


Hey there, it’s Librarian Husky here! In the 7.37 D patch, certain heroes and items have emerged as top contenders. Bristleback, Pugna, and other notable picks dominate, thanks in large part to item synergies and specific buffs. This guide will walk through the top heroes, item trends, and effective choices to thrive in the current meta.
Bristleback: An Overpowered Frontliner
Bristleback shines in this patch, especially due to the potency of his Aghanim’s Shard. The Shard grants him area control with an AoE slow and a hefty armor reduction (around nine), cementing his role as a powerful initiator and frontliner. Bristleback is an essential pick for teams needing a resilient hero who can lead the charge effectively.
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Pugna: A Strong Meta Pick
Pugna has been exceptionally strong and is versatile enough to play core or support roles effectively. Despite nerfs to items like Bracer, which reduced tankiness, Pugna’s high durability and aggressive magic damage potential make him a top choice. The current meta shift away from Glimmer Cape further solidifies his power, as fewer supports build the magic resistance needed to counter his Nether Ward.
Using Pugna in the Meta
Mastering Pugna takes practice, especially in supporting teammates, but positioning is surprisingly forgiving—Nether Ward placement alone can dictate fights. Give Pugna a try to capitalize on his high damage output and tanky potential.
Top Carry Picks: Luna and Alchemist
Luna and Alchemist currently dominate the carry position due to their consistent performance. While heroes like Medusa, Gyrocopter, and Morphling also see play, Luna and Alchemist lead the pack with stable scaling and flexibility. For carries seeking reliability, Luna, Alchemist, and occasionally Medusa make strong choices.
Solar Crest’s Ongoing Value
Solar Crest remains a valuable item post-nerf, primarily because of its build-up and utility. Despite Bracer’s decline, Solar Crest offers early HP with Fluffy Hat and eventually leads into Pavis, an early-game item that blocks physical damage. The item’s low cost and accessible components make it a go-to choice for teams needing survivability and team-oriented buffs.
Solar Crest vs. Defensive Items
Solar Crest edges out items like Force Staff and Glimmer Cape due to its long cast range of 1,000, allowing safer saves for teammates. Additionally, its components (Wind Lace, Pavis, Crown) offer a cost-effective build path. While Force Staff’s components are pricier, Solar Crest offers a more streamlined and economical alternative.
Ogre Magi’s Rise in the Meta
Ogre Magi has risen in popularity, particularly in tournaments where he boasts a high win rate, highlighting his newfound importance in the meta. Ogre pairs exceptionally well with meta carries like Luna, Medusa, and Morphling, enhancing their output with the powerful Bloodlust buff, which boosts attack speed and movement speed significantly. The current “Bloodlust meta” heavily favors heroes who can capitalize on this buff, making Ogre a valuable and strategic addition to any team composition looking to maximize their carry’s effectiveness.
Chen’s Growing Influence
Chen has recently gained popularity due to his strong utility in team fights and effective laning phase, especially against ranged heroes. Despite being historically underpicked, Chen’s unique skill set makes him a valuable counter to popular heroes such as Mirana and Hoodwink, as he can handle their range advantage with ease. Chen’s early ability to purchase items like Solar Crest and Mechanism allows him to provide significant team support, boosting durability and sustain in mid-game skirmishes, making him a versatile choice for teams aiming to control the tempo.
The Decline of Bracer
Bracer has fallen out of favor in this patch, diminishing its relevance as a go-to core item across different roles. Although it remains situationally effective for certain heroes like Pugna, who benefit from its early health and regeneration, the item is generally less effective than before. Some players still combine a Bracer with items like Raindrops or Pavis, leveraging them for decent early-game survivability, but overall, pros are moving away from Bracer due to its diminishing returns in the current meta.
The Return of Dawnbreaker
Dawnbreaker has seen a resurgence thanks to her recent mana cost adjustments and highly flexible skill set, allowing her to excel in various roles. She can function effectively both as a core and support, thriving in aura-based team play or serving as a right-click Armlet carrier for quick farming. This versatility allows Dawnbreaker to slot into multiple team compositions, making her a valuable pick for teams looking to adapt their strategy according to game demands.
Dawnbreaker’s Hard Carry Potential
With items like Armlet, Black King Bar (BKB), Sange and Yasha, and Harpoon, Dawnbreaker has shown potential as a strong hard carry, even competing with high-farm heroes like Sven. This particular build path maximizes her durability and farming efficiency, enabling her to stay in fights longer and contribute high damage. By embracing her carry potential, players can leverage Dawnbreaker’s innate durability and sustainability, making her an impactful choice for the carry role when high survivability is crucial.
Enigma as a Reliable Offlaner
Enigma remains a solid offlaner due to his highly impactful itemization options and strong lane control abilities, positioning him as a consistent pick in professional and pub games alike. His “Gravity Well” ability provides valuable AoE damage reduction, which, when combined with his Black Hole ultimate, greatly enhances his tankiness and team fight presence. Enigma synergizes well with heroes like Chen and Pugna, whose abilities enhance his control and sustain in fights, making him a formidable pick for teams needing a stable offlane presence.
Dragon Knight’s Resurgence
Dragon Knight has returned as a viable carry pick, capitalizing on his durability and reliable farming speed to remain relevant in the meta. His tanky nature makes him a perfect fit for teams needing a resilient frontliner who can also deliver consistent damage output in fights. Although he is often overshadowed by other melee carries like Alchemist and Luna, Dragon Knight still holds solid potential as a second-phase pick, especially for teams aiming to sustain through prolonged engagements.
Effective Dragon Knight Builds
Dragon Knight offers considerable flexibility with his item builds, adapting to different playstyles to meet his team’s needs. A Blink Dagger and Mage Slayer combo can enhance his utility and disable potential, while a more aggressive setup with Armlet, Black King Bar, Manta Style, and Daedalus amplifies his damage output and durability. This versatility makes Dragon Knight a reliable choice, especially in pub games where his lane stability and flexibility provide a solid foundation for different strategies.
Lich’s Role in the Meta
Lich currently holds a distinctive position, excelling particularly in pub games due to his ability to influence early fights. His Growing Cold ability brings added utility by allowing Chain Frost to bounce among enemy creeps, significantly boosting damage in clustered fights. Frost Shield further enhances his early-game presence by offering tower protection and extra durability, making Lich a strong pick for teams focused on early-game engagements and map control.
The Growing Cold Mechanic
The Growing Cold talent has emerged as superior to Frostbound for its consistent impact, providing utility that opponents find difficult to counter. Growing Cold’s reliable functionality enables Lich to create value for his team in prolonged engagements. However, Lich’s inconsistent performance in the professional scene highlights limitations in high-stakes matches, where his laning phase can be challenging and his early game somewhat clunky, restricting his impact in more coordinated settings.
Storm Spirit: A Mid-Lane Staple
Storm Spirit has proven to be one of the most stable mid heroes, largely due to his Aghanim’s Shard, which provides significant AoE damage and crowd control. The Shard grants three Overload charges to allies within a radius, applying a damage and slow effect. This upgrade offers valuable utility, making it a highly effective mid-game investment.
Storm Spirit’s Shard and Kaeya Combo
Combining the Shard with Kaeya allows Storm Spirit to maximize his damage output and utility, granting him significant team-fight impact. This build path enables him to remain relevant and impactful even in challenging games, making him one of the most reliable mid picks in the meta.
Meta Overview: Hero and Item Diversity
The current meta showcases diverse hero choices and item builds, especially in professional games. Items like Bloodstone, Crimson Guard, and Helm of the Dominator find frequent use, showcasing the flexibility of itemization across roles. The Battle Fury item has largely faded, with some exceptions like Juggernaut opting for Mjollnir as an alternative. Radiance and Manta Style remain balanced and versatile.
Meta Balance and Flexibility
The game balance in 7.37 D feels stable, with no overwhelmingly broken items. Heroes who benefit from specific item synergies perform well, creating the perception of powerful items. This item diversity is especially prominent in the mid-lane, which allows for multiple viable build paths and strategies. Overall, this patch offers a balanced and engaging play environment, with viable heroes in every role.
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Top Picks by Role
For carries, Luna, Alchemist, and Medusa are solid choices. Shadow Fiend, Gyrocopter, Dragon Knight, and Morphling are also viable options. No hero dominates the meta entirely, leaving room for flexibility and experimentation in pub games.
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Best Heroes and Items in Patch 7.37d