How to get Madstone from neutral creeps in Dota 2 patch 7.38. How to farm Madstone and build new Neutral Items and Enchantments

TL;DR

  • Madstone drops from neutral camps (2 for you, 1 for ally; Ancient camps give 3/2)
  • Cannot collect when enemies nearby – expires after 20 seconds if unclaimed
  • Madstone caps increase over time: 5 at 5min, 15 at 15min, 25 at 25min, 35 at 35min, 45 at 60min
  • New neutral items come with passive enchantments and cannot be dropped or moved to backpack
  • Team coordination and efficient farming routes are crucial for maximizing Madstone income

Games and Esports Articles Dota 2

Valve’s transformative patch 7.38, deployed on February 18, has revolutionized Dota 2’s landscape with comprehensive map overhauls. The update introduces dynamic river systems with speed-boosting currents, repositions Roshan pits and Tormentors, and fundamentally alters neutral creep interactions. Among these changes, the Madstone system stands out as a game-altering mechanic, introducing a strategic currency system for acquiring and enhancing Neutral Items through player-controlled choices rather than random drops.

Mastering Madstone acquisition requires understanding its core mechanics: heroes receive these valuable resources when clearing neutral camps, with standard camps yielding 2 Madstones for the clearing hero and 1 distributed to a random teammate. Ancient camps provide increased rewards at 3 and 2 Madstones respectively. However, strategic depth emerges from the collection restrictions – Madstones cannot be gathered when enemy heroes are nearby, creating opportunities for denial and counter-play. Unclaimed Madstones vanish after 20 seconds, adding urgency to collection efforts and forcing tactical decisions about risk versus reward.

How to farm Madstone in Dota 2 patch 7.38

Efficient Madstone farming demands strategic planning and map awareness. The automatic collection system activates when no enemy heroes are within 800 units of the last killed creep, while an allied hero stands within 1200 units. This creates a tactical window where you can safely farm without manual collection, but requires maintaining proper positioning. Advanced players should establish farming patterns that maximize camp clears while minimizing exposure to enemy ganks.

  • Dropped Madstone automatically collects when enemies are beyond 800 units and allies are within 1200 units of the kill location. Otherwise, it remains on the ground for either team to contest, creating strategic objectives throughout the jungle.

Pro tip: Coordinate with your support to create safe farming zones. The 800-unit enemy exclusion zone means your team can effectively establish Madstone collection territories. Consider timing your clears with ally movements to ensure automatic collection while maintaining pressure on other map objectives. Common mistake: farming too deep without vision – always carry detection against enemy wards that might reveal your farming patterns.

Optimization strategy: Prioritize ancient camps after the 15-minute mark when their increased Madstone yield becomes more valuable. Create efficient farming circuits that include both ancient and regular camps, minimizing travel time between clears. Remember that Madstone distribution to random teammates means your farming benefits the entire team, making coordinated jungle control a team-wide strategic priority.

Valve releases patch 7.38, remaking river mechanics, shrines and Wisdom runes, and moving Roshan Pit

What are new Neutral Item tiers and timings in Dota 2 patch 7.38

Understanding the Madstone cap system is crucial for strategic planning. The cap increases progressively throughout the game, with excess Madstones automatically distributed among teammates. This system rewards consistent farming and team coordination, as individual contributions benefit the entire roster. The timing aligns with natural game progression points, making decision-making more intuitive.

  • Game start: Neutral items disabled, focus on laning and initial item progression
  • 5:00 — Tier 1 crafting unlocked, Madstone cap increases to 5
  • 15:00 — Tier 2 options available, cap rises to 15
  • 25:00 — Tier 3 items unlock, cap reaches 25
  • 35:00 — Tier 4 crafting enabled, cap extends to 35
  • 60:00 — Tier 5 items become available, cap maxes at 45
  • 70:00 — Tier 5 recrafting allowed, Madstone cap removed for unlimited accumulation

Strategic insight: The 70-minute cap removal creates late-game scaling opportunities. Teams that maintain jungle control into ultra-late game can continuously upgrade and recraft items, potentially turning the tide in prolonged engagements. Consider dedicating a hero to jungle farming during this phase to maximize team-wide item potential.

How to craft new Neutral Items in Dota 2 patch 7.38

The crafting interface, accessible by clicking Madstone in your inventory, presents all available Neutral Items with their associated Enchantment upgrades. These enchantments provide permanent passive bonuses, fundamentally altering how neutral items impact gameplay progression. The new Neutral tab offers comprehensive information about available items and their combinations, enabling informed decision-making based on game state and team composition.

Critical change: Neutral items are now permanently bound to your hero, eliminating the previous strategy of dropping or moving items to backpacks for temporary usage. This change demands more thoughtful selection, as your choice remains with you throughout the match. Consider your hero’s role, team needs, and game duration when making crafting decisions.


Advanced technique: Monitor enemy crafting choices through the Madstone icon in their inventory. This intelligence allows you to counter-pick items and anticipate power spikes. Common mistake: crafting items based solely on immediate needs rather than considering long-term value. Some enchantments provide scaling benefits that become more valuable in later stages.

All new Neutral Items and Enchantments of Patch 7.38 in Dota 2
The RNG era is behind.

Action Checklist

  • Establish vision control around key jungle camps before farming
  • Coordinate with team to create safe farming zones (800-unit enemy exclusion)
  • Prioritize ancient camps after 15-minute mark for maximum Madstone efficiency
  • Track Madstone caps and plan crafting around tier unlock timings
  • Monitor enemy item choices through inventory scouting for counter-play
  • Save Madstone for crucial tier unlocks rather than immediate crafting

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