Now And Forever: Heroes That Stand The Test Of Time
The tension mounts for the release of patch 6.87, as we’re all waiting to see which heroes get buffed or nerfed. Sometimes the changes are severe, punishing dominant heroes and empowering weaker ones. Leshrac and Storm Spirit remain neutered post TI5, and [missing hero: outworld-devourer] is now a veritable first phase pick/ban. For the most part, however, the nature of changes to heroes are small and incremental, creeping heroes in and out of the meta (patch 6.86 was subtitled “Balance of Power”). Heroes like 
Invoker received a series of underrated buffs until they reached their peak levels of dominance. It may take a few more nerfs, notwithstanding recent efforts, to see him return to balanced levels of power.
In the midst of this revolving door of heroes in and out of the meta, there are certain heroes that have stood the test of time. They’re the ones most resilient to change—in their stats, skills, and in the meta—because they provide a unique asset to the game that’s worth every sacrifice. 
Enigma will always be valuable as long as there is a jungle, despite how long the cooldown on Black Hole is. Dark Seer is still a stable pick, even if his Vacuum cooldown is increased by another second. These heroes are the comfort heroes of Dota and a signpost for how the meta has evolved around them. As Dota changes, once again in 6.87, we can look back to them and see how far we’ve gone.
Welcome To The Jungle
Heroes like Enigma and Dark Seer will always have a place in Dota’s meta, until their jungling capabilities are severely nerfed. In the case of Enigma, jungling can be greedy, but the risk is well worth it. The impact of Enigma goes beyond his ultimate. He threatens the early game with economic and level advantage, leveraging on his ability to capitalize on a perfect jungle rotation more than any other hero. This puts pressure on the opposing team to respond with an answer, or else fall behind for the rest of the game. Enigma was a first phase ban against Team Secret, usually played by Puppey, who, not by coincidence, was also responsible for TI2’s “The Play”.
In the case of Dark Seer, he is a solid offlaner that has the flexibility to jungle when the lane doesn’t go too well. He has been the subject of Valve’s patch laboratory for so long that in patch 6.82 his Vacuum cooldown was jokingly changed from “28.0 seconds to 28 seconds.” Over the past two patches, he has received small nerfs to his base intelligence, but as history has shown, he can take the hit and still maintain relevancy in the meta (since patch 6.75, the cooldown of Vacuum has increased from 16 to 28 seconds). Dark Seer not only disrupts safe lane farming but is a stable pick. He’s relatively safe, as Surge is one of the best escape spells for an offlaner, and in a dangerous offlane he can always retreat to the jungle.
These two heroes are emblematic of the dynamics of Dota that persist across every patch. There will always be a jungle, a demand for a stable offlaner, and an opening for a teamfight ultimate. Many heroes, like Chen and Tidehunter, can approximate what Dark Seer and Enigma do, but they won’t see close to the same consistency across patch and meta.
Instant Transmission
Global teleport is a broken mechanic, but one of the many that makes Dota as exciting as it is. 
Nature's Prophet and 
Io both have the ability to teleport anywhere on the map. One of them can do it at level 1. Despite whatever nerfs fall on these heroes, the possibilities that a global TP offers is too much to ignore. Whether you like it or not, there is no such thing as “rat dota” without these two heroes.
Nature’s Prophet has the benefit of versatility in item builds. He can split push, using his teleport to occupy the negative spaces of the map, and he can build core or support items and tip the scales of every skirmish. No other hero has the level of fervent item discussions that dominate in community forums. Shadowblade vs Blink Dagger. Maelstrom and Daedalus. Dagon. Aghanims and Octarine Core. He can be built in every way, be anywhere on the map, and he’ll find another place for himself in the next patch.
It’s difficult to mention Wisp without his compatriot, Tiny, but in the end, who is really carrying the load? Against capable teams, Wisp is the priority ban. Even if it isn’t a meta hero, there will always be a few select teams who have the synergy to maximize its potential.
Too Fun To Not Play
Pudge and Invoker are two of the most played heroes in Dota (over 500 million matches placed between them since we've been recording stats), and they’ve both endured bouts of obscurity. They’ve been relevant because they’re fun to play. They’re two of the most unique heroes across all MOBAs, and the influence of their spell design and concepts can be seen in other games. Both heroes are commonly played mid, both bemoaned by teammates when picked, but their ubiquity in Dota history excuses them. As patch 6.87 approaches, balancing heroes from good and bad, at least there will be some heroes that will still be picked for the sheer enjoyment of playing Dota, whether you win or lose.
Don't want to be "that" guy but there is a small typo in the second paragraph. It should be "there is a jungle" not "their is a jungle".
Fun read though. Good work!
@froghouse no, BE that guy :) My proofreading eyes are getting old :< thanks!
when path?
Nice post. I do think Invoker need some nerfs, but he is the kind of hero everyone wants to see in competitive. I think the actual problem is with his summons and coldsnap, and maybe increasing the SS cd. Still, I hope he doesn't get nerfed to oblivion.
Pudge and Sniper are the most played heroes in Dota2, isnt it?(check alltime stat)
Interesting article!
LightOfHeaven played Enigma during The Play from TI2. Puppey played Enchantress that game.
nerf them, or buff their counters
No don't be that guy, for that guy is me >:O.
Also since when is Pudge so unique, yes he is amazingly good and strong if played right but the hero is not as unique as stated.
i hope there are new things happening with io with 6.87
Rat dota would still exist with Lycan and Arc Warden imo. These heroes both offer safe, viable, strategies to rat in more situations than most heroes. (Almost typed hereos, I LOVE DOUBLE STUFFED HEREOS :D)
maybe huskar will stop being a ranged suicidal creep
Every day until Techies is buffed.
So...any word on when the new patch will arrive, or should we assume it will be last minute before Manila Majors?
I don't think it's very fair, or good communication from the devs to never say anything for when we can expect the new patch, especially since they come so rarely. Like, mind keeping us "plebs" in the loop for a change, Valve?
They nerfed the blast of voker..next the cold snap like sniper headshot was a bash? Why cant they just reduce the damage or int growth? :(
Nerf this fucking OD and Invoker already
Idk about you guys, but that enigma is looking JACKED af! :D
BRING BACK 75 RAZE MANA COST
Only I noticed OmniKnight is op as fuck? I mean free bkbs. 360 pure nuke. a slow aura that pierces bkb and of course why not a 100% evasion for a period of time to all his friends.
I know I know get a diffusal blade but still it is better than many other supports out there, his winrate is big for a reason it is not a coincidence
@GreeN-AiD
You're talking about the perfect support player, which doesn't exist in this game :)
If he were to, then omni would indeed be OP.
No mention to Batrider? That guy's been slapped with the nerf bat so many times and he's STILL a good hero.
Omni not really broken when he face brewmaster as his enemy ;)
Why you come out????
Storm spirit please
nerf spectre pls fucking annoying
Am I the only who kept on passing the mouse over the "28.0 seconds to 28 seconds" part just to see if they'd include the vacuum animation as well?
LOL Enigma was nowhere to be seen at Tier 1 matches for a good year since pre-TI5. Stood the test of time? More like disappeared in his own Black Hole and Interstellared his way out of it right now.
Really @eggs... don't refer to DotA as a MOBA. It's a degrading term made by Riot for LoL. Show some respect for the coders that built this game to what it is today; from Euls to Icefrog.
fucking bring back techies ....
In the last paragraph, the "two of the most played" directs to most played players, not heroes...
IT WAS LightofHeaven who played enigma in The Play. Please get your facts right author.
Meepo so original which is fun because of his ult
yea. if u guys think invoker is op, just reduce some of the spells damage or int growth as some guy above said! that's wise! I mean. Look how much damage does Earth spirit spells does. Well, it's ok one spell does silence too, and the other one stuns, but it's so reduced. only real nerd guys can play it. like bat rider move speed could be increased by 5 or AA damage buffed by 2%? it is so annoying to last hit with him. you got to be so damn concentraded. it varies a lot.
No Shadowfiend?
I want Storm Spirit,Techies,Lycan,Troll Warlord,Medusa to be buffed alot like invoker !
Nice article, I've never seen that level 1 Furion courier snipe at 3:22 before hahaha nice jokes mate. Nice article! One question though, is Dark Seer starting in jungle really a thing? I don't think I've ever seen it in my pubs and I've only seen it in pro once, Alliance running it against I think CoL during their final game of Shanghai BibleThump.
icedaun,on nikogda ne sdelaet ety igry normalnoi
BRING BACK SF PLEASE! at least 80 mana raze pls, and the presence of the dark lord (3,4,5,6) is useless late game >.<
How people still can play enigma, I just randomed him in single draft and felt like shit whole match. Or maybe im just noob, not sure
nerf OD pls
Мяу... Верните Шторма...
Meow...Return the Storm Spirit...
I'm confused. Enigma disappeared for easily at least a year and has really only emerged back into the pro scene since Shanghai.
Idk if anyone said this yet, but in The Play LightOfHeaven played the Enigma, not Puppey. Puppey was on Enchantress.
please nerf od and spectre
Please delete ult spectre or nerf passive skills
if you take away my 75%winrate spectre I'm comeing to your god damn house
even tho i hate current meta heroes i dont think they should be nerfed to that point when they become useless, for example change od's arcane orb to not deal pure dmg or something, or increase spectre's cd on ulty, idk. i dont like that way of approach when they make some hero ridiculously op just so they can completely ruin it in next patch. i honestly hope that wont happen for invoker.
buff furion please :3
kudos to play for fun not to win. if the pro scene is no more at least give life back to the everyday joe player
PLease remove the Mana Break - unique attack modifier of Anti Mage
nice DBZ reference eggs xD
To all the people bitching about Spectre. Stop it. Please. She's actually worse in this meta than she has been for as long as I've played her. The early game stomp heroes like DP, OD and voker have seen to that. If you are losing to Spec, then I'm sorry but you just need to git gud. End before 35min. Ez win. Don't be an idiot and give her time to come online. Pick a strong offlaner. That is all.