The Evershifting Metagame of Dota 2
Dota 2’s metagame is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, driven by the constant introduction of balance patches that shift the prominence of different heroes. With a roster of 126 heroes, the game sees various characters rise and fall in popularity depending on the latest updates. This cycle of rise and fall brings a fresh set of challenges and opportunities, as players adapt to new strategies and counters. One of the most significant roles in this evolving metagame is the carry, traditionally known as the Position One. Historically, carries focused on an AFK farming playstyle, but the current meta demands more active participation from these heroes, rewarding those with the awareness to contribute in early fights. To provide an insightful overview, the data on winrates comes from Dotabuff for overall performance and Dota2ProTracker for 8000+ MMR pubs as of March 9, 2025.
Nature’s Prophet: The Universal Powerhouse
Nature’s Prophet, also known as Furion, has emerged as one of the most dominant carry heroes in Dota 2, particularly in Patch 7.38b. The key changes in this patch that propelled him to the top were his transition to a Universal role and the boost in his Innate ability, which provides more damage in the early and mid-game stages. As a ranged hero with a tanky summon, Nature’s Prophet enjoys a mostly reliable laning phase. His global presence, thanks to the Teleportation skill, is a significant advantage in the skirmish-heavy mid-game, allowing him to support his team in multiple fronts. His item build typically includes Power Treads, cheap stat items like Wraith Band and Null Talisman, Mjollnir, Aghanim’s Shard, and various luxury damage or utility items such as Revenant Brooch, Daedalus, Monkey King Bar, Black King Bar, Satanic, Gleipnir, and Scythe of Vyse. These items enhance his versatility and ensure he can be a threat in both team fights and split-pushing scenarios.
Slark: The Meta-Countering Specialist
Slark, with his kit designed to counter several meta offlaners, is another top carry pick in the current meta. His passive, Essence Shift, and the recently reworked Orb of Corrosion make him a strong laner against heroes like Tidehunter, Abaddon, and Axe. In mid-game skirmishes, Slark is particularly dangerous with his cheap but effective items, including Power Treads, Orb of Corrosion, Diffusal Blade, and Mage Slayer. His additional night vision and dewarding capabilities add to his utility and make him a formidable opponent. The introduction of Aghanim’s Shard and Scepter further solidifies his role as a versatile carry, allowing him to adapt to different game situations. His luxury and situational items, such as Black King Bar, Bloodthorn, Abyssal Blade, Disperser, Sange and Yasha, Nullifier, Silver Edge, and Monkey King Bar, provide the necessary power and utility for late-game dominance.
Ursa: The Accessible and Reliable Carry
Ursa stands out as one of the most accessible carry heroes on this list, making him a strong second phase pick in public matchmaking. His reliable laning stage against most melee offlaners is a significant advantage, allowing him to farm around his Safelane Tower longer than many other carries. Ursa’s item build typically includes Phase Boot, Orb of Corrosion, Battle Fury, Blink Dagger, and Skull Basher, which enhance his damage output and survivability. Later in the game, Black King Bar and situational luxury items like Abyssal Blade, Aghanim’s Scepter, Monkey King Bar, and Nullifier further bolster his capabilities. Additionally, Ursa’s ability to solo Roshan and Tormentor, especially the latter’s impact post-Patch 7.38, makes him a valuable asset to any team looking to gain a strategic advantage.
Morphling: The Late Game Scalability Master
Morphling, known for his complexity and high skill ceiling, is one of the most rewarding carry heroes in the game. Despite the lack of a direct buff in Patch 7.38 and 7.38b, Morphling fits well into the current meta due to his reliable laning presence and strong scaling into the late game. His ability to adapt to different situations through his skills, particularly the Manta Style, which he often gets under 20 minutes, makes him a formidable presence in team fights. His item build starts with Power Treads and Vladimir’s Offering, followed by Manta Style and Black King Bar. Situational and luxury items like Butterfly, Revenant Brooch, Monkey King Bar, Daedalus, Satanic, Hurricane Pike, Linken’s Sphere, Eye of Skadi, and Aghanim’s Shard further enhance his capabilities, making him a versatile and potent carry throughout the game.
Lifestealer: The Resilient Duelist
Lifestealer, while not as dominant as when Patch 7.38 first dropped, remains among the top carry picks due to his strong laning phase and late-game potential. After the initial few levels, Lifestealer can win one-vs-one duels against most offlaners, enabling him to farm around his Safelane Tower longer than other carries. His item build includes Phase Boot, Orb of Corrosion, Radiance, Sange and Yasha, and Aghanim’s Scepter. These items support his aggressive playstyle and ensure he can deal substantial damage in team fights. Situational and luxury items like Aghanim’s Shard, Armlet of Mordiggian, Assault Cuirass, Daedalus, Monkey King Bar, Silver Edge, Bloodthorn, and Nullifier provide additional power and utility, making him a versatile and potent carry even in the face of nerfs.
Honorable Mentions: Rising Stars in the Meta
While the above heroes are the top five carry picks in Dota 2 as of Patch 7.38b, they are not the only viable options in the meta. Other heroes worth mentioning for their strong performance include Clinkz (53.6 percent winrate), Broodmother (55.9 percent winrate), and Muerta (54.8 percent winrate). Each of these heroes brings unique strengths and playstyles to the table, making them valuable choices depending on the team composition and strategy. Clinkz, for instance, excels in the late game with his ranged attack and powerful damage output. Broodmother, with her strong farm potential and utility through her spider minions, can dominate the early and mid-game. Muerta, with her high burst damage and survivability, can turn the tide in crucial team fights. These heroes, along with the top picks, contribute to the rich and diverse carry meta in Dota 2, offering players a wide range of strategic choices.
