Dota 2 7.31d best heroes to gain MMR

TL;DR

  • Juggernaut dominates with 55% win rate due to healing ward synergy with salve nerfs
  • BKB nerfs elevate heroes with persistent damage and control abilities
  • Healing supports like Dazzle and Crystal Maiden gain meta relevance
  • Strategic itemization and hero pairings maximize patch advantages
  • Avoid over-reliance on previously strong heroes that suffered significant nerfs

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The recent 7.31d patch introduced targeted adjustments that significantly impact hero viability across all positions. While not a comprehensive overhaul, the changes to Healing Salve mechanics and Black King Bar (BKB) duration create new strategic opportunities for MMR advancement. Understanding these meta shifts is crucial for selecting heroes that capitalize on the current game environment.

Healing Salve nerfs when used on allies particularly affect laning dynamics, making self-sustaining heroes more valuable. Simultaneously, the reduction in BKB duration from 9/8/7/6 to 9/7/5 seconds across tiers dramatically changes teamfight calculations and hero effectiveness.

Strategic players should focus on heroes that either benefit from these changes or remain unaffected by the nerfs. The meta now favors consistent damage dealers over burst-oriented heroes and rewards players who can maintain pressure throughout extended engagements.

Best carries of the update 7.31d

Juggernaut currently boasts an exceptional 55% win rate, making him the premier carry selection. His Healing Ward provides unparalleled lane sustainability, directly countering the Healing Salve nerfs. When paired with meta supports like Dark Seer or Crystal Maiden, Juggernaut creates nearly unstoppable lane combinations. The BKB duration reduction further enhances his value since he typically builds alternative defensive items like Manta Style or Butterfly.


Spectre maintains strong viability despite receiving no direct changes. While the salve nerf slightly impacts her weak laning phase, other meta carries suffered more significant nerfs, creating relative strength through absence of weakness. Her global presence and late-game scaling remain unmatched, and she benefits from the BKB changes since Desolate damage pierces spell immunity.



Naga Siren shares Spectre’s advantages, functioning as another carry who gains indirect buffs through others’ nerfs. Her illusion-based gameplay circumvents BKB limitations, and she can create immense map pressure while other carries struggle with the new meta constraints.

Best midlaners of 7.31d

Zeus thrives in the current environment despite limited professional play. His consistent magical damage output becomes increasingly valuable as BKB durations shorten, allowing him to whittle down opponents during their limited spell immunity windows. The slight buff to Heavenly Jump improves his mobility, but the real advantage comes from opponents having less time to engage him while protected by BKB.


Sniper received direct buffs to his Assassinate ultimate, but more importantly, his primary counter Storm Spirit received devastating nerfs. This creates a favorable environment where Sniper can safely scale into late game without fear of being instantly deleted by mobile gap-closing heroes.


Alchemist continues his strong performance from the previous patch, now enhanced by buffs to his Chemical Rage ultimate. His ability to accelerate gold accumulation and create item advantages remains one of the most reliable paths to victory in pub matches.


Best offlaners of the update 7.31d

Dawnbreaker transformed from a decent pick to a top-tier offlaner through significant buffs. She now boasts one of the highest win rates in the game, offering both lane dominance and global teamfight presence. Her healing capabilities synergize perfectly with the salve nerfs, making her a self-sufficient frontliner.


Underlord remains a consistently strong choice due to his versatility and straightforward execution. The BKB nerf amplifies his effectiveness against illusion heroes like Naga Siren, Spectre, and Phantom Lancer, as his Firestorm and Pit of Malice remain effective throughout shortened BKB durations.


Venomancer capitalizes on the BKB changes through his persistent damage-over-time abilities. While his win rate decreased slightly from the previous patch, he remains among the top performers, particularly against heroes reliant on temporary spell immunity.


Best supports of the update 7.31d

Crystal Maiden defies her movement speed and armor nerfs through exceptional utility and synergy with current meta trends. Her global mana regeneration enables carries to spam abilities more freely, compensating for healing limitations. While she lacks BKB-piercing mechanics, her spell buffs and the reduced BKB duration make her control abilities more relevant in late-game scenarios.


Dazzle logically rises in priority with healing-focused meta shifts. His Poison Touch and Bad Juju buffs create additional value, making him both a lane dominator and teamfight asset.


Undying maintains his historical strength as a reliable MMR climbing support. His Tombstone remains one of the most powerful teamfight abilities in the game, and his healing capabilities through Soul Rip gain increased importance post-salve nerfs.


All screenshots are taken from Dotabuff.

Beyond individual hero selections, understanding the strategic implications of 7.31d changes is essential for consistent MMR gains. The shortened BKB durations require recalculating engagement timing and prioritizing heroes with persistent damage or control effects that outlast spell immunity.

Itemization adjustments become crucial—consider earlier Heaven’s Halberd against physical carries or earlier Ghost Scepter against burst damage dealers. The meta now rewards players who can adapt their build paths to capitalize on opponents’ reduced protection windows.

Common pitfalls include overestimating BKB effectiveness and failing to adjust farming patterns to account for changed laning dynamics. Advanced players should focus on hero pairings that create synergistic advantages, such as Juggernaut with Crystal Maiden for unlimited spell usage or Underlord with any healing support for unstoppable lane pressure.

For comprehensive strategies covering all aspects of competitive play, consult our Complete Guide to mastering advanced techniques.

Action Checklist

  • Prioritize Juggernaut or Dawnbreaker for their exceptional win rates and meta synergy
  • Adjust item builds to account for BKB nerfs—consider alternatives like Linken’s Sphere or Satanic
  • Practice healing support combinations to maximize lane sustainability post-salve nerfs
  • Master 2-3 heroes from each role to ensure flexible drafting options
  • Study counter-pick relationships to avoid unfavorable matchups

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