A big addition to the new patch is the "Report a player" function. Which brings a menu for you to enter in the players name, match ID, server and what problems you experienced so the player will become reported, with bans lasting anywhere from 1 day to a month! A final crackdown on those plants have arrived.
Shops & In-game
Two items have been moved, Mana Battery is now in Supplies, and Power Supply is now in both Supplies and Initiation, with updates to recommended items for several heroes.
Plus a few changes to improve in-game play; Monkey couriers now ping when killed so no more confusion and lost items, a bug was fixed disabling TPing to couriers however post haste can still travel to minions i.e. Warbeast's hounds, and Invis rune now has a 2s fade time.
Items
A new item has entered under the Initiation tab."Blood Chalice" (Soul Ring from DotA) which grants the you 3 health regen, 70% mana regen and the ability to use 150 HP in turn for 150 Mana. Puzzlebox was changed so Minions must be within 925 of your hero to attack towers. Frostfield plate and Whispering helm can no longer be used from couriers, also Geometers now applies a 0.1 seconds of invulnerability to the hero and illusions that spawn. This will change the way some play the game as this affects slowing heroes that may be running away and creep pulling. Lastly Void Talisman applies -5.5 magic armor for the duration of use.Heroes
The biggest changes this patch where made to the Carries, with a Rampage/Gauntlet Rework, aswell as the New Hero Gladiator. Amongst the huge list of hero changes a few stand out from the rest; Engineer's Turret is directional, no longer copies the heroes items, and lays down a "Suppressive fire" firing 30 rounds hitting enemies reducing their movement speed. Forsaken Archer's Volley, Madmen's Barrel Roll, and Zephyr's Gust have all had their stuns removed. Electrician has its shield nerfed a bit, its now self casted, only lasts 12s, takes only 50% of damage, but damage was increased.
Now onto a few heroes that have been completely reworked. Gauntlet has been completely revamped to become a ganking hero by separating heroes and using his powerful fist skills to slow and bring them down quickly. Rampage, prepare to start seeing rampage in alot more games now, His Stampede now "lunges" at the target within close range. Might of the heard has a "ground stomping" skill upon use stomps the ground dealing damage and slowing. Rampage's Horned Strike is a charge which is gained over his distance traveled, stunning and dealing bonus physical damage. Finally a import everyone has been waiting for Gladiator (Kunkka) the top voted DotA import is here, all skills are set the same as the pirates, with a passive splash crit attack that will make him a great mid solo and a force to be reckoned with.
After reading this huge patch you may want to try this game out whether your a DotA pro or just a average joe, Heroes of Newerth is free this entire weekend. Enabling all beta accounts a chance to play retail. So give it shot, but watch out for Devourer you may get hooked.
Links
Heroes Of Newerth - To get an account for a free weekend of play
Patch Notes - The complete list of all changes
