TOP-5 carry heroes of the 7.28 patch on the professional scene

It's been a month and a half since the release of the 7.28 patch. During this time, there were played about 1500 official maps on the professional scene. The experiments are gradually ending, and soon we will see the new meta. So, let's check out the TOP-5 most popular heroes on the professional scene in the 7.28 patch. All of them are ranked by the number of maps played from lowest to highest.

Juggernaut | Played maps: 191 | Pick Rate: 10.9% | Win Rate: 46.60%

Juggernaut has always been a hero who is almost in every meta chart from patch to patch. The hero doesn't require high micro- and macro-control, but at the same time has pleasant animation and high basic characteristics. With the patch's release, Juggernaut received a massive boost from adding Aghanim's Shard: his Blade Fury ability became useful even in the late game.

Morphling | Played maps: 203 | Pick Rate: 14.1% | Win Rate: 49.75%

In the last patch, Morphling was the fourth most popular carry hero with 857 maps. In the new patch, the hero's popularity hasn't faded, and he is again in the fourth position. The 7.28 patch barely touched on its specs. After the balance, only the level 25 talent changed, and Aghanim's Shard was added, which, by the way, turned out to be not the strongest among the other heroes.

Troll Warlord | Played maps: 239 | Pick Rate: 16.2% | Win Rate: 56.49%

Troll Warlord has received a huge number of changes with the patch's release. In addition to the increase in characteristics, Aghanim's Scepter received an impressive buff. Now the hero can dispel negative effects from himself and positive ones from enemies. The added Aghanim's Shard gives an increase in attack speed for the whole team, which greatly simplifies teamfights.

Monkey King | Played maps: 267 | Pick Rate: 18.1% | Win Rate: 55.81%

In the previous patch, Monkey King was picked on 318 maps. The hero needed a boost and got it. The main innovation was the appearance of a passive ability from the use of Aghanim's Shard: the cooldown of the Tree Dance ability was reduced from 1 to 0.3 seconds, and the delay before using was reduced from 0.3 to 0.1 seconds. By the way, after purchasing Aghanim's Shard, Monkey King becomes incredibly mobile.

Wraith King | Played maps: 270 | Pick Rate: 18.3% | Win Rate: 57.04%

During the entire time of the previous patch, Wraith King was picked only in 179 maps, but now it has 270 on its account! This growth in popularity is due to the dramatic changes in the characteristics and abilities of the hero. In the 7.28 patch, Mortal Strike became passive: now it activates every 4 seconds and gives a crit for 270% damage. Another ability, Vampiric Spirit, was also changed, the passive part of which now gives the aura of vampirism, and the active part summons skeletons. The hero still has his main feature — with the purchased Aghanim's Scepter, Wraith King becomes incorporeal after death and continues teamfight. Professional players have figured out how to use this to their advantage. The hero buys several Divine Rapiers and, when it's dying, in spirit mode, teleports to the base, thus saving expensive items.