These are editorial practice suggestions, not verified performance statistics. For patch-specific changes, check the linked official notes and current in-game information.
Start with the effective date
An announcement date and the date an update becomes playable are different things. Compare versions by the date the change takes effect. A balance article and the general patch article may describe separate parts of the same update.
Identify the actual quantity
Damage per hit is not damage per second. A cooldown change does not reveal the complete uptime of an ability. When a number changes, keep its unit and conditions attached. Team-up effects can depend on a partner or an enhanced state; do not apply them to the base kit without checking.
Look at the whole trade
A shorter cooldown may arrive with a slower movement speed. A larger damage number may accompany a smaller area. Treat these as changes to a decision rather than immediately declaring a hero stronger in every situation. Test the scenario that matters to your playstyle.
Keep observations separate from conclusions
The patch archive records what the official notes say. Matchup advice is editorial interpretation. A change alone does not establish a win rate or prove a hard counter. If an official hero page and a patch note disagree, keep both sources visible and avoid silently combining them into one supposedly exact historical build.
Do not fill historical gaps
A current hero page is not proof of what an ability did in Season 0. Use dated snapshots where they exist. Where only a balance delta is documented, record that delta and leave unrelated historical fields unknown.
