Hey, what is up guys! It’s Librarian Husky here, and today we’re going to be talking about the top five carries of patch 7.37D. These are my five favorite heroes and the ones I think are the best in the current patch. Let’s get into it! We’re going to start off with two honorable mentions. I feel I have to include one of these heroes, and the other I like, but I don’t think it’s completely overpowered in all brackets.

Honorable Mention: Wraith King

Wraith King is currently the highest win rate hero in Dota. I’m not kidding! Wraith King is literally the highest win rate hero in the game right now, so I can’t leave him off this list for the average player. Do I think he remains one of the best characters as you get better at the game? No, I don’t. His win rate on Dota 2 Pro Tracker is quite bad, and honestly, he’s basically unpicked in the pro scene. I think there’s a good reason for that, as his laning stage is not great, and he’s somewhat predictable in team fights.

Wraith King’s Strengths and Scaling Issues

I think in general the hero even has scaling issues. However, if opponents target poorly, it’s quite effective. Wraith King is also really easy to play, making him a solid choice. I recommend picking him if you get the safe lane, don’t usually play that role, or if you’re looking for an easy hero to adapt to the position. For average to low MMR players, Wraith King is a solid option.

Honorable Mention: Drow Ranger

Next up, we have Drow Ranger. We’ve seen quite a bit of Drow in the recent major. It’s been used as a response to Luna. Luna is a semi-low-range hero, and Eclipse is also short-range, allowing Drow to outrange her while piercing through Luna’s high base armor. This is especially strong because Drow’s ultimate can pierce through stat-based heroes like Terrorblade and Morphling, making her a solid counter in these matchups.

Drow Ranger Talents and Abilities

It’s important to note that Drow Ranger’s talent tree is quite strong. At level 10, she gains 15 extra damage on Frost Arrows, and at level 15, she has two excellent talents: reduced cooldown on Multishot or increased attack range, which many players are now taking. Drow can now move during Multishot and use items like Pike, Manta, or BKB, which drastically improves her survivability in fights.

Meta Potential and Late Game Impact

Drow Ranger’s shard is one of the best in the game, preventing her ultimate from being canceled in the late game, which is incredibly powerful. This makes Drow much harder to lock down, and I believe she has a lot of potential in the current meta. Definitely worth trying her out if you haven’t already!

Razor: The Real Deal

Now let’s move on to Razor, coming in at number five. I’ve been a Razor believer for a while, mainly because of his Thunderhead ability. Thunderhead reduces the cooldown on Storm Surge, allowing Razor to shock multiple targets, slow them, and deal damage when he is auto-attacked or targeted by an ability.

Razor’s Thunderhead and Storm Surge Synergy

Razor’s Storm Surge ability doesn’t always proc, but with the Thunderhead facet, it has a much higher chance of triggering, about 177% of the time when Razor’s ultimate is active. This effectively doubles the chance of proccing and lowers the cooldown from 5 seconds to 3 seconds. This upgrade feels like the old Razor who used to buy Bloodstone, a viable option some may still consider for this hero today.

Recommended Razor Build

I firmly believe in the potential of carry Razor. The optimal build should start with Wraith Band, Boots, Magic Wand, and Null Talisman. These items provide much-needed armor and attack speed from Wraith Band and mana from Null Talisman, as Razor desperately needs mana. I recommend avoiding mana boots, as they are no longer effective on heroes like Razor. Treads are the better option now.

Further Item Options

From this core setup, players can choose to build Falcon Blade or Mage Slayer depending on their game situation. Both items offer solid benefits, allowing Razor to maintain his aggressive playstyle and sustain his presence in fights.

Razor’s Itemization Strategy

Mage Slayer is incredibly valuable when facing teams with heavy magic damage, as it provides great mana regeneration. Falcon Blade is a more well-rounded choice, though the greediest build involves rushing Manta Style or Sange and Yasha. While both are viable, they don’t offer mana, which is why I prefer Falcon Blade into Black King Bar (BKB) for a more reliable and solid build. After BKB, Sange and Yasha into Shard is the go-to combination.

Late Game Razor Item Choices

The Shard extends the duration of Razor’s Static Link, allowing him to pull enemies toward him and stay closer for longer. Afterward, buying Satanic is essential for durability. At this stage, you have several options: Refresher if you have the mana pool, Butterfly, or even Hurricane Pike. Nightfall was seen using Hurricane Pike in this position. The key items are Sange and Yasha, BKB, and Satanic, making Razor a tanky powerhouse while proccing Thunderhead.

Gyrocopter: The Rising Star

Coming in at number four is Gyrocopter. I believe Gyrocopter will see a rise in popularity following nerfs to other ranged heroes. While this hero is one of my favorites and I’m admittedly biased, I think Gyrocopter has huge potential in the current meta. Though challenging to play, his abilities and playstyle make him a strong contender in this patch.

Gyrocopter Itemization Misconceptions

I believe many players are getting Gyrocopter’s item build wrong. Aghanim’s Scepter (AGS) is one of the most overrated items for Gyrocopter. I don’t think AGS works that well on him, and I’m curious when people might stop buying it altogether. Many players, including pros, disagree with this opinion, but I feel strongly that Gyro performs better without this item in most cases.

Aghanim’s Scepter and Misunderstood Synergy

One key misconception is that AGS synergizes well with attack speed, but this isn’t the case. The additional auto attacks from AGS are based on a set interval, meaning attack speed items like Mjollnir or Yasha don’t increase the number of hits from AGS. This is why AGS typically works better with damage items like Daedalus. Yet, many players, including pros like Tomato, are building attack speed items alongside AGS, such as Yasha and Shadow Blade.

Arguments for Aghanim’s Scepter

Some argue that AGS works well with Flak Cannon, as it doubles the number of hits, or that it provides needed HP. However, I find these arguments unconvincing. While AGS has its uses, I believe players need to rethink how and when it fits into their itemization strategy, focusing on better synergy with Gyrocopter’s core abilities and items.

Optimal Gyrocopter Build

I truly believe that the best build for Gyrocopter is Dragon Lance with Power Treads and a Magic Wand. Dragon Lance is an excellent early game fighting item, providing range and an HP pool while allowing you to safely use Flak Cannon. After Dragon Lance, you should buy Mjollnir, which is the best damage item of the patch and helps Gyro confidently engage in fights without fear of dying.

Core Items and Mid-Game Strategy

After Mjollnir, build a Black King Bar (BKB) to survive longer in fights. From this point, there are many viable item paths depending on the game. The core items I prefer are Pike, BKB, and Mjollnir. These make you hard to kite and give you insane damage output. Satanic is a great follow-up, especially at level 20 when you can combine it with Rocket Barrage damage for a devastating combo.

Late-Game Itemization

After Satanic, Butterfly is a powerful choice to round out the build. With these items, Gyrocopter becomes exceptionally durable and hard to counter, dealing massive damage while sustaining through longer engagements. This build allows Gyro to dominate both the early and late game phases effectively.

Gyrocopter’s Current Meta Position

I believe Gyrocopter is being misunderstood right now. I recommend giving my build a try. Some players, like Parker, are rushing Mjollnir, which I believe might become the standard approach since it’s incredibly strong. Gyro recently gained two base damage in the last patch, which may not seem significant at first, but considering his high base attack time and the nature of Flak Cannon hitting multiple targets, this buff results in a noticeable increase in overall damage.

Impact of Buffs on Gyrocopter

The two extra base damage ends up contributing significantly, providing roughly an extra 16 to 20 damage on the first Flak Cannon hit and helping to push creep waves faster. On top of that, Gyrocopter received a buff to his ultimate’s damage in the previous patch. With these buffs, combined with nerfs to heroes around him, Gyrocopter has gained a lot of power in the current patch.

Luna: The Recently Nerfed Hero

Moving on to number three, we have Luna, who was nerfed in the last patch. Despite this, Luna still boasts a 58% win rate in the recent tournament and remains one of the most picked heroes. Normally, when a hero is picked frequently, it gets studied and countered, but Luna continues to perform well, showing her strength in the current meta.

Resilience of Luna’s Laning Stage

It’s hard to counterpick Luna because her laning stage is very resilient, and her farming patterns are highly defensive, especially on this map with so many camps. Shutting her down is difficult, which is why flash farmers like Luna tend to perform well. This has been the case since the release of the current map, and although Luna was nerfed, the impact wasn’t significant enough to alter her dominance.

Recent Nerfs to Luna

The recent nerfs to Luna slightly reduced the damage buff from her Moon Glaives and decreased the damage on Lucent Beam. While this matters, especially for Luna’s early game where she maxes Lucent Beam to burst opponents, it wasn’t enough to prevent her from being strong. Losing 20 damage per beam adds up when hitting enemies multiple times, but her farming speed, good laning phase, and level 20 power spike still make her a top-tier hero.

Luna’s Level 20 Power Spike

At level 20, Luna becomes even more powerful with the addition of Aghanim’s Scepter, allowing her to fire two Moonglaives with Lucent Beam. This upgrade significantly boosts her damage output and ensures that Luna can continue farming and fighting effectively, maintaining her strong presence in the meta despite the recent adjustments.

Luna’s Insane Late-Game Talents

Luna’s level 20 and 25 talents are incredibly powerful. At level 25, Lucent Beam hits an additional target, essentially giving Luna four auto attacks on a 6-second cooldown from a long range. Imagine a Sven getting four free auto attacks without needing God Strength, and that’s how broken Luna can feel in the late game. Although Luna doesn’t hit as hard as Sven, her damage output is still impressive, and her Lucent Beam scales further with Aghanim’s Scepter, making her a formidable carry.

Luna’s Early Game Fighting Power

Luna is also extremely strong in the early game due to the changes that allow her to skill both Lucent Beam and Moonglaives. This makes her one of the most reliable and well-rounded heroes in the patch. Her ability to fight early, farm efficiently, and scale into the late game with powerful talents makes her arguably the most well-rounded carry of the patch.

Medusa: Another Well-Rounded Carry

Another well-rounded carry in this patch is Medusa. Although Medusa was technically nerfed last patch by reducing the effectiveness of Mana Boots, this change hasn’t significantly impacted her performance. The common build involved buying Mana Boots during the laning stage, but this wasn’t a necessary choice for the hero to remain effective, and Medusa still thrives in the current meta.

Medusa’s Recommended Build

My current favorite build on Medusa starts with pretty standard items. You begin with a combination of three branches or Sage’s Mask and three Iron Branches. Some players are also starting with Mangoes for early aggression, which is fine. We’re still seeing players buy a Basilius, even when going for Power Treads, as it helps with early game mana. Null Talisman is another option, with players like Tomato and Miracle using it.

Early Game and Mana Management

If you’re focusing on the laning stage, you can go for both Basilius and Wand to compensate for not building Mana Boots. This helps keep your mana pool healthy while maintaining durability. After that, Treads are the natural choice, followed by Manta Style. If you want to fight early, Diffusal Blade is a viable option as it provides both a mana pool and a slow.

Transitioning to the Mid Game

The standard build usually involves getting Manta around the 13-14 minute mark. After Manta, many players on Pro Tracker opt for Shadow Blade, which has been buffed multiple times and provides high damage and mobility. Diffusal Blade remains popular as well, giving Medusa even more mana burn and utility in fights.

Medusa’s Late Game Build Options

I’m a big fan of the build mentioned earlier because it gives Medusa great early fighting potential. After that, Butterfly is usually the next item, but there’s quite a bit of variation. Sometimes you’ll see Eye of Skadi if the enemy has heavy healing. In one game, Yoro bought Orchid against Puck, Pugna, and Shadow Demon, then quickly transitioned into Bloodthorn, which worked well with Manta and provided great mana pool benefits for Medusa.

Medusa’s Overall Strengths

Medusa has been one of the most stable heroes for a while. She is easy to lane with, farms quickly, hits a strong mid-game timing, and scales excellently into the late game. Her ability to siege high ground is unmatched. However, her only real weakness is taking Roshan, as she isn’t particularly good at it. Apart from that, Medusa does nearly everything well.

Alchemist: The Top Carry of the Patch

Finally, we have Alchemist, who I believe is the best carry of this patch if played correctly. Alchemist has a 53% win rate on Pro Tracker, while on Dotabuff, it’s slightly lower at 51%. The hero doesn’t usually have a high win rate in lower MMR games because he doesn’t scale exceptionally well. However, for players who understand his mechanics, Alchemist can dominate the game and is a top-tier pick this patch.

Optimizing Alchemist’s Build

Alchemist may not be the best scaling hero, but with the right build, you can still go crazy. My first recommendation is that Soul Ring is essential. There are many different starting item builds, but my favorite includes two Gauntlets, a Circlet, a Stick, Tangos, and a Quelling Blade. This starting setup gives you insane HP and damage, setting you up for a strong early game.

Early Game Item Progression

After the initial items, turn the Circlet and one Gauntlet into a Bracer, then buy Boots. Depending on your needs, you can either buy Phase Boots right away or get Soul Ring first if you require more mana. After this, complete your Phase Boots and aim for Radiance.

Alchemist’s Mid-Game Power Spike

One common mistake I see is players rushing Manta Style, which I strongly dislike. Manta has been nerfed multiple times, and the illusions have a long cooldown and low duration, making them underwhelming. Instead, I recommend going for Sange and Yasha after Radiance. This combination gives you a great mix of stats and durability, and pairing it with a Blink Dagger allows you to fight effectively in the early game.

Alchemist’s Insane Shard Timing

After completing your core items, you should buy your Shard. This timing is incredibly strong, as the Shard provides slow resistance, status resistance, and, most importantly, heal amplification. This is especially valuable for Alchemist due to his ultimate and the huge buff Berserk Potion received, which increased its duration by 50%. The Shard now grants 50 attack speed, 40 HP regen, and 30 movement speed, all while providing a dispel when cast.

The Synergy of Shard with Alchemist’s Kit

The 50 attack speed works perfectly with Alchemist’s ultimate, which reduces his base attack time. The 40 HP regen is massive, especially when combined with the heal amplification. Additionally, the movement speed synergizes with Phase Boots and Unstable Concoction, making you incredibly hard to catch or kite. These factors make this Shard timing one of the best in Dota, allowing you to dominate fights.

Countering Alchemist with Spirit Vessel

If the enemy team is buying a Spirit Vessel, that’s one of the best counters to this build. Spirit Vessel reduces healing and makes it harder for Alchemist to sustain through fights. However, if the enemy doesn’t have a Spirit Vessel, you become nearly unkillable with Sange and Shard alone. You may not even need Black King Bar (BKB) because the timing of Sange and Shard makes you so durable and resistant to disables.

Post-Shard and Sange & Yasha Recommendations

After completing Sange and Yasha along with your Shard, I recommend getting Black King Bar (BKB). If you’re facing Spirit Vessel, you can also hold onto your Shard until necessary, as it provides a dispel. Afterward, my preferred item is Mjollnir. You might wonder about Assault Cuirass (AC), which many players opt for, but I think it’s overrated for Alchemist.

Why Assault Cuirass Isn’t Ideal

Many players choose AC because of its synergy with Acid Spray, which reduces armor, and AC further reduces armor by five. This results in an 11 armor reduction. However, this isn’t enough to reliably kill carries, as most heroes can surpass that armor threshold. Armor reduction is more effective when bringing enemies down to zero or negative armor, but that doesn’t happen often, especially against tanky carries.

The True Reason for AC’s Popularity

Historically, players picked AC for Alchemist due to his armor issues. However, this is no longer a significant problem. With Phase Boots, Soul Ring, and potential neutral items like Dragon Scale or Ion Shell, Alchemist’s armor is quite solid. Additionally, at level 15, Acid Spray grants armor to allies, giving you even more protection. With these factors, Alchemist can easily reach 20 to 23 armor, even without AC, making it less necessary in most games.

Mjollnir: The Best DPS Item for Alchemist

In my opinion, you don’t need extra armor on Alchemist, which is why my favorite item for damage is Mjollnir. It’s one of the highest DPS items in the mid-game. While Daedalus is great when combined with other damage items, Mjollnir is incredibly effective as a standalone item. With Radiance as your only other damage item, Mjollnir’s attack speed synergizes perfectly. The active Shield dealing 225 damage per jolt over 15 seconds is insane, making Alchemist tanky and lethal.

Why Mjollnir Outshines Other Damage Options

Mjollnir outperforms other items like Assault Cuirass because of its sheer damage output and synergy with Alchemist’s playstyle. When combined with his level 20 talent, which reduces his base attack time, Mjollnir’s attack speed becomes even more potent. This makes Alchemist hard to kill while continuously dealing massive damage. In my opinion, Mjollnir is vastly superior to other options, and it’s not even close.

Late-Game Item Choices for Alchemist

After Radiance, Blink, Sange and Yasha, Shard, and Mjollnir, there are many viable late-game items. Black King Bar (BKB) is excellent for survivability, and Abyssal Blade is strong for additional lockdown. Surprisingly, my favorite late-game item for Alchemist is Octarine Core. It may sound crazy, but the reduced cooldowns on his ultimate and Shard are extremely valuable, providing more stuns and keeping Alchemist in the fight longer.

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