EPTold man meta
game's wild.
let's talk about wraith band
Alrighty so we've had a few weeks to adjust to the insanity of 7.20. Almost everyone can agree on a couple things: the game is FAST right now, every hero feels broken (this is cool), and nobody knows what the fuck they are doing.
Probably the most important change of 7.20 is wraith band. With aquila being removed, wraith band has become the early game item of choice. Most agi cores make 2, some make 3, some make 4. Why do I have an issue with this?
First and foremost, it breaks item progression. Take the following comparisons:
2 wraith bands cost 1040
+6 str
+16 agi
+ 6 int
+12 attack speed
drums cost 1525
+6 str
+6 agi
+ 6 int
+ 1.5 mana regen
+ 6% MS aura
yasha cost 2050
+16 Agility
+12 Attack speed
+8% ms
Normally, this wouldn't be such a big issue -- early game items need to be more efficient in dota. However, the big change is that we all now have a free slot for TPs. This breaks the balance in a massive way. Those early wraith bands get inflated value because you can keep them without penalty for 15+ minutes.
Look at those stat comparisons -- two wraith bands cost half of a yasha (and the components can be jumbled together in tiny chunks) and it arguably gives you more because how valuable strength is early. Comparing to drums is almost laughable -- drums used to be a stat item and accelerating item, now it is an inefficient support item.
the agility problem
Agility has always been inherently the best stat. There's no problem with that in itself -- the design of the game is built around that. But the wraith band changes highlight the problem because it's pushing heroes in to midgame level performance with 1000-1500 networth.
And the biggest problem is agility is inherently a farm accelerator, moreso than any other stat. It provides attack speed, damage, movespeed, and armor, all of which help u clear camps and waves exponentially faster.
So the obvious solution to the issue -- in my humble opinion -- is to just change the attack speed bonus component of wraith band to something else. +2% MS, maybe. Or 1 armor (but that seems a bit boring).
the "is it really a problem" argument
Yeah, it is. Item progression for agility cores is an incredibly important part of dota that basically controls what heroes are viable and how fast the game can play. By nerfing wraith band, you nerf the farm speed of the agility pool, and games will slow down as a result.
I don't like laning against agility cores with 2+ wraith bands because it feels like a stupid advantage. I don't like heroes like lone druid being forced in to wraith-band focused builds because they are too efficient to pass up. Agility is the god-stat. It needs to be balanced carefully.
