This game appears to still be going strong, I have over 200 hours played and I think I am finally bored until they make some real changes. The meta is boring, you either get 3 star Spectre and Terrorblade or you don't win. I have tried everything else. Top tier Alliance is:
A tier: Demon ,Shaman, Healer, Hunter, Assassin. If you can make a build around that you should finish top half at least.
B tier: Warrior, Knight, Mage, Savage, Troll, Dragon. Dragon is upgraded to A tier if you get 3 star Puck with +mana per second item and usually pair with snapfire for early and sustained wins. Warrior can work if you go for the 6 alliance and stack stuns and disables, pudge sucks until 3 star though. Mage is strong because easliy paired with spirit and each of those heroes are really good. Storm spirit will carry you most of the game, do not go for the 6 alliance with mage unless you are sure you can get all 3 stars early(which you almost never can)
C tier: Poisoner, go with this is you just happen to get some early 2 stars, combine with assassin usually works well, queen of pain is a beast.
The rest will get you loses, savage is great on paper and I have won with 4 but never 6, if you can get early 3 star lycan you can do good things but you want the other 3 to be Spirit Breaker, Magnus, Tusk or Bristleback. Druid sucks, combine with Nature prophet, meepo, and shadowshaman with any other troll. Shadow Shaman attack speed is not to be underestimated and his 3 star is one of the best in the game. Again though without a terrorblade and or spectre you will lose to whatever team has one.
If you find yourself with an early 2-3 Legion Commander build around her, get as many 2-3 alliances you can and she will start to hit for 1500+
Absolutely Avoid, Brute, Swordsman, Brawny, fallen. Fallen and brawny will get you knocked out before they start to work. Kunkka and Ember spirit are great heroes but don't go down the swordsman alliance with them.
Items to get tier 1: Chainmail, Claymore, Gloves of Haste, Void Stone, Morbid Mask, avoid others
Tier 2: Most good, avoid Target buddy and Barricades.
Tier 3: Most good, avoid Mango Tree and Octarine Essence. Also grab Mask of Madness if you have passive hero and Eul's Scepter for those fast casters, and Battle fury for any fast attackers.
Tier 4 Aim for Moon Shard, Refresher Orb, Butterfly, the rest are good but those are best.
Tier 5: Radiance if you have 3 star spectre, Storm Spirit, or Spirit Breaker, they charge through crowds and it does insane damage and great CC. Satanic on your heavy hitter, Heart of Tarrasque on your tank, the rest are situational and usually better to get another Moon Shard or Refresher Orb.