14 DAY TRIAL // Dota 2 patch 6.82 may introduce a lot of balance tweaks and overhauls for certain heroes, but among its smaller changes are a new rune system that has a fresh entry in the form of the Bounty one, as well as a new item called Crimson Guard.
Dota 2 is among the most popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) titles out there, with millions of players enjoying the great title from Valve every month and eagerly awaiting any new content or updates for the experience.
As such, when patch 6.82 was confirmed yesterday, many focused on the major changes to the game's map, its heroes, or its balance tweaks.
However, among the smaller yet still crucial changes are quite a few surprising ones, including an overhauled rune system and a new item called the Crimson Guard, according to the official website.
The rune system has been reworked and a new rune type is present
First up, the rune system, which sees one spawn every two minutes in one of two points on the river that crosses the Dota 2 map, has been overhauled in a few major ways. First up, there's a new type of rune added to the current mix, in the form of the Bounty one, which gives the hero who activates it bonus gold and XP for a limited time.
Secondly, the runes will now spawn in both possible locations every two minutes. One of them will be a Bounty rune, while the other can be one of the old ones, from regeneration to haste, double damage, and more.
"The birth of a rune is no minor event. Forged of the most fundamental magic, this new update will unleash a rune never before seen in the world of Dota. Imbued with gold and experience, the Bounty Rune will serve to enhance your wealth and to speed the accumulation of abilities," Valve explains.
"Additionally, runes now spawn two at a time, with one at each end of the river. One of the runes will always be a Bounty Rune. Earn your bounty if you can!"
The Crimson Guard item allows for extra survivability
There's also a new item that can be purchased from the main shop, in the form of the Crimson Guard, which boasts quite a few great survivability attributes.
"To meet new threats, one must seek out new defenses. Originally forged during the chaos of New Bloom to defend against the dreaded Year Beast, the Crimson Guard is now ready to join the ancient war. Suit up in this armor, and you'll be ready to rally your forces and lead the charge against the enemy."
The Crimson Guard is composed of Vanguard, a Buckler, and a recipe and provides bonus health and health regeneration, as well as armor, extra stats, and a passive block chance. It can be activated to give nearby allies bonus armor and damage protection.
Both elements are included in Dota 2 update 6.82, which is set to debut in the very near future.