Dota 2 update 7.26a just ruined Phoenix, changed all boots

Steven Rondina Published 21/04/2020

Dota 2’s 7.26 update was a huge one, but Valve stated that the team wanted to first collect data on what the impact of 7.26 would be before making those sorts of changes. Evidently, the Dota 2 development team didn’t need too much time to collect that data.

Dota 2 update 7.26a has arrived, bringing with it a long list of changes to items and heroes. It also reinforces one of the changes from 7.26, reducing the XP bonuses for kill streaks to go along with the previous gold reduction.

There were two running themes when it came to the item changes.

First, almost all items that give extra movement speed were changed in some way. Boots of Speed was changed from giving a 15% increase in movement speed to a flat +45. All upgraded boots received similar changes, with Guardian Greaves going from +17% to +50 and Boots of Travel going from 38/44% to +110/130.

Yasha received similar changes in version 7.26a, but in the opposite direction. Instead of giving a flat +20, it now gives +8%. This stays the same with Manta Style, but Valve also tried to make Sange and Yasha, Yasha and Kaya, and Trident a bit more useful by having this +8% increased to +10%.

Finally, Drum of Endurance’s movement speed was dropped from +13% to +12%.

The other sweeping change is that a number of early game items had their prices increased through increased recipe costs. Ring of Basilius, Headdress, Vladimir’s Offering, Mekansm, and Pipe of Insight all saw their recipe costs increased by anywhere from 25 to 200 gold.

Alongside this, Silver Edge no longer reduces health regen. Eye of Skadi now has an anti-regen effect, reducing all regen, heals and lifesteals by 35%.

Valve hammers Phoenix after surge in popularity with Dota 2 pros

Phoenix was the clear-cut best support hero in Dota 2 for a little while, with his early game damage and impactful ultimate making him a high-priority target at both ESL One Los Angeles and other events. Well, Valve clearly felt like the hero needed a significant nerf and delivered one that will likely see him return to being a niche option.

Fire Spirits’ cooldown was increased at lower levels but more importantly, Supernova lost the ability to use Sun Ray with Aghanim’s Scepter. That ability is now attached to its level 20 talent, hugely reducing the hero’s effectiveness in the mid game.

Alongside Phoenix, Death Prophet was also a huge figure in the 7.25 metagame that took a hit in Dota 2 update 7.26a. While Phoenix was ravaged, Death Prophet’s changes were more mild by comparison, with her base movement speed and Exorcism movement speed being reduced alongside an increase in mana cost for Exorcism.

Timbersaw, who was the most contested hero over recent weeks, was unchanged in the update. He is likely to receive a bit of a hit from the removal of secondary attribute bonuses, but it’s unclear if that will be enough to bring him back in line.

The full patch notes can be found on the official Dota 2 blog.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

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