Do You Return to Dota 2 After Big Updates? Wandering Waters Is Here

On February 19, Dota 2 received its latest update, the Wandering Waters patch. For the first time in decades, water has flooded the map. Definitely not something we had on our 2025 bingo card, yet here we are. Another game-changing update has hit, leaving the community wondering: Is Valve steering the game in a clear direction, or are they just throwing ideas at the wall?

The Wandering Waters patch introduced more than just water. Faster rotations through new waterways, Shrines of Wisdom replacing Wisdom Runes and Lotus Pools, and changes to Neutral Creeps and Heroes are all part of the mix. If you want a detailed breakdown, check out the full patch notes at the bottom.

The Impact of Big Updates

Is this update big enough to bring players back? Do massive patches like this revive interest, or do they just make the game harder to return to?

As expected, the patch dropped mid-tournament during DreamLeague Season 2025, a million-dollar competition. The first two group stages ran on patch 7.37e, but the playoffs, scheduled for March 1-2, will now be played on the flooded map.

Dota 2 has seen its fair share of massive updates over the years. But for a 15-year-old game, changes this big can be overwhelming, especially for casual players or those who only tune in for major tournaments. If you take a break and come back to a completely different game, does it make you more likely to stay or quit again?

Major Map Changes

New Waterways & Movement Mechanics

• The map now features extended rivers in the safe lane and jungle.
• Moving downstream grants a speed boost (+150 MS in strong currents, +100 MS in moderate currents).
• No penalties for moving upstream, but overall, rotations are faster than before.

Roshan’s Mobility

• Roshan now switches between two river pits near the rune spots.
• Spawns in the southern pit during the day, then walks to the northern pit at night—physically pushing aside units in his way.
• This change makes Roshan fights more dynamic and central to mid-lane control.

Shrines of Wisdom

• Replaces Wisdom Runes & Lotus Pools.
• Grants similar benefits but now encourages more contesting for resources.

Tormentor Adjustments

• Only one Tormentor spawns at a time, located in former Roshan pits.
• After death, it leaves behind a healing aura (2% max HP per second for 15s).

Neutral Creeps & Item Overhaul

Evolving Neutral Creeps

• New amphibious creeps now spawn in rivers.
• Start as Pollywogs, evolve into Boglets, then Croakers over time.

Madstone Resource System

• New currency: Madstones now drop from neutral creeps (2 for the killer, 1 for a random ally).
• Madstones can be used to craft custom neutral items:

1. Artifacts - Provide active abilities
2. Enchantments - Offer passive stat boosts

Hero Changes

Universal Hero Adjustments

• Damage per attribute for Universal heroes reduced from 0.7 to 0.45.
• Players can now allocate skill points to All Attributes starting at level 2 instead of level 1.

Specific Hero Reworks

• Arc Warden: Gains buffs tied to runes, enhancing his Tempest Double.
• Chaos Knight: Can now split Chaos Bolt and craft higher-tier neutral items.

Reflected Spells & Slow Resistance

• Reflected spells inherit all upgrades from their original cast.
• Slow Resistance increases minimum movement speed, making slows less punishing.

Impact on Gameplay & Meta

Strategic Depth

• Waterways enable faster rotations, surprise ganks, and escape routes, changing laning strategies.
• Roshan’s mobility forces teams to rethink mid-game objectives and adapt.

Item Customization

• Madstone crafting lets players tailor neutral items to heroes and playstyles.

Hero Balance Shifts

• Universal hero nerfs change damage scaling across roles.
• Players will need time to adjust and experiment with new builds.

Patch 7.38 "Wandering Waters" is one of Dota 2's most game-changing updates in recent history. With map redesigns, moving Roshan, new waterways, and Madstone crafting, this patch reshapes how players approach the game. But does it bring players back or push them further away?

What do you think? Are you playing Dota 2 again because of this update, or are the changes too much?