Kez will join the lineup of Dota 2 heroes very soon. Here’s everything we know about the Flightless leader so far.
Valve dropped the announcement of its next Dota 2 hero, Kez, during the high of The International 2024. Kez, previously code-named "Bird Samurai", will finally join the Dota 2 battlefield soon. But who is Kez and what do we know about him so far? Read below!
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers from Crownfall Act I - Act III. |
When is Kez's release date in Dota 2?
Kez will be released alongside Crownfall Act IV, as revealed in the official hero trailer during TI13. Kez and the final Crownfall chapter are speculated to launch within the final week of September. But as usual, we can expect the typical Valve delays for Kez's release date.
Who is Kez - the upcoming Dota 2 hero?
Although not canon, we are convinced that Kez is short for Kestrel who is one of the important characters of the Crownfall saga. Kestrel's name was first mentioned in the very first chapter when Shen (Vengeful Spirit) and Dragonus (Skywrath Mage) set off in search of the Kazurai army.
The other leader is KESTREL. He is the young and impetuous one of the pair. It is legend here that Kestrel was a just a CHILD when he climbed topside, eluded the Queensguard...found a secret passage into The Cage, and broke Kraw out of prison. Seeing his potential, Kraw made him the first initiate of the Kazurai order.
The Kazurai army is a pack of birdlike monk warriors who are also often called the Flightless. Kez is one of the two founders of the Kazurai. He was the elected leader responsible for growing the Kazurai army to end the tyranny of Queen Imperia. We don't see the image of Kestrel until the Act III of Crownfall, when Shen and Dragonus urge Kez to merge forces.
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Kez will play a pivotal role in the Crownfall story
In the official hero trailer for Kez, we saw a compact 0:52 seconds of what he'll bring to the table. In the first seconds of the trailer, we see a banner that reads "Unity in Flight" - a rallying slogan for the Kazurai. It was then accompanied by the phrase "Every revolution needs a hero". This powerful statement hints at Kez's role as a catalyst for change who inspires hope against the evil Queen Imperia.
In the Crownfall story, Kez had initially given up after a grueling defeat in battle against her. But Crownfall Act IV will likely witness Kez's road to redemption and vengeance. This narrative backdrop sets the stage for our new hero's heroic journey. Crownfall Act IV will likely feature Kez as the star towards the end of the Crownfall saga.
What are Kez's abilities in Dota 2?
At a glance, many players speculate that Kez will be an Agility carry. It has been a long time since Valve introduced a new Agility carry, with the last one being Monkey King in 2016. As a Flightless with a samurai-oriented fighting style, Kez is likely a right-click high-damage hero.
Dataminers have also uncovered some intriguing details about Kez's potential abilities. Two skills that may also be a codename to the actual kit are:
- Avian Assault: This ability might allow Kez to soar to a target location, showcasing his birdlike agility.
- Plumage Parry: This ability suggests that Kez can use his feathery form to block incoming attacks.
That is all that we know of Dota 2's next hero, Kez, so far. Keep up with more Dota 2 news and updates here on esports.gg!
