Dota 2 patch brings forth new 'Wraith Night' survival mode, adds ranked matchmaking

Reporting on MOBA patch notes can be a rather dull affair. A new patch usually consists mainly of balance adjustments and sometimes a new hero/champion/god/whatever-else-they-go-by. Out of all the MOBAs though, Dota 2 seems to have some of the most interesting updates to pass along.

Up first is the new 'Wraith Night' mode. Valve has been known to add custom game modes to Dota 2 during major holidays like Halloween's Diretide. With Wraith Night, Valve seems to be killing two birds with one stone, updating the visuals for the Skeleton King while also giving players a chance to participate in a wave style survival mode.

You see, the Skeleton King is not feeling too well. According to the Dota 2 blog post, after reassembling himself too many times, good ole SK doesn't have what it takes to put himself back together again. To fix his ending immortality, players must work together to protect him from the armies of Wraith-Night. With each felled minion, SK will feed on their essence, eventually growing strong enough to be reborn as the newly risen Wraith King. The change in appearance most likely has to do with the Skeleton King's resemblance to the Diablo character of the same name. The change will allow Valve to keep the hero without designing a new one entirely as a replacement.

Wraith Night only allows players to choose from a small pool of heroes including Legion Commander who was just added this patch. To make up for this, Valve has adjusted some of the heroes abilities to better handle the huge waves of minions bearing down on them. As with all of Dota 2's special modes, expect plenty of cosmetic prizes for performing well.

Ranked Matchmaking has also finally been added to Dota 2 for those looking to compare their skills at right-clicking. For those just starting out in Dota 2, Valve has revamped the starting experience for beginners, which gradually introduces players to the games modes, mechanics and items.

Even if none of the above interests you as a Dota 2 player you may still want to login during the winter festivities. Valve is handing out present boxes which introduces players to the variety of vanity items available and rewards players with several of each. What's more, as players level up (yes there is a leveling system in Dota 2) they will be able to work towards unlocking even more mythical items.

You can read the full list of changes on Dota 2's official blog here.