Latest Dota 2 update changes bounty runes and guides

Steven Rondina Published 10/12/2019

A tweak has been administered to Dota 2 version 7.23c, bringing some UX updates as well as a change to bounty runes.

The Outlanders Update brought a slew of changes to Dota 2 including Neutral Items, a heavily changed map, and outposts. Though Valve undoubtedly invested a great deal of time and effort into making the update a reality, not all features in the game were updated to reflect these changes.

Guides have now been updated to allow for Neutral Item suggestions.

The addition of Neutral Items has been hugely impactful in Dota 2, and certain items naturally synergize with specific heroes. Examples include Bounty Hunter with Poor Man’s Shield and Dragon Knight with Dragon Scale. Picking out which Neutral Items work with specific heroes is important, and Valve is allowing players to help one another make good calls on when to keep a Neutral Item and when to share it with a teammate.

Alongside this was an update to the standard guide to the Phantom Assassin, with different recommendations for her talent tree. Valve also updated some localization files and fixed a minor typo in its item descriptions.

Bounty Rune changes in latest Dota 2 update

Most of the changes in the latest Dota 2 update were UX-related, but there was one notable change to the actual game regarding bounty runes. Bounty runes now feature a fixed value based upon the time at which they spawn, rather than the time at which they are picked up.

Bounty runes’ values are determined based on time, and previously that value would increase based upon how long the rune stayed on the map. For example, a bounty rune that spawns at 25 minutes and is immediately picked up gives less gold than a rune that spawns at the same time but gets picked up four minutes later.

This update fixes that by giving bounty runes that spawn at the same time an identical gold value regardless of when they are picked up.

Why Valve chose to do this is a mystery, but the most likely answer is the introduction of outposts. With bounty runes spawning outside each outpost and vision being fairly easy to maintain, teams were likely able to easily wait to pick up runes in order to increase their value.

This prevents teams from exploiting the defensive value of outposts in this way and could lead to bounty runes being a greater point of contention in the future.

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.

View full profile

Read Also

Esports Betting

Heroic Exits Dota 2, and It’s Bad News for the Scene Owen Harsono Norwegian esports organization Heroic has officially called it quits in Dota 2, dropping its roster after two years in the scene. Despite finding relative success, the organization cited financial constraints as the primarily reason for their departure. If a budget-savvy team like Heroic couldn’t make it work, the Dota 2 scene is in big trouble. On May 4, Heroic suddenly announced they’d be pulling the plug on their Dota 2 ...

League of Legends

Playing League of Legends can improve brain function, study finds Khizar Mundia If you have ever found yourself having to defend the countless you spend gaming online then you may now have a ready-made excuse — researchers have just revealed that video games can improve brain function. A team from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China conducted a study comparing League of Legends with Legends of the Three Kingdoms. The study found both improved brain function, with League of ...

Dota 2

Is Dota 2 dying in 2026? Here’s what the numbers really say Ben Boland The question “Is Dota 2 dead?” has been asked by many people over the last couple of years. Since the game’s player base fluctuates and other MOBAs rise in popularity, it’s understandable that some people feel like Dota 2 is dying and its best days are behind it. However, is this really the case? Let’s find out. Once you start looking for some of the best Dota 2 teams or ...

Dota 2

Every Dota 2 International Champion in History: The Complete Winners List Ben Boland If you know a thing or two about esports, “The International” should ring a bell. TI is Dota 2’s yearly tournament and is one of the most prestigious tournament series in all of esports. It’s best known for its million-dollar prize pools, and every edition tells a different story. Below, we list all the winners of Dota 2’s The International. Every year, Valve hosts an iteration of The International, with ...

Kick

ESL FACEIT Group announces Kick partnership, here’s what we know Khizar Mundia ESL FACEIT Group and Kick have signed a partnership that will allow the platform to distribute and broadcast select official CS2 and Dota 2 tournaments. Esports broadcasting rights are an important element for major streaming platforms, as popular tournaments draw millions of viewers. The esports broadcasting network is substantially fragmented as no one platform holds exclusive rights for major tournaments. Kick has been trying to get into the esports scene ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Players in 2026 Owen Harsono In 2026, pro Dota 2 players are on another level, with a bunch of them even passing 17,000 MMR. However, not all of them can prove themselves on the big stage. Below we have ranked the top 10 best Dota 2 players in 2026 who have championship qualities. We have ranked the top 10 Dota 2 players in the world right now. We primarily considered individual skill and overall contribution ...

Dota 2

Best Dota 2 Teams in 2026 Owen Harsono We're currently in one of the most competitive eras in Dota 2, as many teams have the potential to win an event. But, even though the playing field is very even right now, some squads still manage to win out more often than others. Below are the top 10 best Dota 2 teams this year, including details on their recent successes and any question marks that remain. NAVI went for ...