Kez has finally started.
Valve has finally released the fourth update of the Crownfall act Dota 2which includes the addition of new hero Kez. This has given us a first look at his abilities and, at what is a new move for him Dotahe has two very different skill sets depending on what weapon he has equipped.
Kez is listed as an official of his Dota 2 hero page, as well as labeled as good as escape and disables. This could make him playable in the mid as well, but it will likely take some time to figure that out as he will likely be popular for a few weeks as players get to grips with him.
When it comes to his abilities, which you can see below, his innate is easily the most important. This allows him to switch between his massive katana sword, or his slightly smaller Shodo Sai blades. Activating this skill will not only change his weapon but also his skill set, however skills in both sets share a cooldown so this isn’t like Invoker where you can cast as many spells as you can call if you are fast enough.
Generally his katana skill set is more about getting up close and personal with enemies and cutting them down with his sword, while his sai skills are more distance based attacks that he can use to stay at the end of fights or create distance from enemies. You can see a full overview of Kez’s abilities below.
The patch that Kez added also adds the fourth and final act of the Crownfall saga. As expected, there’s a new world map showing the final chapter of the epic story and a ton of cosmetics to unlock along the way. It was also announced that Crownfall will end on January 15th, 2025, so you have plenty of time to make sure you finish them all.
Dota 2 The abilities of the hero Kez
Born – Change Discipline
Kez switches between his Katana and Sai weapons. He gains different abilities and attack skills based on the weapon equipped, the abilities increase together and share a cooldown.
Katana Q – Echo Slash
Kez charges forward in a line with his Katana, dealing a percentage of his attack damage and a brief slow to targets in the area. After a short delay, the area is attacked again. Heroes take bonus damage.
Katana W – Clash of Claws
Kez swings in a grappling hook at the target unit or tree. When the grappling hook hits the target, that unit has slowed movement speed until Kez arrives. Upon landing, it attacks with 100% lifesteal plus a flat bonus if the target is a Hero.
Katana E (Passive) – Kazurai Katana
Katana attacks and abilities apply a stack damage over time to enemies, which deals a percentage of the original attack’s damage as additional damage over time. Affected enemies have reduced health regeneration without stacking.
Katana R – Raptor Dance
Kez enters an uncontrolled channel for 1 second, gaining debut immunity and 100% magic resistance. If the channel is successfully completed, Kez performs a series of deadly radial slashes around it that deal damage based on the target’s maximum health and heal Kez for a percentage of all damage dealt. Kez gets a strong breakup after the finish.
Sai Q – Falcon Rush
Kez gains the ability to rush towards enemy targets to perform secondary echo attacks. While in this state, Kez has phase collisions and an attack rate that is less affected by attack speed.
Sai W – Talon Toss
Kez casts a Sai on the target unit. Sai explodes on impact, dealing damage and silencing all enemies in the area.
Sai E – Shodo Sai
Kez’s attacks and abilities with Sai have a chance to hit enemies. Marked enemies are slowed and Kez’s next attack or ability damage gains True Strike and will stun the enemy and deal a critical hit, consuming the owl.
Kez can activate the ability to disarm himself, block his face, and avoid attacks and attack effects from the target direction for 2 seconds. If an attack is dodged by an enemy Hero this way, that Hero is stunned and tagged, taking additional critical hits and being stunned when the debuff is activated.
The sub-skill can be used to cancel the lock earlier.
Sai R – Veil of the Raven
Kez releases a puff of smoke that applies his Mark with Parry bonus to nearby enemies, briefly reducing their vision. Kez gets a base dispel and gains bonus movement speed and invisibility until he attacks or casts a spell.