Valve recently announced Kez, Dota 2’s highly anticipated 126th hero, during The International 2024 (TI13). Known in development as the “Bird Samurai,” Kez is the charismatic leader of the Kazurai, a group of birdlike warriors, and will play a key role in the Crownfall story arc.
Here’s everything we know about Kez, from his lore to his unique skillset and playstyle.
Who is Kez?
Kez, also known as Kestrel, is a central figure in the Crownfall saga, appearing alongside characters like Vengeful Spirit (Shen) and Skywrath Mage (Dragonus). Known as a fearless and strategic leader of the Kazurai army, he has long fought against the oppressive rule of Queen Imperia.
His origins trace back to his daring breakout of Kraw, the Kazurai’s other founder, from prison, which earned him a place as Kraw’s first apprentice. Kez’s story is one of resilience and resistance, with Act IV of Crownfall expected to follow his path to redemption and revenge.
Kez’s Abilities
Kez is a position-one Agility carry who excels in high-damage, right-click attacks. His skillset blends swift swordplay and crowd control, positioning him as a versatile but lethal addition to any team.
- Echo Slash
Kez performs a katana slash in a line, dealing a percentage of his attack damage and briefly slowing targets. After a short delay, he attacks the same area again, with increased damage to enemy heroes. - Grappling Claw
Allows Kez to switch between his Kazurai Katana and Shodo Sai, gaining distinct abilities depending on his equipped weapon. Each level up reduces the cooldown of this skill. - Switch Discipline
When using his Sai, Kez’s attacks have a chance to mark enemies, applying a slow. His next attack gains True Strike, stuns the enemy, and deals critical damage. Kez can also parry attacks for two seconds, disarming himself and stunning marked targets. - Raptor Dance
Kez channels briefly, gaining immunity to debuffs and magic. If the channel completes, he performs a powerful area slash that deals damage based on his target’s maximum health, healing himself and receiving a strong dispel. - Falcon Rush
A fast-paced dash that allows Kez to phase through enemies, delivering multiple attacks with reduced dependency on attack speed. - Talon Toss
Kez throws a Sai at a target, which detonates on impact, dealing damage and silencing all nearby enemies. - Raven’s Veil
Kez releases a smoke wave, briefly applying a Sai Mark and reducing enemy vision. He gains bonus movement speed and invisibility until he initiates another action.
Facets and Innate Abilities
- Facet: Hero of the Flightless
While it doesn’t currently impact gameplay, Kez’s facet suggests untapped potential and hints at a future evolution of his role within Dota 2. - Innate: Switch Discipline
This ability enables Kez to fluidly switch between his katana and sai, adjusting his playstyle to suit different combat situations.
Release Date and Final Chapter of Crownfall
Kez’s official release date is November 7, 2024, as part of the anticipated Crownfall Act IV update. Originally speculated to arrive in September, delays pushed the hero’s release to align with TI13’s post-tournament period.
Kez’s Role in Crownfall
The hero trailer portrays Kez as a revolutionary force against Queen Imperia. With the banner reading “Unity in Flight” and the phrase “Every revolution needs a hero,” Kez’s journey in Act IV will likely showcase his fight for the Kazurai’s freedom. The saga promises to dive deeper into Kez’s story, highlighting his resilience and his battle to inspire hope in the face of tyranny.
Conclusion
Kez’s addition to Dota 2 brings both a compelling narrative and a fresh playstyle, making him a thrilling hero to explore. His dual-weapon abilities, intricate lore, and thematic alignment with the Crownfall arc should make him an instant fan favorite.