[It's not every day that a new map is added to Dota 2. In fact, that's exactly what happened today with the New Frontiers Update (open in new tab), which brings Dota 2 to version 7.33 and is quite a hefty patch with changes to matchmaking algorithms, interface changes, new hero types, tons of balance changes, and a 40% map expansion. It is a substantial patch, including changes to matchmaking algorithms, interface changes, new hero types, numerous balance changes, and a 40% expansion of the map.

Valve notes that while there is "40% more terrain" on the edges of the map, lanes are as close together as ever. Both main jungles have also been completely reconfigured, with significant changes to vision placement, juke routes, and farming. Here is what's new.

Mechanically, the most important change is an entirely new hero type: the universal hero. A universal hero is a hero who does not specialize in one attribute, but instead gains 0.6 damage per point in any attribute. Existing heroes reorganized into the universal category include Bane, Broodmother, Enigma, Lone Druid, and Vengeful Spirit.

There are many other adjustments. For example, neutral creep abilities now scale over time, and all disabling effects have had their durations reduced. Neutral creeps no longer drop items and instead drop tokens that can be used for one of the five neutral items. The Kill Formula and Black King Bar have been reworked, and several heroes have been heavily revamped, including Muerta, Arc Warden, Ogre Magi, Medusa, Alchemist, and Clinkz. according to Valve, "Most of Clinkz's abilities in life are now more powerful than ever. Like the best abilities, they now produce skeletons."

Matchmaking was changed in response to what Valve calls "undesirable clumps in the 0-1000 MMR range" and how hard it was for returning players to get back to the exact matchmaking ratio after being away for a while. Going forward, Dota 2 will use the Glicko algorithm instead of calculating MMR with the Elo algorithm, and Valve has been "running both matchmaking systems simultaneously behind the scenes for some time to increase confidence in this change."

Finally, the UI changes should make it easier to keep track of your HP and everyone else's. Barriers (which used to be called shields) will be displayed on the health bar, and instead of having HP totals, things like the skeleton archer that Clinkz regularly summons, which will be defeated after a certain number of hits, will show a pip on the health bar. Also, abilities that consume health are displayed numerically, as are mana costs. Wise!

As one might expect in a MOBA, any update will involve old balance changes in addition to the hero overhaul described above; Valve's "New Frontiers Update" page (opens in a new tab) provides details and a new map of Interactive version of the new map can be viewed by mouse-over.