Kez Hit with Yet Another Nerf in Latest Dota 2 Patch

Early December Nerfs: An Analysis of Kez’s Downgrade

The patch does not have a specific version number but the community has taken to calling it the post-7.37e Kez update. The adjustments hit nearly every aspect of Kez’s kit, with significant reductions in his mobility and skill efficiency:

• Falcon Rush: Decreased rush range from 650 to 575.
• Grappling Claw: Hero bonus heal reduced from 40/80/120/160 to 30/60/90/120. Cooldown increased from 15/12/9/6 to 16/13/10/7.
• Talon Toss: Cooldown increased from 15/12/9/6 to 16/13/10/7.

Kez’s mobility, which is the key to his playstyle and effectiveness as a melee hero, has been significantly affected. The longer cooldowns on Grappling Claw and Talon Toss make it much more difficult for players to escape or pursue, reducing his utility during important battles.

Skill Effect Modifications

Changes to Kez’s skill effects have stirred up heated discussions within the community. These alterations reduce his fighting power and restrict his itemization and gameplay options:

• Echo Slash: No longer applies cleave to units hit. This impacts farming and dealing with swarm-focused heroes like Broodmother.
• Raven’s Veil: The mark applied no longer provides bonuses to parry. Parry bonuses are now limited to a level 15 talent.

Without cleave, Kez players may have to invest in a Battle Fury, significantly altering his standard build and gameplay efficiency.

Improved HUD Stances: A Silver Lining

One positive change is the update to Kez’s stance-based HUD. The new color-coded themes (blue and yellow) make it easier to differentiate between Kez’s two stances. While it’s a welcomed quality-of-life improvement, it doesn’t offset the nerfs to his abilities.

Bug Fixes

The patch also addressed several bugs affecting Kez’s abilities, such as issues with attack range and skill functionality. While necessary, these fixes do little to mitigate the impact of the nerfs.

Community Reactions: Is Kez Falling Off?

The Dota 2 community has had a mixed response to the patch. Many argue that the changes to Echo Slash were overkill, leaving Kez’s farming significantly less efficient. His win rate has already dropped from 51.03% to 47.44%, prompting concerns about his viability in competitive play.

Is Kez Still Playable?

Despite the significant nerfs, it may be premature to label Kez as a dead pick. His overall toolkit still has potential, and players may adapt to the changes with new builds and strategies. However, Kez is no longer a top-tier hero and may struggle to find his place in the current meta.