Dota 2 Unveils Patch 7.39d and ‘Quartero’s Curios’

On August 5, 2025, Valve rolled out Patch 7.39d along with a lighthearted—and totally free—new dashboard feature: Quartero’s Curios.

Patch 7.39d: Balance Adjustments Ahead of The International

Patch 7.39d brings several balance changes aimed at heroes who dominated the meta in recent tournaments like the Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2025 and Clavision Masters 2025. Key nerfs target Nature’s Prophet, Naga Siren, Batrider, Axe, Undying, and Templar Assassin. Some underutilized heroes such as Bloodseeker, Luna, Treant Protector, Phantom Assassin, Faceless Void, Grimstroke, and Earth Spirit received buffs.
Item adjustments also came through: nerfs affected Blade Mail, Hurricane Pike, Glimmer Cape, Mask of Madness, Octarine Core, and the neutral item Sister’s Shroud (reductions to both evasion and duration).

Enter Quartero: Your Cosmetic Buddy in the Main Menu

Valve introduced Quartero, a quirky character who now appears on the main menu—not to sell anything, but to give players free cosmetics as they play. As Valve put it:

“Today we’re introducing Quartero, a completely trustworthy new character who wants nothing more than to sit on the main menu of Dota and give you free cosmetics while you play games.”

He’s not here to replace the beloved Battle Pass; instead, he’s a fun, free feature that will run alongside future major events.

How Quartero’s Curios Works

• XP for Plays: Players earn XP by playing matches—650 XP for a win, 250 XP for a loss. Turbo games grant 425 XP for wins and 175 for losses.
• Level Up to Unlock: Progress through levels up to Level 100, unlocking a host of cosmetic rewards and visual effects along the way.
• Key Rewards:
  • Witch Doctor (“Papa Wanga”) skin at early levels
  • Vengeful Spirit (“Maledictions of Morrigan”) sets mid-tier
  • Legion Commander (“Drakon’s Deed” and “Drakon’s Ire”) sets in higher tiers
• Dash Effects include animations for Fountain Rejuvenation, Town Portal Scroll, Blink Dagger, Level Up, Eul’s Scepter, Aghanim’s Scepter, Force Staff, Phase Boots, Mekansm, Radiance, Lotus Orb, and more.
• Antiques (Wildcard Rewards) appear at Levels 5, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100—each containing a randomly selected previously released cosmetic set, with a small chance to include an Immortal or Arcana item.
  While exact drop rates are undisclosed, leaks suggest only default Arcanas (those not exclusive to Battle Passes) may drop—from heroes like Legion Commander, Lina, Terrorblade, Crystal Maiden, Phantom Assassin, Techies, Zeus, Rubick, Pudge, Monkey King, Juggernaut, Skywrath Mage, and Vengeful Spirit.
• Limited-Time Feature: The Quartero’s Curios event runs until November 5, 2025, just in time for The International.

Community Reactions

On Reddit, players have welcomed the new system as a creative and rewarding alternative:

“I like it, Dota really needed some permanent leveling reward system like Counter Strike does since they got rid of it like 10 years ago and battlepasses aren’t a thing either.” Reddit
“…you earn XP for games played (650 for a win, 250 for a loss) and gain levels every 1000 XP. There are rewards for every level up to 100, with each set unlocking in pieces and custom particle effects unlocked alongside them.” Reddit

Valve’s latest update, Patch 7.39d, offers important gameplay tweaks—and introduces Quartero’s Curios, a charming, free way to earn cosmetics just by playing. It’s a light yet engaging experience for returning and casual players alike, running through early November before the big International event.