Patch 7.40c adds Largo to Captain’s Mode, Clinkz takes a major hit

After a new round of buffs, Largo is now ready to join the competitive scene, while plenty of other heroes got hit by the nerf hammer in the latest Dota 2 balance patch.

Patch 7.40c focuses on reshaping the meta and fine-tuning heroes as the pro scene prepares for a packed tournament schedule. But beyond the actual hero nerfs, the changes to two key items could indicate Valve’s intention to nerf the magic burst builds that spiked after patch 7.40.

Phylactery's stat reduction might put an end to builds that relied on it as the first item for carry heroes such as Gyrocopter, Phantom Lancer or even Spectre. This, combined with the direct nerf to Ember's Searing Chains, indicates a balancing attempt to keep magic damage in check while bringing back physical powerhouses.

However, the two headlines of patch 7.40c are the addition of new hero Largo to Captain’s Mode and substantial nerfs targeting the dominant Clinkz, which might get him completely out of the meta.

Largo joins the professional play

After a final round of buffs, the amphibious hero Largo has officially been added to Captain's Mode. This makes him available for drafting in professional matches just ahead of major tournaments. Largo’s latest adjustments include increased Intelligence gain and buffs to his core abilities, Frogstomp and Amphibian Rhapsody, with the latter now being toggleable while silenced.

Clinkz's skeleton power halted

The patch takes direct aim at Clinkz, a hero who rose to prominence in 7.40 due to his overwhelming skeleton summons power. The changes are big:

• Skeleton Walk: The skeleton summons now deal 75% less damage to buildings.
• Aghanim's Scepter: The upgrade no longer improves Skeleton Walk. It now solely provides the Burning Army ultimate, a significant reduction in value.
• Talents: Level 15 Attack Range talent is reduced from +60 to +50, and level 25 Searing Arrows Multishot talent no longer applies to Skeleton Archers.

Other major nerfs in patch 7.40c

Broodmother: A double-hit to her webs.

• Necrotic Webs Facet: Enemy Restoration Reduction reduced from 70% to 55% at max level.
• Spin Web: Max charges reduced from 4/6/8/10 to 3/5/7/9
• Talents: Incapacitating Bite attack bonus decreased from +8 to +6 and Insatiable Hunger level 25 talenmt also reduced.

Spectre: A late-game scaling nerf Reduced Strength gain

• Level 25 Talent for all Spectre illusion damage decreased from +20% to +15%.

Meepo: A direct reduction to burst damage

• MegaMeepo: Poof damage factor per additional Meepo decreased from 75% to 50%.
• Talents: Poof damage decreased from +50 to +40 and Ransack Health Steal decreased from +8 to +7

Huskar: Cauterize Facet cooldown increase from 50/40/30/20s to 60/50/40/30s

Jakiro: Reduced crowd control duration.

• Ice Path: duration decreased from 3/3.5/4/4.5s to 2.6/3.1/3.6/4.1s

Ember Spirit: Reduced lockdown duration

• Searing Chains: duration decreased from 1.5/2/2.5/3s to 1.25/1.75/2.25/2.75s and damage per second from 50/70/90/110 to 100

But not everyone was hit by the nerf hammer. Heroes like Batrider (stat gains), Rubick (Telekinesis cooldown), and Pangolier (Swashbuckle cooldown) receive welcome buffs. You can find the full patch notes on the official Valve page, here.

Overall, patch 7.40c shows a clear intent from Valve to dampen the most powerful strategies that emerged post 7.40 and is likely to define the competitive meta leading into the next wave of tournaments. The introduction of Largo to Captain's Mode also spices things up, as the teams will now need to quickly identify his ideal role in the game and his counters.