DotA 2: Patch 6.84 - Overview of changes
No sooner has Valve announced the DotA 2 Patch 6.84 than the community is amazed at the drastic changes: New items and new spells will stir up the battlefield over the course of the week. The distribution of gold and experience is also changing - even the Jungle creeps have been tweaked. We give you a brief overview of the most important innovations in DotA 2 and estimate for you what will change fundamentally in the battle between Radiant and Dire with patch 6.84.
Chaos in the hero selection: Patch 6.84 reduces the pick timer
Previously, you had 40 seconds per turn to choose a hero. The new patch creates stress in the DotA-2 community: in just 35 seconds you should choose a hero - otherwise you will lose gold, just like before.
General changes to DotA 2 due to patch 6.84
In a few words it can be said: DotA 2 changes. Here is an overview of the most basic innovations:
- Many spells will affect Ancients in the future. The best way to do this is to test it yourself - Valve has not yet published precise information.
- "Hex" will be distinguished from "Break" in the future. For example, a pure hex no longer affects passive skills, whereas a break like Doom's Ultimate spell also turns passive skills off.
- Runes are now over the units. They can no longer be blocked by Furion's units or other heroes.
- A hero's line of sight no longer affects spell duration. If your hero looks in the wrong direction, he doesn't have to turn before doing the magic. The actions now go hand in hand.
- Attention, supporter: "Observer Wards" and "Sentry Wards" only need one place in the inventory from patch 6.84. Double-click to choose which of the two items you want to place.
Patch 6.84 brings new items to the DotA-2 shops
For a long time it was quiet about new items in DotA. Again and again there were smaller innovations like the upgrade of the "Skull-Bashers" to the "Abdyssal Blade". Other items have been revised in their compilation - for example the "Bloodstone", which used to be formed from "Perseverance" and "Soul Booster". Patch 6.84 brings new goods to the shops on the DotA battlefield:
- Enchanted Mango: This fruity item regenerates your hero's life points by 1 HP per second. If you need a mana refreshment, you can consume the item for 150 mana.
- Lotus Orb: "Lotus Orb" is a new all-round item made up of "Perseverance", "Platemail" and a recipe. It grants you 5 HP regeneration, 125% mana regeneration, 10 bonus damage and 10 armor points.
- The popular item "Shadow Blade" can be expanded to the "Glimmer Cape" with the "Cloak" in the next DotA patch. This grants you +30 attack speed and 20% magic resistance.
- Guardian Greaves: Supporters can also upgrade their "Arcane Boots" in the future. The boots, a "Mekansm" and a recipe create the "Guardian Greaves", which increase your movement speed by 55 and grant 250 mana, 5 stats points and 5 armor points.
- Moon Shard: Tiny players will enjoy "Moon Shard" in the future. You build this item from two "Hyperstones" and a recipe. It speeds up your attack by 120 points and increases your visibility at night. If you need the inventory space elsewhere, you can consume the item. You then have 60 attack speeds as a permanent buff.
- Silver Edge: You get a second extension of the "Shadow Blade" if you expand it with "Sange" and a recipe. "Silver Edge" increases your damage by 32, gives you 30 additional attack speed and increases your strength by 16 points. Also, when you attack from Shadow Walk, you now get 225 bonus damage.
- Solar Crest: This new item comes from "Medallion of Courage" and "Talisman of Evasion". It increases armor by 10, granting 75% mana regeneration and 30% dodge.
- Octarine Core: If you combine a "Mystic Staff" with a "Soulbooster", the new item "Octarine Core" is created. You get 25 intelligence, 450 life and 400 mana points, as well as 4% HP regeneration and 100% mana regeneration. The real meaning, however, is the passive ability: This reduces the cooldown of all spells by 25%. The item can also be used actively to steal life from opponents.
- The "Boots of Travel" will also receive a level upgrade. Simply buy the recipe again and you can also teleport to heroes who are friends.
DotA Patch 6.84: Changes in gold and experience gain
The most relevant change in DotA Patch 6.84 is the redistribution of gold and experience:
- You will farm almost 6.5% less gold on the lanes in the future. The death of an enemy hero is rewarded with 10% more gold than before.
- If you opt for a buyback, you will no longer be left blank in the new patch: So far you have had to forego any secure gold. With the update, you will still receive 60% of any revenue while you are affected by the buyback.
- The Jungle Creeps now also bring less gold. We'll tell you more in the next paragraph.
Patch 6.84: Changes in the jungle
The jungle has also been revised. If you hang around between the trees, you should note the following:
- The "Ancient" creeps will give less gold in the future. The reward for the "Black Dragon" has dropped from almost 200 to 170 gold, the "Black Drake" now gives 40 gold instead of 50 and the reward for the "Rumblehide" has been reduced by a quarter to 65 gold.
- The rewards are also changing beyond the Ancients: a "Satyr Tormenter" has previously brought you 104. In the future you will have to settle for 84 gold. The "Ogre Frostmage" will be worth 40 gold in the future.
- The reward of the "Hellbears" feared by youngsters is reduced from 65 to 50 gold. But the bear loses life - with 950 HP so far it was a strong opponent. With patch 6.84, the beast loses 250 of its Max HP.
- The "Mud Golems" bring a complete renovation. You lose 2 armor points, are no longer magic immune, but take 50% less damage to spells. So far, the patch notes do not show whether "Hand of Midas" can be applied to the Golems in the future. If the golems die, split them into two smaller "shard golems". In total, you will receive just as much experience and gold for a Mud Golem camp as before.
Hero changes in DotA 2 Patch 6.84
Of course, the heroes in DotA 2 have also been revised. The community will be spared from new heroes for the time being. Detailed changes can be found in the DotA-2 patch notes. We estimate that the changes will have some consequences:
- Overall, supporters seem to play a bigger role in the new update. Heroes like "Shadow Shaman", who usually have a supporting effect, gain additional attributes or shorter cooldowns, without cutting into the previous skills.
- Some carriers lose influence. "Sniper", for example, will have to wait 55 seconds for a load of "Shrapnel" in the future. The damage of his Ultimate skill has also been reduced.
- Surprising changes affect strong heroes anyway: "Lifestealer", "Huskar", "Legion Commander" and "Pudge" are now getting stronger. "Techies" also enjoys an innovation: its "Minefield Sign" turns from a prank attack into a serious spell.
- The influence of "Aghanim's Scepter" should increase drastically. Heroes like "Lifestealer" and "Wraith King" will benefit more from the reinforcing wand, while "Alchemist" will be able to transfer the scepter to other heroes as a buff.
These changes are likely to scare off some DotA players. If you don't feel like the chaos in public gaming for now, you could try out the MOBA alternative League of Legends. If you don't like LoL's plastic design, Blizzard also offers a nice alternative: In Heroes of the Storm you become part of a growing MOBA community and enjoy heroes from the classic games Warcraft, Diablo and Starcraft.