The long-awaited 7.36 patch in Dota 2 has truly been a game-changer, seemingly upending the very foundations of the game. The features of this patch — facets and innate abilities — have breathed new life into many heroes. Moreover, some heroes traditionally seen in core positions are now quite successful as supports and vice versa. However, the most pressing question on everyone’s mind is: which Dota 2 hero is the strongest? In this guide, we will answer this question for each position and also suggest several alternative heroes that benefit from the new abilities and buffs in this casino of changes.
4.9Who is the Most Powerful Hero in Dota 2?
In this table, we’ve picked the most powerful heroes in Dote 2 for all positions, each worthy of a spot in the S-tier thanks to their new facets and innate abilities.
| Position | Hero | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Lane | Wraith King | Ursa | Juggernaut |
| Mid Lane | Void Spirit | Zeus | Shadow Fiend |
| Off Lane | Axe | Legion Commander | Sand King |
| Support | Venomancer | Shadow Shaman | Oracle |
Key Changes: Facets and Innate Abilities
To better understand which hero and why they triumphed in the “arms race,” let’s delve into the new game mechanics — Facets and Innate Abilities.
Facets
Facets are a new feature introduced in the 7.36 patch, allowing you to customize your hero. Each hero has at least two Facets that will determine their role and playstyle in the match. Facets are selected after picks and before the game starts, enabling you to adapt to the enemy heroes and choose the most suitable style for the game and your role.
Interestingly, Dota 2 players were already somewhat familiar with Facets when playing as Arc Warden in previous patches. If you remember, Arc Warden’s abilities changed depending on whether he was on the Radiant or Dire side. This was apparently a micro-preview of the upcoming major changes.
Innate Abilities
Innate Abilities, like Facets, are unique features of a hero. However, unlike Facets, they are not chosen; they simply exist. These are often passive abilities, but each one is interesting in its own right. For example, Centaur Warrunner gains +35 HP every 120 seconds, while Spectre can always pass through creatures. This is amusing because she can no longer body-block creeps, but at the same time, she cannot be body-blocked herself.
By understanding these new mechanics — Facets and Innate Abilities — you can better grasp why certain heroes have gained significant advantages in the 7.36 patch. However, if you don’t want to spend time studying the entire patch, you can always take advantage of Ranked Boost.
Best Heroes for Safe Lane
The carry position, or Pos 1, is considered one of the most popular roles in the game. Typically, the carry role has the most gold in the game but faces challenges early on, as the character is vulnerable until reaching a certain point.
Wraith King
Before the 7.36 patch, Wraith King (Leoric) was rarely seen in the game. At best, he occasionally appeared in the Pos 3 role but did not achieve significant success. However, thanks to new talents and facets, such as Spectral Blade, Wraith King has become a formidable laner and carry. He is now capable of ending games quickly and effectively.
Ursa
Veteran Dota 2 players were delighted to see Ursa’s new innate ability, Maul, which converts 1.5% of his health into bonus damage. Previously, this was his ultimate ability, forcing players to buy Heart of Tarrasque. Now, this is no longer necessary, as the new facet Grudge Bearer ensures that Ursa lacks no damage in the late game. Maul significantly boosts his early game power, making Ursa one of the strongest carries at any stage of the game — a rare feat for this position.
Juggernaut
Juggernaut has received two extremely powerful facets:
- Bladestorm: Adds a critical hit effect to your Blade Fury.
- Bladeform: Increases your agility by up to 20% if you haven’t taken damage.
Both facets perfectly align with Juggernaut’s gameplay and have boosted his win rate to 55%, which is notably high. Combined with his new innate ability, which allows him to deal 10% extra damage to enemy heroes, Juggernaut is currently a powerhouse for MMR boosting.
Tips and Strategies for Carry
- Farming Efficiency: Maximize last hits and use the jungle for extra gold.
- Positioning: Stay safe early and position well in fights.
- Item Timings: Aim for key items like Battle Fury and Black King Bar.
- Late Game Decisions: Make smart choices about buybacks, fights, and split pushing.
Best Heroes for Mid Lane
The mid lane remains a crucial battleground in Dota 2, with heroes in this position often shaping the pace and momentum of the game. The 7.36 patch has introduced significant changes that impact mid lane dynamics, making it vital to identify the strongest heroes for this role.
Void Spirit
Void Spirit’s gameplay hasn’t changed significantly because his new facet, Symmetry, isn’t particularly strong. His other facet, Sanctuary, essentially doesn’t add anything new. So why does Void Spirit have over a 55% win rate? The answer lies in his new innate ability, which increases all secondary attribute bonuses by 25%. Essentially, this gives the hero an extra 25% attributes. Considering that Void Spirit is a universal hero, these bonuses are effectively doubled, substantially increasing his damage output, survivability, and farming potential.
Zeus
Zeus has received two extremely useful facets, allowing him to adapt to any enemy lineup. This makes Zeus a great pick for mid, even if you’re unsure of the enemy heroes. You just need to choose the correct facet. If you want to play Zeus for right-click damage, Livewire is your choice. If you think a magic-damage Zeus will better counter the enemy team, go with Divine Rampage. Even if you choose the wrong facet at the start, his Aghanim’s Shard allows you to quickly rectify the situation.
Incidentally, Zeus is considered one of the best heroes for calibration due to the immense amount of damage he deals in any game. Now, he is even more suited for this, so if you don’t want to waste time and nerves on calibration, you can take advantage of our Calibration Boost.
Shadow Fiend
The stars have aligned, and the canonical midlaner for 1v1 showdowns is back in the meta. Interestingly, it’s the magic-damage Shadow Fiend with the Shadowmire facet. The slowing effect on movement and attack speed from Shadowrazes is incredibly strong, and his new ability speeds up his attack rate. Additionally, his innate ability allows him to steal souls, enabling him to start accumulating souls from level one. This is a lot of buffs for one hero, and we haven’t even mentioned the new Yasha+Kaya item, which increases spell-casting speed.
Tips and Strategies for Mid Lane
- Rune Control: Secure runes for advantages and ganks. Ask your support for help, if you need it.
- Aggression: Pressure the enemy midlaner and rotate to secure kills.
- Farm and Fight Balance: Balance farming and making impactful plays.
- Snowballing: Use an early lead to secure objectives and kills.
Best Heroes for Offlane
The offlane role is crucial for creating space and applying pressure on the enemy team. The current patch has introduced changes that impact offlane dynamics, making it essential to identify the best heroes for this position.
Axe
Deciding where to place Axe was challenging because he is so strong that even in the mid lane, he has a 59% win rate. However, since he is rarely played there, this win rate isn’t entirely objective and often results from the element of surprise. Nonetheless, both his facet abilities are perfect for the Pos 3 role. His new innate ability grants him +1 armor for every participation in a kill and +2 armor if he kills a hero with his ultimate. With a good start, Axe becomes nearly unkillable, and he can eliminate enemies in seconds. His Battle Hunger also becomes more potent with his increased armor, making it a significant source of damage throughout the game.
Legion Commander
Since the early days of patch 7.36, many players have complained about Legion Commander. With her first facet, Stonehall Plate, which grants her a shield for every unit of damage from Overwhelming Odds, she seemed immortal. Even after this facet was nerfed by 50%, she still maintains a 53% win rate. It’s no surprise, as Legion Commander starts with 2 skill points, enabling her to dominate any carry and support from the lane.
Sand King
The new facet for Sand King removes his invisibility but instead makes his Sand Storm follow him even if he moves out of its radius. While invisibility might seem better, the 59% win rate of this facet suggests otherwise. The increased radius of Sand Storm, combined with Aghanim’s Scepter, leaves no chance for opponents in team fights. The constant movement and expanded damage area make Sand King a formidable force in any engagement.
Tips and Strategies for Hardlane
- Survivability: Focus on staying alive and getting levels.
- Disrupt the Enemy Carry: Harass and disrupt the enemy carry’s farm.
- Initiation: Look for opportunities to start fights.
- Tankiness: Build items to soak damage for your team.
Best Heroes for Support Roles
Support heroes play a vital role in ensuring their team’s success by providing vision, controlling the map, and aiding their cores. The 7.36 patch has introduced changes that affect the support role, making it crucial to identify the best. In this section, we will look at both position 4 and position 5 heroes together, as modern Dota allows each support to have sufficient gold, with few exceptions.
Venomancer
Venomancer wasn’t weak in the previous patch and hasn’t lost his standing in the new one. Free wards, slows, and enemy regeneration reduction are all still in place. However, his new facet, which allows his ultimate to spread twice, has further solidified his position as an S-tier support. This makes Venomancer even more effective at controlling fights and providing consistent pressure.
By the way, Venomancer is indeed extremely toxic, and if your behavior score is as low as Venomancer’s, you can take advantage of our Behavior Score Boost.
Shadow Shaman
It seems someone on the development team must play Shadow Shaman, given his new innate ability granting him 0.75 seconds of invulnerability. This makes him nearly impossible to kill and even discourages attempts, as he turns into four chickens, removes all debuffs, and escapes. Additionally, his new facet allows him to cast Hex on an ally, providing the same escape mechanism and confusing attackers. With a 58% win rate, Shadow Shaman is currently the strongest support, regardless of whether he’s played as Pos 4 or Pos 5.
Oracle
Oracle is a favorite support for any midlaner because his new innate ability allows him to predict the location of the next active rune, which is crucial for the mid lane. His facet, Clairvoyant Cure, significantly enhances his healing potential, making him an even more valuable asset to his team.
Tips and Strategies for Support
- Vision Control: Maintain and protect map vision.
- Babysit Your Carry (Pos 5): Ensure your carry has a good start.
- Roam and Create Space (Pos 4): Move around the map to pressure and secure kills.
- Utility Items: Build items like Force Staff and Glimmer Cape to support your team.
- Sacrifice for the Team: Be ready to die for the greater good.
4.9The release of patch 7.36 has significantly shifted the balance of power in Dota 2. Many forgotten heroes have returned, some of them have acquired new roles in the game, and so on. There are indeed many changes, but the Overgear team hopes that we have helped you determine the ideal hero for each role. Good luck on the battlefield, and may you achieve victory in your Dota 2 journey!