Valve drops Dota 2 patch 7.33 — New Frontiers — on time, and it’s a big one

These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was that Valve released something on time — and it’s one of Dota 2’s biggest ever update.

Dota 2 patch 7.33 — the New Frontiers update — quite literally changes a lot of the things you know and love about the MOBA. For the first time in the game’s life, the map has expanded — now 40 percent bigger.

Dota 2 patch 7.33 New Frontiers update

This is amongst much larger changes that will surely introduce paradigm shifts to the future of the game, and its competitive meta.

Dota 2 patch 7.33 breaks new ground on the New Frontiers, including a brand new map

What’s new? A lot. Besides a map — clearly the highlight of the update — there’s a new hero attribute type called Universal, a rework of the staple item Black King Bar, neutral item redemption tokens, all neutral creeps getting stronger over time, and a blanket reduction of stun durations across the whole game.

Oh, and of course, hero changes that will take hours to read and months to properly figure out.

Dota 2 patch 7.33 new map

The expanded map now has two Roshan pits on opposite ends of the map. Tons of freshly-painted buildings are available as well. Twin Gates, which lets you teleport from end to to end after a brief channel. Lotus Pools, which provides healing fruit. Watchers, which function sort of as permanent observer wards that you need to activate.

Defender’s Gates — force fields that let you sneak in and out of the base, reminiscent of Heroes of the Storm. Two new runes, including Wisdom Runes, a counterpart to Bounty Runes that let you gain experience, and Shield Runes, a Power Rune that provides, well, a shield.

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There are no brakes on the patch hype train, dropping right in the middle of a tournament — DreamLeague S19 — and the Dota Pro Circuit’sESL One Berlin Majoris right on the horizon, beginning April 26.

You can read thefull patch notes here.

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