Is Medusa the new best carry of 7.33 after win rate spike?

In classic Valve fashion, a botched rework with buffed numbers has created a new best carry for Dota 2 7.33.

Dota 2 fans are still figuring out the best strategies and heroes in patch 7.33, but just as fans discovered how broken Phantom Lancer was, Valve stepped in. 7.33b has changed the meta overnight, and now Medusa has seized her spot at the top of the win rate chart. However, players who may be familiar with playing the old Medusa may find themselves out of their comfort zones.

Among the many new mechanics and reworks of Dota 2 7.33, Medusa received some of the strangest changes of them all. She now fits in a category of her own, starting with zero strength and gaining none as she levels up. In exchange, her Mana Shield is now an inherent ability that can still be leveled up. However, it became much easier to see the downsides of the rework when it was first introduced to the game.

Valve responded in 7.33b, which boosted the numbers on all three of her abilities as well as made Mana Shield apply to illusions. In a matter of days, her win rate has shot up from an abysmal 42.27% to a game-breaking 60.56% and rising. The standard item build is still the same, but creative players have even discovered a Scythe of Vyse stack builds that makes her nearly invincible.

With new buffs, Medusa is the best carry of Dota 2 7.33

If you’re looking to take advantage of the new best carry in Dota 2 7.33, here’s what really makes Medusa broken in the current meta.

The number changes are nice, but applying Mana Shield to illusions is what really pushes the hero over the edge. Due to Split Shot, Medusa enjoys an insane effective DPS output boost from illusions. With just Manta Style, Dragon Lance, and Split Shot, a level 30 Medusa can boost her DPS from 335 to a whopping 2,650 and beyond. This was already true before, but thanks to the Mana Shield changes, those Manta Style illusions are nearly invincible. They can last through an entire team fight and shove waves while being very difficult to deal with. 

With that in mind, Medusa is still a polarizing character, as she’s now more vulnerable than ever to mana burn effects. A Diffusal Blade on Phantom Lancer is crippling, and a farmed Anti-Mage can still humble even a six-slotted snake queen. While situationally vulnerable, Medusa’s boosted abilities and invincible Manta Styles still make her the pound-for-pound best carry in Dota 2 7.33.