Dota 2's New Hero Kez: Guide for the Dual-Style Fighter

Kez is a new hero in Dota 2, distinguished by his unique ability to switch between two combat styles: katana and sai. His gameplay focuses on flexibility and adaptation to various battlefield situations, offering players the opportunity to utilize a wide range of abilities and tactics. With his high complexity level (level 3), Kez becomes an ideal choice for players seeking depth and variety in gameplay.

Credit: Valve Corporation

Kez's Aspect

In Dota 2, aspects allow heroes to adapt to different playstyles, offering new possibilities. Kez has the following aspect available:

Kez always has a few tricks up his sleeve, but right now he has a war to win. This aspect currently has no active effect, but its presence hints at potential hero enhancements in future updates.

Kez's Abilities

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Kez possesses a set of unique abilities that offer control, mobility, and support for allies. His skills include both offensive attacks and abilities for escaping and empowering the team.

Innate Ability — Switch Discipline

Allows Kez to switch between fighting styles with the Kazurai katana and Shodo sai, each providing unique abilities and attack properties. Switching styles reduces cooldown by 0.2 seconds per hero level.

Sai Fighting Style

First Ability — Falcon Rush

Kez instantly attacks the target, repeating the attack after a delay. The hero can pass through other units, reducing the impact of attack speed on intervals between strikes.

• Maximum Cast Range: 650

• Attack Interval: 1.3 / 1.2 / 1.1 / 1 sec

• Cooldown: 20 / 18 / 16 / 14 sec

• Mana Cost: 85 / 90 / 95 / 100

Strategy: Use for quickly finishing off enemies or sudden attacks. Ideal for chasing fleeing opponents or for quickly getting out of dangerous situations.

Second Ability — Talon Toss

Kez throws a sai, dealing damage and silencing the target and nearby enemies.

• Damage: 75 / 125 / 175 / 225

• Silence Duration: 1.75 / 2 / 2.25 / 2.5 sec

• Cooldown: 15 / 12 / 9 / 6 sec

• Mana Cost: 75

Strategy: Great for interrupting enemy spells and controlling groups of opponents. Use against heroes with powerful spells to prevent them from using abilities at crucial moments in battle.

Third Ability — Shodo Sai

Attacks and abilities mark enemies, slowing them and guaranteeing a critical hit on the next attack.

• Chance to Apply Mark: 17%

• Critical Damage on Mark: 140% / 160% / 180% / 200%

• Cooldown: 20 / 15 / 10 / 5 sec

• Mana Cost: 30 / 20 / 10 / 0

Strategy: Increases your damage against marked targets and reduces their mobility. Try to mark key enemies to facilitate their elimination by your team.

Ultimate — Raven's Veil

Creates a smoke wave, marking enemies and reducing their vision. Kez becomes invisible and gains additional movement speed.

• Wave Radius: 1500

• Duration: 7 / 8 / 9 sec

• Additional Movement Speed: +15% / +25% / +35%

• Cooldown: 40 / 32 / 24 sec

• Mana Cost: 100 / 125 / 150

Strategy: Use for a sudden attack or safe retreat. Ideal for initiating fights or rescuing yourself and allies from dangerous situations.

Katana Fighting Style

First Ability — Echo Slash

Kez dashes forward with the katana, dealing damage and briefly slowing enemies. The attack repeats after a short delay.

• Attack Damage: 70% / 80% / 90% / 100%

• Bonus Damage to Heroes: 30 / 45 / 60 / 75

• Cooldown: 20 / 18 / 16 / 14 sec

• Mana Cost: 85 / 100 / 115 / 130

Strategy: Use for quickly engaging in combat and dealing area damage. The repeating attack enhances the effect, allowing you to deal more damage in a short time.

Second Ability — Grappling Claw

Kez pulls himself to an enemy or tree, slowing the target and delivering a hit with increased lifesteal.

• Slow: 80%

• Heal from Attack: 50 / 100 / 150 / 200

• Cooldown: 15 / 12 / 9 / 6 sec

• Mana Cost: 50

Strategy: Provides excellent mobility. Use to quickly approach an enemy or to escape by pulling yourself to a tree.

Third Ability — Kazurai Katana

Attacks deal stacking damage over time and reduce the enemy's health regeneration.

• Damage per Second: 7% / 8% / 9% / 10% of the target's current health

• Health Regeneration Reduction: 20% / 25% / 30% / 35%

• Duration: 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 sec

Strategy: Especially effective against heroes with high regeneration or large health pools. Deals significant damage in prolonged fights.

Ultimate — Raptor Dance

Kez becomes immune to effects and gains 100% magic resistance, then performs a series of strikes, converting part of the damage into health.

• Strike Radius: 450

• Base Damage: 75

• Damage from Max Health: 4% per hit

• Lifesteal per Hit: 100%

• Cooldown: 40 / 32 / 24 sec

• Mana Cost: 100 / 125 / 150

Strategy: Use in the heat of battle for maximum damage and health restoration. Ideal for turning the tide of a fight in your favor.

Skill Build

Credit: Dotabuff

Recommended Skill Order

1. Kazurai Katana (3rd ability, katana)

2. Echo Slash (1st ability, katana)

3. Kazurai Katana

4. Grappling Claw (2nd ability, katana)

5. Kazurai Katana

6. Raptor Dance (ultimate, katana)

7. Kazurai Katana

8. Echo Slash

9. Echo Slash

10. Talent Upgrade

11. Echo Slash

12. Grappling Claw

13. Grappling Claw

14. Grappling Claw

15. Talent Upgrade

16. Raptor Dance 17-20. Maximize remaining abilities and talents

Explanation: Early maxing of Kazurai Katana allows you to deal high damage over time and reduce enemies' regeneration. Echo Slash provides mobility and additional damage, while Grappling Claw adds flexibility in movement and survivability.

Talent Build

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At each talent level, you have a choice between two options. Here are the talent recommendations:

Justification: The right talents at levels 10 and 15 enhance Kez's survivability and control. At level 20, additional damage from Kazurai Katana significantly increases your DPS in fights. At level 25, an additional attack from Echo Slash allows you to deal more damage and better control the battlefield.

Item Build for Kez

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Starting Items

• Quelling Blade — to facilitate farming in the lane.

• Tango — health regeneration in the early game.

• Iron Branch — small stat increases and preparation for future items.

Core Items

• Phase Boots — increase movement speed and damage, enhancing mobility and attack efficiency.

• Echo Sabre — double attack and improved stats, allowing you to deal damage faster.

• Black King Bar — provides magic immunity, allowing safe participation in team fights.

Situational Items

• Diffusal Blade — for slowing enemies and burning their mana; effective against mana-dependent heroes.

• Desolator — increases physical damage and reduces enemies' armor, enhancing your attacks.

• Eye of Skadi — significant increase in all stats and slows enemies on attacks.

• Butterfly — increases attack speed, damage, and adds evasion, enhancing your survivability.

Late Game Items

• Satanic — powerful lifesteal and the ability to quickly restore health in battle.

• Abyssal Blade — provides stun and additional damage; useful against mobile or dangerous enemies.

• Silver Edge — grants invisibility and enhanced attack upon breaking invisibility, as well as disabling enemies' passive abilities.

Tip: Choose items based on the game situation and the composition of the enemy team. For example, if the enemy team has strong mages, Black King Bar becomes a priority choice.

Counter Picks for Kez

Kez is Weak Against

Kez is Strong Against

Strategy: Against heroes you are weak against, play cautiously and avoid direct confrontations without team support. Utilize your advantages against those you can easily neutralize.

Conclusion

Kez is a hero that requires a high level of skill and understanding of game mechanics from the player. His unique ability to switch between two fighting styles opens up many tactical opportunities and makes playing him exciting and varied. Proper use of his abilities and smart item choices will allow you to control the battlefield and lead your team to victory.

Don’t stop here—our in-depth Dota 2 hero guides offer more insights and tactics to keep you ahead of the competition. Explore them and take your skills to new heights.