Black King Bar and the case for Universal Damage's return

When I first started playing Dota, Black King Bar was the big item, but over the course of several patches, it feels like BKB has gotten worse and worse, since it seems as though every other other ability these days goes through BKB.

Of course this wouldn't be as much of a problem if wasn't for the fateful change made in 6.82 that removed Universal and Composite damage from the game to "simplify" the mechanics. For those of you who need a quick refresher; Universal damage was spell immunity-piercing damage that was reduced by magic damage resistance (To this day, I don't understand composite damage). Now however, Black King Bar grants 100% magic damage resistance in addition to spell immunity and most ultimates that had universal damage were changed to pure, pretty much defeating the purpose of that damage resistance.

Now with the over buffing of Silver Edge, this is just another **** move to BKB carriers like Phantom Assassin and Huskar (as if spell immunity-piercing, pure damage ultis weren't enough of a **** move), it feels like BKB is becoming a worse item with each patch.

What do you guys think of Black King Bar and is there a case to be made for universal damage's return?

I think what you're saying is true, but I kinda agree with the change - BKB was such a big deal (and is still a pretty big deal) that it was too much. It was basically core on everyone, wherever possible. It probably still is situational on everyone.

Think the real change that has hurt it is Blade Mail - you could just turn your BKB on previously and ignore it, not so easy now.

BTW composite was a weird mix of magic and physical damage, something like 50/50 if memory serves, so got reduced by both magic resistance and armour, but could damage at least a bit through just about everything.

Composite damage was damage that was reduced both by armor and by magic resistance, but that went through BKB.
It was neither physical nor magical. Was a separate damage type completely.

Also yeah with the Blade Mail buff among many other changes in previous patches, hard disabling the targets you want to focus down has become more and more of a must. There are just too many items that allow people to escape and/or counter initiations otherwise. You can't just BKB and mindlessly right click anymore.

Personally I think this favors rat dota and objective gaming in general, because if it's so hard to focus heroes without getting kited in some way, you just kill buildings :)

I'm really happy that bkb got nerfed since before 6.82 the item was just way to good in my eyes, however now it isn't a "I have to get this item every game" item anymore. I think the item itself is balanced now but indeed Pa gets wrecked once again by Icefrog, but there are enough pa discussions out their so I won't touch this anymore. Bkb is now the item when someone buys it he is much stronger during the teamfight but still killable and not an untouchable Monster.

Bkb may receive a minor buff but it doesn't need it reaally, maybe valve will change it all over again to a new bkb usage.

BKB still feels core a lot of the time to me. Sure, more **** goes through it now, but it still works against most disables in the game. And that's important; Cores need the ability to do stuff unimpeded in fights, and BKB is simply the best way to do that. The more co-ordinated the gameplay the more that matters, to the extent it's still essentially core on everything in pro games.

Also you ignored the most important BKB change in 6.82 since the item first started lowering it's duration after usage;

Current duration and cooldown are now bound to the hero, instead of the item.

The issue with BKB before that change was that in the late game, cores would rebuy BKB and have it at a 10s duration again, which is insane in fights. Universal damage meant **** compared to that (The item has also given 100% magic resistance since it's inception, not 6.82). It made the lives of supports so much better because it helped them stay game relevent in the late game.