Dota2 6.86 patch: Balance of Power Update

Holiday season is just about to begin and Valve is all about giving Christmas gifts to the players. Valve released a massive Dota2 6.86 patch calling it “The Balance of Power” on 16th December. From the looks of the Dota2 6.86 patch notes the changes looks like they will change the dynamics of the game to the next level!!

The Balance of Power update includes a new hero release, an amazing new Zeus Arcana, new items, new rune, optimization of the reborn client, a new desert terrain, a comic, changes in the map layout and a number of tweaks in the existing heros and items.

Here are some of the jaw dropping changes that we will get to see with this new patch

• Introduction of “ARC Warden” : a much anticipated and one of the few remaining heros from DOTA still to be brought into Dota2.

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Dota2 The Balance of Power Update — Arc Warden[/caption]

• Heros such as Earth Spirit, Oracle and Terror Blade will now be included in the Captain’s mode while heroes like Faceless Void, Lone Druid, Death Prophet, Doom and Riki will be temporarily removed from the captain’s mode on account of hero redesign. Most of these heros will return in the CM mode in the subsequent 6.86b/c patch.

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Dota2 The Balance of Power Update- Hero redesigns[/caption]

• Introduction of “Arcane rune!” : Causes all spell cooldowns to be reduced by 30% and mana costs to be reduced by 50%. (Lasts for 50 seconds).

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Dota2 The Balance of Power Update — Arcane Rune[/caption]

• Addition of Scepter to Ursa, Shadow Fiend, Magnus, Tide Hunter, Drow Ranger, Kunkka while reworked the Scepter effect on Pudge, Sand King and Vengeful Spirit.

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Dota2 Balance of Power Update — Desert Terrain[/caption]

• A number of terrain changes have been made including addition of a neutral camp on both Radiant and Dire side, new ward spots, new pathways and wait for it… Introduction of Desert Terrain Map !!!!

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Dota2 The Balance of Power Update — New Items[/caption]

• Introduction of 4 new exciting items : Each item having a potential to bring a whole new dynamic shift in the game play.

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Dota2 The Balance of Power Update — Zeus Arcana[/caption]

• Addition of an epic Zeus Arcana — the new Zeus arcana features a whole new mind nubbing look of the god of lightning!

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Dota2 The Balance of Power Update — Ultra Quality Shadow[/caption]

• Introduction of Ultra Shadow Quality : Players can now select Ultra Shadow Quality in the Video settings menu. The Ultra setting offers more vibrant hero and terrain shadows regardless of map, terrain type, or weather effect.

This update also includes a number of changes in the User Interface and Optimization in the reborn client. This includes provision of creating private chat channels, easy access to armory, detailed UI showing individual hero stat records and a direct access to shop on the main menu of the Dota2 client.

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Dota2 The Balance of Power Update — Hero Stat Interface[/caption]

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Dota2 The Balance of Power — Main Menu Shop Interface[/caption]

• Iron wood branch are now useable where you can place a happy little tree for 20 secs and you get a boosted tango effect when you consume that tree with your tangos.

Dota2 The Balance of Power Update is not limited to the above mentioned changes but it consists of series of additional updates including game balances and tweaks in existing heros, items and graphic options.

This patch is scheduled to go live sometime this week and has left the whole community ecstatic! What kind of new metas and gameplays this new patch will bring into the competitive scene is still left to be seen. But one this is for sure that Dota2 Balance of Power Update has for sure made the game much more complex and exciting for the players!!