Huge Patch Released on Dota 2 Test Client

The newest patch Valve released on the test client exposes substantial changes to the overall gameplay for Dota 2. Many heroes have received minor reworks or buffs/nerfs and strategies for jungling and trilaning will have to change if this patch is released as is. The patch was posted this morning on the Dev forums.

Some of the changes include:

Big changes to the neutrals:
Many neutral creeps now offer reduced bounty and will not spawn the same type of neutral twice in a row. The easy camp and pull camp have been swapped, making jungling more difficult due to easy ward blocking and trilaning less effective due to weaker lane pulling. Roshan also will no longer spawn exactly 10 minutes after death but between 8-11 minutes.


Lots of hero changes:
Pudge and Vengeful Spirit can now carry Blink Dagger, but their skills will give heroes freewalking off of cliffs for 5 seconds, making it impossible to trap enemies. 

Many abilities are now dodgeable or interruptable: Dazzle's Poison Touch, Ogre Magi's Ignite, Phantom Assassin's Stifling Dagger (although her dagger will now have a chance to crit based on Coup de Grace), Phantom Lancer's Spirit Lance, and Sven's Stormbolt will all now be dodgeable. Spirit Breaker's Nether Strike has a longer cast time and he is no longer invulnerable making the ultimate interruptable. 

Many heroes' ultimates have a larger AoE effect: Crystal Maiden's scepter slow radius for Freezing Field, Disruptor's Static Storm, Drow Ranger's Marksmanship, Faceless Void's Chronosphere, and Skeleton King's Reincarnation slow all have increased range.

Broodmother and Slark are temporarily banned from Captain's Mode. Most heroes have undergone some changes (slight or heavy) so check out the Dev Post for more details on your favourite heroes' tweaks.


Interesting changes to items:
All boots have had their movement speed nerfed from 60 bonus speed to 55.

Flying Courier can only be purchased 3 minutes after creeps spawn. This could delay mid heroes their bottle rush.

Tango, Clarity, and Healing Salve can no longer be shared. Clarity and Healing Salve can still be cast on allies but you can't trade them between inventories. This really sucks for laning hardcarries that often relied on supports to buy them or trade them these regen items.

Linken's Sphere can now be cast on allied heroes to benefit from the spellblock. Linken's Sphere can now be used as a support item now?

Shadowblade's cooldown has been increased by 10 seconds (from 18 to 28!). We may be seeing less Shadowblades due to this major nerf. 


To view the full changes in patch 6.79 click here.