The new battleground "Towers of Doom" and a nerf to the games most top tier support hero are the most notable changes we can expect from the upcoming patch.
The latest PTR patch notes have been released, and to save you some time here are the most important things that will be changed:
Gathering Power
- Hero takedowns now increase Ability Power by 2% per kill, up to a maximum of 30%. All stacks are now also lost upon death.
This change makes the potential upside of very high, granting a whopping 30% bonus ability power. However, it is harder to achieve this cap, as just one death removes all stacks. Previously, a player would retain half of their stacks after death.
- A large portion of Heroes’ total scaling amounts, which were previously gained over the course of a game, have been added to their base values.
- Respawn timers have been increased for levels 1 – 10.
This is a change they implemented some patches ago, but these patch notes can only mean they are further increasing respawn timers and the base strength of heroes. This is a subtle change, but once it goes live, players will notice a definite shift in how the early game feels. The strength difference between a team levels apart is smaller, making early team fights at a level disadvantage less unwinnable.
However, once a team does get behind the increased respawn timers make it more punishing.
Towers of Doom
The Grave Keeper and Raven Lord have risen over a dark and mysterious city, each seeking to add it to the territories under their control. Now, these Realm Lords call upon the aid of Heroes in their battle for dominance over the Towers of Doom.
Towers of Doom as the potential to be a new competitive favorite. The map has a natural emphasis on team fights and makes it impossible for a team to rush the enemy core and end the game prematurely. This battleground seems similar to Sky Temple, and as a result, some of the niche heroes that are powerful on that battleground (like Gazlowe, and SGT. Hammer) might see the same success on Towers of Doom
Uther
- Eternal Devotion (Trait)
- Spirit form duration decreased from 10 to 8 seconds
- Divine Shield (R)
- Cooldown increased from 70 to 90 seconds
Two of the most powerful aspects of Uther have been nerfed. While he still has all of his CC options and burst healing, these changes are steps to control the level of dominance Uther has over every other support in the game. It's easier to win a team fight against Uther, as Divine Shield has a longer cool down and killing him early is slightly less punishing.
Leoric
- Drain Hope (W)
- Cooldown decreased from 12 to 11 seconds
- If Leoric is stunned while casting Drain Hope, the stun will no longer cancel the Ability and the missile will continue to travel
- Damage dealt and Health gained reduced from 25% to 20%
- Damage and healing now increase over time as a flat value
Leoric has also received some nerfs, but it is what to be expected. Leoric has been nerfed in some way for the last 3 patches and this time his Drain Hope is subject to changes. While it has been polished up a bit (and it won't be canceled mid-cast when stunned anymore) the nerf from 25% to 20% is all players will notice. Less healing, less damage, less scary Leoric.
You can check out the rest of the changes here
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