Dota 2's ever-evolving meta is shaped by balance patches, professional play, and player innovation. As of the latest patch 7.38b, the current meta has seen several heroes rise to dominance across all roles. Whether you're looking to climb MMR in pubs or stay ahead in competitive play, understanding which heroes are at the top of their game is crucial.
In this guide, we’ll break down the strongest heroes by role, analyzing what makes them powerful and why they’re dominating right now.
Best Carry Heroes
S-Tier: The Most Impactful Carries
Dragon Knight – A staple in both mid and safe lane, Dragon Knight remains a reliable pick with tankiness, farming efficiency, and team fight presence.
Nature's Prophet – High global presence, split-push capabilities, and early-game impact make him one of the best carries right now.
Lifestealer – With strong sustain, magic immunity, and a devastating mid-game, Lifestealer is a go-to pick in high-ranked matches.
Tiny – Known for his burst damage and late-game scaling, Tiny dominates the battlefield with Avalanche-Toss combos.
Slark – With recent buffs, Slark has climbed back into the meta as one of the most elusive and deadly carries.
A-Tier: Strong, But Situational
Anti-Mage – Still a solid pick, but struggles against early aggression.
Lycan – Strong against certain lineups but struggles against crowd control.
Wraith King – Reliable but lacks mobility in the current fast-paced meta.
B-Tier and Below: Less Consistent Picks
Terrorblade – Needs a lot of farm and can be countered by high burst damage.
Troll Warlord – High potential but very kiteable.
Riki, Arc Warden, Bloodseeker – These heroes are struggling in the meta due to nerfs and counters being prevalent.
Best Midlane Heroes
S-Tier: The Best Midlane Picks
Dragon Knight – An extremely flexible pick, dominating both mid and carry roles.
Huskar – Shines in the right matchups, especially with an early Armlet pickup.
Leshrac – High magical burst and tower-taking ability make him one of the most reliable mid picks.
Ember Spirit – Excellent mobility, lane dominance, and high burst potential.
Puck – Always a strong mid hero, great at controlling fights and surviving ganks.
A-Tier: Still Strong, But Not as Dominant
Void Spirit – A strong laner but falls off in certain matchups.
Tinker – Powerful but needs proper execution.
Dark Seer – Unorthodox mid pick but can work in the right hands.
B-Tier and Below: Niche Picks
Earth Spirit, Phoenix, Outworld Destroyer, Winter Wyvern – Viable but require specific situations to shine.
Best Offlane Heroes
S-Tier: The Most Impactful Offlaners
Shadow Shaman – Surprisingly effective as an offlaner, offering crowd control and high damage output.
Dark Willow – A nightmare for carries with her crowd control and magic burst.
Spirit Breaker – Great for early-game aggression and tanky frontline presence.
Faceless Void – With the right team composition, his Chronosphere is game-changing.
A-Tier: Strong, But With Drawbacks
Io, Techies, Pugna, Bane – All strong in their own right but require specific lineups to be truly effective.
B-Tier and Below: Weak or Out of Meta
Clockwerk, Hoodwink – Struggling to find a place in the current meta.
Best Position 4 (Soft Support) Heroes
S-Tier: The Best Playmakers
Zeus – His global presence and burst damage make him one of the strongest soft supports.
Lion – Great at securing kills and controlling fights with Hex and Mana Drain.
Spirit Breaker – Provides strong initiation and map control.
Dark Willow – Consistently strong in every patch.
A-Tier: Still Effective
Nyx Assassin, Pugna, Phoenix, Grimstroke – All effective but require specific setups.
B-Tier and Below: Less Impactful
Tusk, Hoodwink, Rubick, Techies – Playable but not as dominant as other picks.
Best Position 5 (Hard Support) Heroes
S-Tier: The Best Utility Picks
Witch Doctor – One of the most reliable supports in pubs.
Pugna – High burst potential and great defensive tools.
Treant Protector – Great at controlling lanes and providing sustain.
Oracle – Strong lane support and life-saving abilities.
A-Tier: Solid, But Not Overpowered
Crystal Maiden, Lich, Grimstroke – All strong but slightly overshadowed.
B-Tier and Below: Out of Meta
Venomancer, Io, Abaddon, Shadow Demon – Less consistent compared to top-tier supports.
Final Thoughts: Who Rules the Current Meta?
As of patch 7.38b, heroes like Dragon Knight, Spirit Breaker, Leshrac, and Witch Doctor are thriving in their respective roles. The meta favors heroes that can contribute early and stay relevant into the late game, making aggressive, teamfight-oriented picks the best choice.
With updates constantly shifting the landscape, keeping up with tier lists and pro picks is essential for success. Whether you’re grinding MMR or playing for fun, these heroes are your best bet to dominate the meta right now.
Stay tuned for future updates, as Dota 2’s dynamic balance ensures that no hero stays on top forever!
