facets, added in Patch 7.38, were underwhelming, but Patch 7.38d enhances his spell-switching mechanics. Kazurai Strike’s cooldown is reduced (12 to 10 seconds), and his win rate has climbed from 41% to 44%, per GosuGamers, signaling a slow return to relevance.
• Underlord: A niche pick, Underlord sees buffs to Firestorm (increased radius from 400 to 425) and Pit of Malice (lower mana cost). His pick rate in high-MMR brackets has risen by 1.5%, making him a viable offlaner against physical damage lineups.

Losers

• Dragon Knight: The star of Patch 7.38, with a 58% win rate and 13% pick rate spike, faces nerfs. Fire Dragon Facet’s Dragon Tail radius is reduced (175 to 150), and Elder Dragon Form’s movement speed bonus is cut (25 to 20). Dotabuff data shows a 3% win rate drop to 55%, though he remains a top-tier midlaner.
• Jakiro: A dominant support, Jakiro’s 52% win rate takes a hit with nerfs to Dual Breath (damage reduced by 10%) and Macropyre (duration lowered from 10 to 8 seconds). His pick rate remains high at 15%, but win rate has dipped to 49% in general pubs.
• Abaddon: His Quickening Facet’s cooldown reduction per hero death is scaled back (6s to 5s), and base armor is reduced by 1. High-MMR players note a slight decline in his dominance as a tanky support, with a 2% win rate drop.

Other notable tweaks include buffs to Tinker’s Heat-Seeking Rockets (damage increased by 15%) and nerfs to Lina’s Light Strike Array (stun duration reduced by 0.2 seconds), addressing community complaints about their meta dominance. Valve’s focus on balancing Facets, introduced in 2024, ensures heroes like Ringmaster and Kez remain viable without overwhelming the competitive scene.

Item and Mechanic Adjustments

Patch 7.38d refines the neutral item system, a cornerstone of Wandering Waters. The crafting mechanic, which allows players to combine neutral items for upgraded versions, sees tweaks:

• Tier 1 Neutral Items: Drop rates for Seeds of Serenity and Ironwood Sprig are increased by 5%, encouraging early-game utility.
• Craftable Items: The recipe for Whispering Veil now requires fewer resources (one less Ironwood Sprig), making it more accessible for supports.

General mechanics see minor polish. Slow resistance’s minimum movement speed boost is adjusted to scale more linearly, benefiting heroes like Treant Protector. Reflected spells now inherit 90% of the original cast’s bonuses (down from 100%), slightly nerfing heroes like Anti-Mage with Spell Shield. Bug fixes address issues like Tormentor spawning in awkward Demo Mode locations and Lotus Pool timers displaying incorrectly in Turbo Mode, improving gameplay fluidity.

Community and Competitive Impact

The Dota 2 community, vocal on Reddit and X, has mixed feelings about Patch 7.38d. A post by @TorteDeLini on X praised the patch’s “subtle but impactful” hero tweaks, noting that it “keeps the Wandering Waters meta fresh without overturning it.” However, some Redditors lament the lack of new content, with one user, u/AnomaLuna, estimating a major patch (7.39) might not arrive until after The International 2025 in August, given Valve’s focus on tournament preparation. The patch’s timing, post-ESL One Raleigh, aligns with qualifiers for PGL Astana 2025, suggesting Valve’s intent to stabilize the meta for pros.

Competitively, Patch 7.38d curbs the dominance of Dragon Knight-Jakiro drafts, which defined ESL One Raleigh’s Group Stage, while boosting heroes like Morphling for creative team compositions. Teams like Team Spirit and Tundra Esports, known for innovative strategies, may experiment with Underlord or Kez in upcoming DreamLeague Season 26 matches. The neutral item tweaks encourage early-game aggression, potentially shifting laning dynamics in high-MMR pubs and pro games.

Context and Future Expectations

Patch 7.38d builds on the Wandering Waters update, which introduced map streams, repositioned Roshan to the river, and allowed skill points in all attributes from level 2. While Patch 7.38 was a “tsunami of changes,” per GameRant, 7.38d is a targeted follow-up, addressing imbalances highlighted in community feedback and pro play. Liquipedia notes that Valve’s 2025 patches have been smaller but frequent, with 7.38a–c addressing bugs and balance since February. The absence of new heroes or events in 7.38d aligns with Valve’s shift away from Battle Passes, focusing instead on gameplay polish.

Looking ahead, players anticipate a major patch post-The International 2025, possibly introducing new mechanics or heroes, as Valve has done in past years (e.g., Muerta in 7.32d, 2023). For now, 7.38d keeps the meta accessible for newcomers and engaging for veterans, with Dotabuff reporting stable pick rates across most heroes. The patch’s restraint ensures Dota 2 remains balanced as the competitive season heats up, though fans hope for a content-heavy update to cap Crownfall’s narrative arc.

Dota 2 Patch 7.38d is a focused update that refines the Wandering Waters meta without upending it. By addressing overpowered heroes, buffing underperformers, and tweaking neutral items, Valve responds to community and pro feedback, ensuring a balanced playing field. While lacking the spectacle of Patch 7.38, it succeeds in keeping Dota 2’s complex ecosystem fair and dynamic. For casual players, the changes are approachable, while pros gain room to innovate in drafts. However, the absence of new content may leave some craving more, especially after Crownfall’s extended run.