KEZ – New Dota 2 Hero With 9 SKILLS!

The recent Dota 2 update released by Valve has thrilled fans of the game with various new features, particularly the unique hero Kez. His distinct mechanics and combat styles enhance tactical options and offer fresh opportunities for strategic experimentation. In this article, the Blix team will provide an in-depth analysis of Kez’s key features, abilities, and interactions with other game elements.

Dota 2 hero: Kez

Character History

“I was born with a price on my head. As I got better at causing trouble, that price went up. Every time Queen Imperia raised the bounty, I knew I must have done something right. I think that’s the worst part about being gone so long in Icewrack… I’ve got to get that price back up to a respectable number.”

Key Features of the Hero Kez

Dota 2 hero: Kez

 Kez is a hero with two distinct fighting styles that can be adapted based on the situation. His unique ability allows him to switch between two forms: Katana Kazurai and Shodo Sai. Each style unlocks new abilities and skill sets for the player.

Kez defaults to using the Katana style, which provides him with a slightly greater attack range than other melee heroes, similar to the Monkey King’s style. It’s important to note that when he switches styles, his appearance changes from wielding a katana to holding a dagger, which also impacts the game’s mechanics.

Characteristics of the Character

The main characteristic of this character is agility. The essential characteristics of Kez are as follows:

• Strange: 19 + 2.6
• Agility: 26 + 3.5
• Intellect: 18 + 1.7
• Damage: 49-55Armor: 4.3
• Movement speed: 315
• Base attack time: 2.0
• Attack Speed: 126
• Attack Range: 225
• Max Health: 538
• Max Mana: 291

Hero Skills

Kez possesses several unique abilities that differ based on the chosen combat style.

Switch Discipline

Cooldown: 8

The character changes combat style, switching between the Kazurai Katana and Shodo Sai. Each style has its own abilities and attack characteristics. Abilities that occupy the same cell have expected levels and cooldowns for both styles. This ability’s cooldown decreases by 0.2 seconds with each hero level.

Consider the character’s abilities when using the katana:

Echo Slash

Dota 2 Kez: Echo Slash

Kez slashes 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.

Mana cost: 85/100/115/130
Cooldown: 20/18/16/14

• Ability: No Target
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Damage Type: Physical
• Attack Damage: 70% / 80% / 90% / 100%
• Bonus Hero Damage: 30 / 45 / 60 / 75
• Attacks: 2
• Echo Delay: 1.2
• Move Slow: 100%
• Slow Duration: 0.25

Grappling Claw

Dota 2 Kez: Grappling Claw

Kez swings on a grappling hook towards the target unit or tree.  When the grappling hook collides with the target, that unit has slowed movement speed until Kez arrives. Upon landing, he attacks with 100% lifesteal plus a flat bonus if the target is a Hero.

Mana cost: 50
Cooldown: 15/12/9/6

• Ability: Unit Target
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Pierces Spell Immunity: No
• Hero Bonus Lifesteal: 50 / 100 / 150 / 200
• Move Slow: 80%

Kazurai Katana

Dota 2 Kez: Kazurai Katana

Katana attacks and abilities apply a stacking damage over time to enemies that deals a percentage of the original attack’s damage as additional damage over time. Affected enemies have non-stacking reduced health regeneration.

• Ability: Passive
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Damage Type: Physical
• Pierces Spell Immunity: Yes
• Dispellable: Yes
• Duration: 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
• Damage Per Second: 7% / 8% / 9% / 10%
• Regen Reduction: 20% / 25% / 30% / 35%
• Impale Duration: 0
• Stacks As Burst Damage: 0%

Raptor Dance

Dota 2 Kez: Raptor Dance

Kez enters into an uncontrollable channel for 1 second, gaining debuff immunity and 100% magic resistance. If the channel completes successfully, Kez performs a series of deadly radial slashes around him that deal damage based on the max health of the target and heal Kez for a percentage of all damage dealt. Kez receives a strong dispel upon completion.

Mana cost: 100/125/150
Cooldown: 40/32/24

• Ability: No Target
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Damage Type: Pure
• Pierces Spell Immunity: Yes
• Strikes: 2 / 3 / 4
• Radius: 450
• Base Damage: 75
• Max Health as Damage: 4%
• Slash Lifesteal: 100%

Consider the character’s abilities when using Shodo Sai:

Falcon Rush

Dota 2 Kez: Falcon Rush

Kez gains the ability to rush towards enemy targets to deliver echoing secondary attacks.  While in this state, Kez has phased collision and an attack rate that is less affected by attack speed.

Mana cost: 85/90/95/100
Cooldown: 20/18/16/14

• Ability: No Target
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Dispellable: Yes
• Duration: 7
• Rush Range: 650
• Evasion: 0%
• Rush Speed: 1000
• Base Attack Rate: 1.3 / 1.2 / 1.1 / 1
• Attack Speed Factor: 6% / 7% / 8% / 9%
• Current Attack Rate: 0

Talon Toss

Dota 2 Kez: Talon Toss

Kez throws a Sai at the target unit. The Sai detonates when it hits, dealing damage and applying silence to all enemies in the area.

Mana cost: 75
Cooldown: 15/12/9/6

• Ability: Unit Target
• Affects: Enemy Units
• Damage Type: Magical
• Pierces Spell Immunity: No
• Radius: 275
• Damage: 75 / 125 / 175 / 225
• Silence Duration: 1.75 / 2 / 2.25 / 2.5

Shodo Sai

Dota 2 Kez: Shodo Sai

Kez activates the parry ability, allowing her to reflect enemy attacks while also inflicting debuffs on them.

Mana cost: 30/20/10/0
Cooldown: 20/15/10/5

• Ability: Point Target
• Pierces Spell Immunity: Yes
• Dispellable: Only Strong Dispels
• Chance to Mark: 17%
• Marked Move Slow: 10%
• Marked Duration: 8
• Marked Critical Strike: 140% / 160% / 180% / 200%
• Marked Stun Duration: 0.5
• Parry Bonus Critical Strike: 25% / 50% / 75% / 100%
• Parry Bonus Stun Duration: 0.5

Raven’s Veil

Dota 2 Kez: Raven’s Veil

Kez releases a wave of smoke that applies his Mark with Parry bonus to nearby enemies, briefly reducing their vision. Kez receives a basic dispel and gains bonus movement speed and invisibility until he attacks or casts a spell.

Mana cost: 100/125/150
Cooldown: 40/32/24

• Ability: No Target
• Affects: Enemy Heroes
• Pierces Spell Immunity: Yes
• Dispellable: Only Strong Dispels
• Wave Radius: 1500
• Wave Speed: 1500
• Duration: 7 / 8 / 9
• Blind Duration: 4
• Bonus Movement Speed: 15% / 25% / 35%

Facet Details

Kez always has a few fun tricks up his sleeve, but right now he’s got a war to win. This facet doesn’t do anything… yet.

Dota 2 Kez: Facet

Aghanim’s Scepter and Aghanim’s Shard

Kez also has access to Aghanim and Aganim’s Shard, which provide him with additional abilities.

• Aghanim enables instant ability recharge when switching combat styles, enhancing mobility and efficiency in combat.
• Aghanim’s Shard grants the ability to pierce an enemy with a katana, stunning both the enemy and yourself for a short period, while also removing all imposed effects from the target.

Unique Talents

Dota 2 Kez: Talents

Kez possesses certain exciting talents that greatly influence his behavior during combat. Some of these talents include:

• Increase in mana or magic resistance.
• Increased damage and critical damage in various forms.
• Bonuses to movement speed and attack efficiency.

Every upgrade enhances Kez, transforming him into a versatile and powerful hero capable of adapting to various situations.

Prospects

Dota 2 Kez: Art

Future updates are expected to introduce new facets and mechanics, which will enhance the hero’s versatility. Although there were initial worries about his excessive power, it’s important to keep in mind that effectively utilizing his abilities will require precise coordination and strong game intuition.

Conclusion

The addition of the Kez hero to Dota 2 has introduced fresh elements to the game, emphasizing versatility and new tactical options. His unique ability to switch between two fighting styles opens up a wide range of strategies for players, enabling both agile attacks and powerful dispels and parries. With strong talents and capabilities from Aghanim’s Scepter and Aghanim’s Shard, Kez is set to become an essential asset for professional players. While extensive testing and optimization are still ahead, he already appears to be a hero capable of significantly altering the game. You can discuss the new hero in a dedicated thread on Reddit.