Ranking reset, Patch 7.41e, and The International 2026 talents—highlights from Not For Broadcast #73
Commentators Avery “SVG” Silverman and Austin “Cap” Walsh discussed changes to Dota 2’s ranking system and interface on the Not For Broadcast podcast, broke down Patch 7.41e, shared their thoughts on the Divine Rapier nerf, and commented on the performance of active players during The International 2026 broadcasts. Here’s a quick rundown of the highlights in our article.
Changes to the Rating System and Interface
According to SVG, the main goal of the “soft seasonal reset” was to narrow the MMR range among the highest-ranked players, which should simplify the matchmaking algorithm. Speaking about the Dota 2 interface, Austin noted that it remains one of the best among competitive games thanks to its wide range of settings and detailed post-match statistics. Silverman joked about the cluttered options tab but praised Valve for its years of work on the system.
On Patch 7.41e
Assessing Patch 7.41e, Avery noted that the meta could shift before The International 2026 due to a chain reaction of nerfs. Commentators identified the changes to Snapfire as the main nerf, particularly the nerf to Mortimer Kisses, which could push the hero out of the professional scene. At the same time, SVG pointed out that reducing ultimate cooldowns—for example, on Ancient Apparition—could significantly boost the viability of certain heroes.
On the Divine Rapier nerf
Silverman considered the issue with Divine Rapier to be overblown, noting that strategies involving cooldown reduction were used in only a very small number of matches. In his opinion, gold-hungry supports like Zeus in the fourth position with a large amount of gold can even increase the win rate in ranked games. Cap disagreed, stating that players often copy such builds, forcing the developers to intervene.
On BSJ and inviting players as casters for TI 2026
SVG praised Brian “BSJ” Canavan, calling him a top-tier analyst with a clear and concise delivery. Walsh considers Jonash “SabeRLight-” Wołek to be the most interesting talent for the upcoming The International 2026, noting his charisma, but expressed doubt about how well the player would fit into the analyst panel format. At the same time, Avery stated that inviting active players who didn’t qualify doesn’t seem entirely respectful toward the casters who worked all season. Cap added that it’s important for organizers to create panels with good chemistry, rather than simply assembling big names.
Read also:
- Cap: “The Dota 2 interface is literally the best of any game ever” (first part of the podcast).
- SVG on the Divine Rapier nerf in Dota 2: “My God, who even cares about this nonsense?” (second part of the podcast).
Earlier, Nigma Galaxy carry Sayed “SumaiL” Hassan discussed the team’s current form and Artem “lorenof” Melnik to the team’s gameplay, compared his style to Vladimir “No[o]ne-” Minenko, and assessed the role of the carry in modern Dota 2.
Photo: Valve.
