Support for one of the most long-running esports remains, but for how long? The Dota 2 meta after the inclusion of Ringmaster is leaving the community frustrated, and it’s a problem rooted in a much earlier patch.
The Dota 2 meta has gone through three iterations of patch 7.38, and the competitive scene is starting to show a clear pattern of which heroes are strong and which ones aren’t. In the past, patches were praised by the community for the versatility they offered.
There were always “broken” heroes, but plenty of counters kept things fresh. You might watch a tournament where a surprise Meepo or Pudge pick would hype up the crowd, serving as a creative response to a dominant hero. That’s no longer the case.
Reddit user u/PGzNick shared a post pointing out that the last three pro tournaments featured over 30 heroes that were neither picked nor banned. Not only that, but some “cheese” picks like Rubick, Pudge, or Arc Warden remained completely ignored. Even Phantom Lancer — a forgotten hero who was buffed in patches 7.38 and 7.38b — was absent from Fissure Special, ESL One Raleigh, and PGL Wallachia Season 4.
What’s the state of the Dota 2 meta as of May 2025?
The number of unpicked and unbanned heroes is not the only red flag. Every patch has its overpowered picks, and it’s normal to have trends. But when certain heroes remain at the top for too long, improvisation disappears. You have to pick them or risk losing.
Patch 7.38, Wandering Waters, which launched in February, introduced a new map system meant to shake things up. But it was Ringmaster’s arrival in Captain's Draft — and his two new facets — that stole the spotlight. He was the most picked hero in two of the three latest tournaments and a top-three pick in the PGL Wallachia Season 4 tournament.
Here are some of the most picked or banned heroes in the current Dota 2 meta:
- Ancient Apparition: A late-game powerhouse. His new facet, Bone Chilling, reduces enemy strength and counters many meta core picks.
- Jakiro: Provides strong teamfight control thanks to his new Ice Path facet. Also excels in lane harassment.
- Tinker: Now played as a support, but still dominates in net worth. With the Repair Bots facet, he provides massive sustain using March of the Machines.
- Templar Assassin: A top choice for hard carries. Templar Assassin thrives in the current meta by exploiting efficient farming patterns and dealing huge damage. While both facets are viable, most pros opt for Voidblades for area of effect (AoE) armor reduction and bonus damage.
- Tiny: The definition of versatility. He can fill any role and perform well. If the enemy team doesn’t have Ancient Apparition, grabbing the Insurmountable facet grants him bonus status resistance and slows based on strength.
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Has the stale meta affected viewership?
The short answer: no. Some Reddit posts claimed ESL One Raleigh 2025 was proof that “Dota is dying” for the millionth time. But that narrative ignores one key factor: the North American time zone isn’t ideal for European viewers, which explains the lower numbers.
On the other hand, PGL Wallachia Season 4 nearly broke the viewership record set in Season 1. According to Esports Charts, the grand final peaked at almost 400,000 concurrent viewers — a strong number for a game with monthly Tier 1 events.
Still, Valve shouldn’t take this loyal audience for granted. Many players say watching Dota 2 is more enjoyable than playing it — likely due to the current state of the meta. The game continues to evolve with map expansions and facets, keeping it visually fresh yet also making it more complex for newcomers.
With an increasing number of broken heroes being exploited in pro matches, a balance patch is needed perhaps sooner rather than later.
The next Tier 1 Dota 2 event is BLAST Slam III, a high-paced tournament with no lower bracket, a one-day group stage full of best-of-one (Bo1) games, and more! Stay tuned for all the updates on this upcoming event.
