With the conclusion of The International 2025 in Hamburg, where Team Falcons claimed a triumphant victory over Xtreme Gaming with a score of 3:2, the Dota 2 community is already eagerly anticipating the next major game update. Traditionally, after the main tournament of the year, Valve releases a balance patch that adjusts the dominant strategies and items observed during the tournament.

When does Valve release patches after TI?

Studying the patch release patterns over the past five years reveals a clear trend in Valve's approach to post-tournament updates. After The International 2024, the first patch 7.37d appeared 16 days later, whereas after TI 2023, the community waited 22 days for the release of 7.34e. The International 2022 made players wait a whole month for patch 7.32d, while after TI 2021, update 7.30e was released just 11 days later.

This data suggests an optimistic forecast: patch 7.39e could arrive as early as next week. A pessimistic scenario suggests waiting until the first half of October.

Helm of the Dominator — The Main Meta Issue at TI 2025

The most prominent symbol of the recent tournament was the item Helm of the Dominator, which drastically changed gameplay at The International 2025. HotD appeared in 187 games during the tournament, with some teams purchasing up to four copies of the item per match.

Professional players actively criticize the current state of the item. According to experts, Helm of the Dominator has turned into a "modern Wraith Pact" — an item that dominates the meta so much that teams either have to buy it themselves or lose. RAMZES666 noted that "Helm of the Dominator pays off 10 out of 10 times," highlighting its excessive effectiveness.

The issue is not only with the item's stats but also with how it affects the game's pace. Heroes like Invoker and Anti-Mage have started buying HotD as an early item, gaining an additional creep with 1000+ HP, which speeds up farming and makes it impossible to kill the hero early in the game.

Expected Changes in Patch 7.39e

Nerf to Helm of the Dominator

Helm of the Dominator is likely to receive significant nerfs. Possible nerf options include:

• Increasing the cooldown from the current 45 to 60 seconds or more
• Adding a mana cost for activating the ability (75-100 mana)
• Reducing stats for dominated creeps
• Removing gold for killing the dominated creep
• Mechanical changes: cooldown starts only after the creep's death

Professional players suggest various solutions. Some believe the ability to gain gold and experience from the creep should be removed, turning the item from a "new Midas" into a specialized tool.

Adding Kez to Captain's Mode

One of the most anticipated updates could be the addition of the hero Kez to Captain's Mode. The new hero, introduced in November 2024, is still unavailable in professional matches. After adding Ringmaster to CM with patch 7.38, Kez remains the only hero not available for tournaments.

Valve may continue balancing the hero in regular games before allowing him into the professional scene. Kez has received numerous nerfs since release and currently has one of the lowest win rates in the game.

Dota Labs Improvements

Patch 7.39e is likely to include bug fixes and improvements for the "Dota Labs" system. Valve continues to develop this platform for testing new features, and a post-tournament update is a suitable time to implement accumulated improvements.

Hero Balance Changes

Based on The International 2025 stats, the following heroes might receive changes:

Expected nerfs:

• Earthshaker - the most controversial hero of the tournament with 84% contest rate
• Marci - received 81 bans, showing excellent synergy with Helm of the Dominator
• Nature's Prophet and Templar Assassin - dominated throughout the season

Long-term Prospects

It's important to understand that 7.39e will be just an interim update. Historically, after The International, Valve doesn't release drastic changes — such global patches appear in the first months of the following year. The next major patch 8.00 (or 7.40) is expected no earlier than 2026.

This means players will receive balance adjustments to the current meta but without radical gameplay changes, new mechanics, or map reworks. This approach allows teams to adapt to changes without having to completely revise strategies.

Events and Content

Patch 7.39e might include the announcement of a new event or the extension of current activities. The "Quartero Curiosities" promotion ends on November 5, giving Valve an opportunity to announce the next major event. The appearance of an event in the style of "Fallen Crown" is not ruled out, considering that about nine months have passed since the end of the previous major event.

Patch 7.39e for Dota 2 is almost inevitable and should be released in the next 1-2 weeks after the conclusion of The International 2025. The main changes should include a nerf to Helm of the Dominator, balance adjustments to dominant heroes, and possible improvements to game systems.