Valve has unleashed Kez with the Dota 2 Crownfall Act IV update, ushering in a fantastic new melee carry hero that is as interesting as it is deadly!

Thanks to Kez's innate ability, you can switch between disciplines (eight-second cooldown and reduced by 0.2 seconds per level) just by pressing the default "D" key. Yes, this means that Kez effectively has eight abilities compared to a regular hero's four. Valve explains:

"Kez has two sets of weapons, so it's only fitting that he has two sets of abilities to match. One set is available while he's brandishing his Kazurai Katana and the other when wielding his Shodo Sai. Each weapon set also features unique effects when attacking."

To help you prepare for facing Kez in a public match or start considering item builds for your own endeavors, you can check out both the Katana and Sai abilities outlined below, with official stats.

• Echo Slash (Q): 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.
• Grappling Claw (W): Kez swings on a grappling hook toward a 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.
• Kazurai Katana (E): 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.
• Raptor Dance (R): 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.

• Falcon Rush (Q): Kez gains the ability to rush toward 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.
• Talon Toss (E): 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.
• Shodo Sai (E): Kez’s Sai attacks and abilities can Mark enemies, slowing them. His next attack gains True Strike, stunning the enemy and dealing a critical strike. Kez can activate a parry, disarming himself to block attacks from a set direction for 2 seconds. If he parries a hero’s attack, that hero is stunned and Marked, taking additional critical strike and stun when triggered. The block can be canceled early if needed.
• Raven's Veil (R): 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.

Wow, just wow! Since Kez is still very new, it remains to be seen how much of an impact the hero will have on the meta and if Valve with push out nerfs (or even buffs?) quickly. Whatever the case may be, Kez and Crownfall Act IV is a fantastic content update!

Header image via Valve.