Updates are rare in Dota 2, especially when they’re big, as Ice Frog likes to simmer for a while before releasing major changes into the wild. Of course, it can make or break a hero’s performance if it’s particularly affected, as Tinker has proven.
NEW PATCH 7.37b FULL CHANGES – Massive Nerfs – Dota 2 Update Guide
Tinker was completely debunked in May with Patch 7.36, which saw numerous changes to his core kit and how he functions in general. His win rate dropped sharply to 33 percent at the time, and his overall state remained relatively unchanged over the course of the summer. While the Dota 2 hero managed to climb back up to an average win rate of around 44 percent, he was never the same again. That all changed with Patch 7.37 in late July.
His Facet, Repair Robots, has made Tinker one of the strongest support characters in the game, and his March of the Machines spell is nearly unstoppable. All of this now gives him a staggering average win rate of 58 percent across all Elo levels, according to stats site DotaBuff, with that figure even higher in high Elo play. Tinker is also picked nearly six times more often and three percent more often than the average hero. He even works well in the mid lane, and can use his buffed Facet to act as a roamer, providing significant damage and healing for his team.
The buffed Facet has also made him easier to play in general, as Tinker doesn't have to do much other than cast March of the Machines frequently while staying out of sight. The spell is incredibly effective in teamfights, as it provides Tinker's allies with significant amounts of sustain while dealing serious damage to opponents who stay within its radius.
