Who to Play in Patch 7.39: TOP 5 New Imba Heroes in Dota 2

With the release of Patch 7.39, Dota 2 has undergone a massive update that goes far beyond minor balance tweaks. Valve has completely reworked several heroes, introduced new neutral items, and significantly improved the interface and navigation for newcomers. All these changes have had a direct impact on the meta, and a number of heroes have already emerged as the true "imba" picks of this update.

New Features and Interface Improvements

Patch 7.39 not only reshaped the power dynamics in the game but also significantly improved the overall user experience. A new tab with team items has appeared in the shop, showing recommended builds for allies, saving players from manually checking each teammate’s inventory.

Additionally, visual and audio signals (pings) have been updated, settings are now easier to navigate with keyword search, and client performance has been enhanced. Of particular note is the improved display of death timers and buyback taxes — making post-death decision-making more precise.

The map has also been reworked, and long-standing bugs with Blink Dagger's reduced range under certain conditions have finally been fixed.

Top 5 Heroes of Patch 7.39

Amidst all the changes in the patch, several heroes stand out due to either major updates or exceptional synergy with the new mechanics.

1. Clockwerk with the Chainmeal Aspect

One of the patch's most surprising and powerful picks is Clockwerk with the new Chainmeal aspect. It allows him to consume a Chainmail item (550 gold) to permanently gain +4 armor. Although he loses the increased radius of Power Cogs, this new mechanic gives him immense armor stacking potential — especially in long matches.

As an offlaner, Clockwerk can build tanky items and scale well over time. By the 40–50 minute mark, he can have over 50 armor, making him nearly invincible.

2. Axe

With the introduction of new neutral items and more efficient jungle farming mechanics, Axe is once again dominating the offlane. A fast Blink Dagger, followed by strong initiation and the ability to snowball into the mid and late game, makes him extremely threatening.

3. Phantom Assassin

Thanks to critical hit mechanic updates and buffs to base stats, Phantom Assassin has returned to the meta. Talents and neutral item synergy make her one of the most reliable carry picks in this patch.

4. Zeus

Interface improvements and enhanced damage display have played into Zeus’s strengths as a global nuker. His ability to deal damage across the map is more valuable than ever in a meta that emphasizes macro play and enemy tracking.

5. Slardar

With changes to armor and status resistance, Slardar has become one of the most reliable initiators and frontline heroes. He performs especially well when paired with physical damage cores and can dominate his lane in the current patch landscape.

Spirit Breaker: An Imba Pick Outside the Top 5

The meta seems to be welcoming back Spirit Breaker, especially with the rework to his Aghanim’s Scepter ability, Planar Pocket. It now targets a specific hero instead of being a self-activation. When used, Spirit Breaker gains 75% magic resistance and redirects all single-target enemy spells aimed at that hero onto himself. This works on both allies and enemies, though only enemy spells targeting the chosen hero are redirected.

An important exception is Io’s Tether, which isn't affected. Also, redirected spells are not treated as reflected — meaning if Spirit Breaker has a Lotus Orb, redirected spells will bounce back to their original caster. If a spell has different effects on allies and enemies, Spirit Breaker will be treated as an enemy.

Other changes to Planar Pocket include:

• Cooldown increased from 20 to 25 seconds
• Mana cost increased from 75 to 100
• Duration reduced from 7 to 6 seconds
• Now only dispellable with strong dispels

What does this mean? It means that by using this ability on an enemy core, you strip them of any saves from their allies and instead redirect those abilities to yourself — which is extremely powerful. For example, Oracle's ultimate simply won’t be cast on the enemy core, allowing you to kill them without interference.

General Trends of Patch 7.39

Patch 7.39 emphasizes not only raw hero power but also survivability and late-game scaling. Heroes that thrive in prolonged fights and resource accumulation now hold a significant advantage. The meta has seen a rise in “late-game” heroes who become unstoppable around the 40–50 minute mark through stat and armor scaling.

Valve has also made Dota 2 more beginner-friendly, potentially shifting player behavior and matchmaking strategies across all skill levels.

Conclusion

Patch 7.39 has drastically reshaped Dota 2’s balance and daily meta. The introduction of hero aspects, major reworks, new neutral items and interface upgrades has created room for new strategies and experimentation. Clockwerk, Axe, Phantom Assassin, Zeus, and Slardar are just a few of the heroes already showing high win rates in the current patch.

Choosing the right hero for the current meta is key to climbing ranks. Keep an eye on patch notes and pro scene reactions to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on the patch’s strengths in your own matches.