It is not day-after-day Dota 2 will get a brand new map. In reality, it is just about simply at this time. The New Frontiers Replace (opens in new tab) brings Dota 2 as much as model 7.33, and it is a hefty patch that adjustments the matchmaking algorithm, alters the interface, provides a brand new hero kind, makes a heap of stability adjustments, and expands the map by 40%.
Valve notes that, whereas there’s “40% extra terrain” across the map’s edges, the lanes stay as shut collectively as at all times. There’s simply extra to discover round and between them, and “Each predominant jungles have additionally been absolutely reconfigured, shaking up imaginative and prescient placement, juke routes, farming and extra.” Here is what’s new.
- 4 new named areas: The Properly, The Graveyard, The Statue, and The Mines.
- Roshan has two pits as a substitute of 1.
- Twin gates allow you to teleport between the highest and backside lane. Roshan additionally makes use of them to maneuver between his pits.
- Lotus swimming pools on the map’s left and proper spawn therapeutic lotus that offers mana in addition to HP.
- Impartial creep minibosses referred to as tormentors spawn close to the bases 20 minutes right into a match.
- Eight watchers scattered throughout the map grant imaginative and prescient to whichever workforce prompts them. That is useful, as a result of outposts now not grant imaginative and prescient or True Sight.
- Two new outposts, the unique ones have been repositioned too.
- 12 (!) extra creep camps.
- Two new energy runes: knowledge runes on the map’s edge and close to bases give XP, whereas protect runes within the river give barrier equal to half your max HP. (Additionally protect is named barrier now.)
- Defender’s gates are one-way emergency again doorways on every base, or as Valve places it, “Defender’s Gate combines the sparkly excessive fantasy of Dota with the practicality of doorways on your own home that you would be able to lock if you go to the grocery retailer to destroy its Historical.”
On the mechanical facet of issues, probably the most significant-seeming change is a complete new hero kind: Common heroes. Common heroes are ones who do not focus on a single attribute, as a substitute getting 0.6 harm for every level they’ve in any attribute. Present heroes who’ve been reshuffled into the Common class embody Bane, Broodmother, Enigma, Lone Druid, and Vengeful Spirit.
There are many different tweaks as effectively, like impartial creep talents now scaling over time, and each disable impact having its length decreased so you will spend much less time stunlocked. Impartial creeps now not drop objects, as a substitute dropping tokens that may be spent on one among 5 impartial objects, and there is a entire bunch of latest objects too. The kill system and Black King Bar have been reworked, and a few heroes given main overhauls, together with Muerta, Arc Warden, Ogre Magi, Medusa, Alchemist, and Clinkz. As Valve places it, “Most of Clinkz’s talents, like the perfect talents in life, now create skeletons.”
Matchmaking has altered in response to what Valve calls “an undesired clumping within the 0-1000 MMR vary” and the way onerous it was for returning gamers to get again to an correct Matchmaking Ratio after spending time away. Any more, fairly than MMR being calculated with the Elo algorithm, Dota 2 will use the Glicko algorithm. In reality, it has been doing that within the background for a minute, with Valve saying, “We have been operating each matchmaking programs concurrently behind the scenes for some time now to assist us construct confidence in these adjustments.”
Lastly, UI adjustments ought to make maintaining monitor of your HP and everybody else’s simpler. Obstacles (the issues that was referred to as protect, keep in mind?) are seen on the well being bar, and something that does not have a HP whole however is as a substitute defeated after receiving a set variety of hits—like these skeleton archers Clinkz now summons on the common—have well being bar pips to signpost that. And talents that value well being show that as a quantity, identical to mana value. Wise!
As you’d anticipate in a MOBA, any replace goes to return with a giant previous serving to of stability adjustments along with the hero overhauls talked about above. Take a look at Valve’s New Frontiers Replace web page (opens in new tab) the place you possibly can see full particulars of that stuff, in addition to mouse over an interactive model of the brand new map.
