Valve recently issued an emergency update for Dota 2’s newest hero, Kez, just one day after his debut on November 8. Kez entered the game with a win rate of 36%, the lowest among all heroes.
While the community enjoyed his complex design and character, his gameplay proved challenging and somewhat ineffective, prompting Valve to quickly buff the hero in response. Here’s a look at why Kez needed buffs and how these adjustments impacted his performance.
Why Kez Needed Buffs
- No Major Patch Accompanied Kez’s Release Typically, Valve introduces new heroes alongside major gameplay changes that shake up the meta. For example, Hoodwink launched with the Mistwoods Update, Dawnbreaker arrived with new map features like Water Runes, and Muerta came with Dead Reckoning adjustments. However, Kez debuted with no such gameplay update, entering a well-established patch where most heroes are already optimized. This lack of novelty made it difficult for Kez to gain traction as players had little incentive to adapt to an unproven hero in a stable meta.
- An Unfavorable Meta for Melee Cores The current Dota 2 meta heavily favors ranged carries like Luna, Gyrocopter, Shadow Fiend, and Muerta, making it challenging for a melee core like Kez to thrive. Ranged heroes excel with items like Khanda and Gleipnir, which make it easy to control melee opponents. Although Kez has some mobility options, he often struggles to keep up with ranged carries, and his limited durability leaves him vulnerable when attempting to engage.
- Underwhelming Stats and Abilities Kez’s initial stats and abilities limited his effectiveness. Though he can apply pressure in the laning phase, his lack of resilience makes him an easy target for early game eliminations. Kez also relies heavily on farm, yet his low farming speed hindered his progression, creating a hero who needed additional strength to be competitive. Recognizing this, Valve boosted Kez’s numbers, helping him stand a better chance in the early and mid-game.
Impact of the Buffs on Kez’s Win Rate
The buffs to Kez had an immediate positive effect, raising his win rate by over 7% to approximately 44%. While still below average, this increase demonstrates that the adjustments made Kez more viable.
The improvements enhanced his early-game survivability, closing the gap between him and enemy carries. His Falcon Rush ability, for instance, now provides faster attack speeds, significantly increasing his damage output.
Though still a work in progress, Kez’s win rate may reach 47-48% as players optimize his skill and item builds, unlocking his full potential. For now, Kez remains a fun yet challenging hero to master, with a unique playstyle that could gain further traction with ongoing adaptation.
What’s Next for Kez?
It’s likely that Valve will continue to monitor Kez’s performance, making additional tweaks as necessary to ensure his balance within the meta. As players grow more familiar with his abilities and itemization, Kez may establish himself as a versatile pick in Dota 2’s evolving landscape.