Patch 7.28a
Official patch notes · historical static snapshot
OFFICIAL PATCH NOTES · COLLECTED SNAPSHOT
Tracking the evolving meta.On this page
General
0 notes⌃
| # | Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Items
0 items · including 0 neutral⌃
No item changes in this patch.
Heroes & units
46 entries⌃

Axe
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Counter Helix Shard attack speed increased from 20 to 25 | 20 | 25 |

Juggernaut
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Swiftslash Cooldown increased from 15 to 20 | 15 | 20 |
| Swiftslash Cast range reduced from 650 to 600 | 650 | 600 |
| Blade Fury Shard attack damage now deals 75% damage instead of 100% | — | — |

Mirana
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 15 Talent reduced from -3.5s Arrow Cooldown to -3s | -3.5s Arrow Cooldown | -3s |
| Talents Level 20 Talent reduced from +10% Spell Amplification to +8% | +10% Spell Amplification | +8% |

Phantom Lancer
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit Lance Shard illusion damage increased from +20% to +30% | +20% | +30% |

Pudge
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Dismember Shard now reduces cooldown by 7 always, instead of by half when used on allies | — | — |

Vengeful Spirit
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Strength gain increased from 2.4 to 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Wave of Terror Damage increased from 60/80/100/120 to 70/90/110/130 | 60/80/100/120 | 70/90/110/130 |
| Vengeance Aura Damage increased from 8/16/24/32% to 11/18/25/32% | 8/16/24/32% | 11/18/25/32% |
| Nether Swap Cooldown reduced from 60/45/30 to 50/40/30 | 60/45/30 | 50/40/30 |

Zeus
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Static Field Damage reduced from 6/8/10/12% to 4/6/8/10% | 6/8/10/12% | 4/6/8/10% |

Kunkka
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Tidal Wave Manacost reduced from 150 to 75 | 150 | 75 |
| Tidal Wave Cooldown reduced from 16 to 14 | 16 | 14 |

Lion
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Mana Drain Shard attack speed reduction increased from 90 to 120 | 90 | 120 |

Shadow Shaman
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Shackles Shard wards duration reduced from 8 to 7 | 8 | 7 |

Riki
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Sleeping Dart cooldown reduced from 20 to 15 | 20 | 15 |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Enigma
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 15 Talent reduced from +10% Cooldown Reduction to +8% | +10% Cooldown Reduction | +8% |

Tinker
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Defense Matrix shard damage shield increased from 200 to 275 | 200 | 275 |
| Base stats / mechanics Defense Matrix duration increased from 10 to 12 seconds | 10 | 12 seconds |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Sniper
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Concussive Grenade Shard now deals 125 damage | — | — |

Wraith King
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Mortal Strike Damage reduced from 150/190/230/270 to 140/180/220/260 | 150/190/230/270 | 140/180/220/260 |

Phantom Assassin
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Phantom Strike Attack speed reduced from 100/125/150/175 to 75/100/125/150 | 100/125/150/175 | 75/100/125/150 |

Templar Assassin
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Psionic Trap Silence duration increased from 2.5 to 3 | 2.5 | 3 |

Viper
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Poison Attack Shard max stack increase from +2 to +3 | +2 | +3 |

Luna
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Lucent Beam Shard stun duration increased from 1.1 to 1.2 seconds | 1.1 | 1.2 seconds |

Leshrac
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Nihilism Scepter no longer causes you to take increased damage | — | — |

Nature's Prophet
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Wrath of Nature Scepter duration from 3 seconds max to 3.4 (1.2 to 1.6 min) | 3 seconds max | 3.4 (1.2 to 1.6 min) |

Lifestealer
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Base damage increased by 3 | — | — |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Ghoul Frenzy Slow increased from 6/12/18/24% to 10/15/20/25% | 6/12/18/24% | 10/15/20/25% |
| Rage Movement speed increased from 15% to 15/16/17/18% | 15% | 15/16/17/18% |
| Open Wounds Shard manacost reduced from 125 to 75 | 125 | 75 |

Clinkz
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 15 Talent reduced from -10s Skeleton Walk Cooldown to -7 | -10s Skeleton Walk Cooldown | -7 |
| Death Pact Damage reduced from 4/9/14% to 4/8/12% | 4/9/14% | 4/8/12% |

Omniknight
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Hammer of Purity Shard base damage increased from 25 to 50 | 25 | 50 |

Broodmother
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Silken Bola shard now deals 75 dps | — | — |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Bounty Hunter
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Track Shard vision reduced from 800 to 600 | 800 | 600 |

Batrider
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Base movement speed increased from 290 to 295 | 290 | 295 |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Spirit Breaker
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Netherstrike shard no longer changes cast behavior | — | — |
| Base stats / mechanics Netherstrike shard now gives 2 seconds of Spell Immunity after cast is successful | — | — |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Alchemist
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Greevil's Greed Stack duration reduced from 40 to 36 | 40 | 36 |

Invoker
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Wall Shard increases wall length by 320 distance | — | — |

Outworld Devourer
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Base movement speed increased from 310 to 315 | 310 | 315 |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 15 Talent increased from +6 Armor to +8 | +6 Armor | +8 |
| Talents Level 25 Talent increased from +20% Spell Lifesteal to +30% | +20% Spell Lifesteal | +30% |
| Arcane Orb Damage increased from 14% to 16% | 14% | 16% |
| Arcane Orb Cooldown reduced from 6/4/2/0 to 4/3/2/0 | 6/4/2/0 | 4/3/2/0 |
| Sanity's Eclipse Radius increased from 375/475/575 to 400/500/600 | 375/475/575 | 400/500/600 |

Lycan
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 15 Talent reduced from 10% Cooldown Reduction to 8% | 10% Cooldown Reduction | 8% |

Lone Druid
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Savage Roar Shard duration increased from 4 to 5 seconds | 4 | 5 seconds |

Ogre Magi
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Base damage reduced by 3 | — | — |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Ignite Manacost increased from 100 to 110 | 100 | 110 |

Rubick
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Arcane Supremacy Cast range increased from 75/125/175/225 to 100/150/200/250 | 75/125/175/225 | 100/150/200/250 |

Nyx Assassin
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Impale Manacost rescaled from 95/115/135/155 to 105/120/135/150 | 95/115/135/155 | 105/120/135/150 |
| Vendetta Manacost increased from 140/200/260 to 160/220/280 | 140/200/260 | 160/220/280 |

Keeper of the Light
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 15 Talent increased from -6s Blinding Light Cooldown to -8 | -6s Blinding Light Cooldown | -8 |
| Illuminate Max damage increased from 200/300/400/500 to 225/325/425/525 | 200/300/400/500 | 225/325/425/525 |
| Chakra Magic Mana restore increased from 80/160/240/320 to 100/180/260/340 | 80/160/240/320 | 100/180/260/340 |
| Solar Bind Cooldown rescaled from 22/20/18/16 to 23/20/17/14 | 22/20/18/16 | 23/20/17/14 |

Visage
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Silent as the Grave Scepter upgrade no longer provides flying vision | — | — |

Slark
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Fish Bait shard manacost reduced from 100 to 50 | 100 | 50 |
| Base stats / mechanics Fish Bait shard cooldown reduced from 20 to 12 | 20 | 12 |
| Base stats / mechanics Fish Bait shard duration increased from 4 to 6 seconds | 4 | 6 seconds |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Timbersaw
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flamethrower Shard dps increased from 75 to 90 | 75 | 90 |
| Flamethrower Slow increased from 20% to 25% | 20% | 25% |

Tusk
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Frozen Sigil movement speed increased from 310 to 340 | 310 | 340 |
| Base stats / mechanics Frozen Sigil shard movement speed slow increased from -20 to -30 | -20 | -30 |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Legion Commander
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Duel Shard Overwhelming Odds strike interval changed from 1.5 to 2 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Duel Shard Overwhelming Odds first strike now happens immediately | — | — |

Terrorblade
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Demon Zeal Shard movement bonus increased from 25 to 50 | 25 | 50 |
| Demon Zeal Shard duration increased from 6 to 7 | 6 | 7 |

Arc Warden
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Base strength reduced from 25 to 23 | 25 | 23 |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 10 Talent reduced from +250 Flux Cast Range to +200 | +250 Flux Cast Range | +200 |
| Talents Level 20 Talent reduced from +150 Spark Wraith Damage to +125 | +150 Spark Wraith Damage | +125 |

Monkey King
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Base stats / mechanics Shadow Tree Dance shard cooldown increased from 0.3 to 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.

Snapfire
↗⌃
Base stats / mechanics
| Change | Before | After |
|---|
No notes supplied for this section.
Abilities & talents
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Talents Level 10 Talent increased from +15 Movement Speed to +20 | +15 Movement Speed | +20 |
Neutral creeps
0 entries⌃
No neutral-creep section in this official patch.
Observed impact
This collection contains official balance changes. It has no patch-aligned match sample, so pick rates, win rates and performance trends are not established.
Explore match evidence →Interpretation
These notes describe patch 7.28a. Later patches may change or remove these mechanics. Historical Facet and Innate sections are preserved as written, rather than presented as current hero rules.
Balance changes alone do not prove a win-rate effect. Compare a stated sample, role and time window before drawing a performance conclusion.
Explore this patch →Official source & snapshot
Collected 2026-09-18T16:00:25.042681+00:00. Dates use Valve’s official patch timestamp in UTC. All meaningful note text, nested sections and explanatory notes from this response are retained. Standalone news posts and client bug-fix announcements are outside this gameplay-patch collection.
Valve source data ↗SHA-256: d97b3b2f0121fff9bd3c52342846b2b6835ee3db2103208248011f300a8224f6
