Kez/Changelogs

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Version History

Version

Description

7.41d
(2026-06-04)

• Switch Discipline
  • 
    • Reduced main attack damage per agility from 1.16 to 1.12.
• 
  • Increased Kazurai Katana cooldown from 20/15/10/5 to 24/18/12/6.
• 
  • Shodo Sai
    • Reduced parry duration from 2 to 1.5.
    • Increased cooldown from 20/15/10/5 to 24/18/12/6.

• Talents:
   

  LVL 10

   

  +12% magic resistance ➜ +6% Switch Discipline main attack damage per agility/ movement speed bonus.

7.41a
(2026-03-28)

• 
  • Increased Raptor Dance base damage from 30/60/90 to 40/70/100.
• 
  • Increased Raven's Veil buff duration from 7/8/9 to 8/10/12.

7.41
(2026-03-24)

• Reduced base movement speed from 315 to 310.
• Reduced base attack speed from 110 to 100.
• Switch Discipline
  • REMOVED
    the Flutter ability component.
  • 
    • Now grants 12% attack damage bonus to the first Katana Mode attack.
    • Now grants 12% spell damage bonus to the first Katana Discipline ability cast.
  • 
    • Now grants self a 2-second 12% movement speed bonus upon switching to the Sai Discipline.
    • Hero Model
      • Bash sources are no longer passively disabled on Kez in the Sai Discipline.
  • Increased base cooldown from 7.75 to 8.
• 
  • Grappling Claw
    • Now always destroys the unit-targeted tree.
    • Now always lands on the destroyed tree coordinates.
  • Raptor Dance no longer sets magic resistance to the absolute value.
• 
  • Reduced Talon Toss cast range from 1200 on each level to 650/750/850/950.
  • Shodo Sai
    • REMOVED
      the Shadowhawk ability component.
    • CHANGED
      ability operations:
      • No longer applies a 4% * EnemyHeroLVL parry critical strike bonus and a 0.8-second parry stun duration.
      • Both the critical strike component and the marked debuff are now two separate ability components.
        • 
          • MOVED
            the stun duration to the marked debuff ability component.
          • Now has a 20% proc chance by default to apply critical strike damage of the same values.
        • marked
          • No longer has a 17% proc chance to apply the marked debuff.
            • Hence, the marked debuff can only be applied in the following conditions:
              • Upon a Shodo Sai parry.
              • Upon Raven's Veil cast.
            • Increased stun duration from 0.4 on each level to 0.5/0.6/0.7/0.8.
• Aghanim's Scepter upgrade:
  • Switch Discipline no longer resets the corresponding linked ability cooldown if it was already on cooldown.
• Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • 
    • Shodo Sai
      • Now applies a 0.2-second mark stun duration bonus.
      • Now applies a 50% mark critical strike bonus.

• Talents:
   

  LVL 25

   

  +100% Shodo Sai mark critical strike ➜ +80% Shodo Sai critical strike.

7.40b
(2025-12-23)

• Switch Discipline
  • The toggling functionality is no longer affected by silence sources.
  • 
    • Increased set base attack time from 1.8 to 1.9.
    • Increased main attack damage per agility from 1.12 to 1.16.
• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • Buildings are no longer considered valid targets to proc on.
    • Reduced instant attack factor from 0.35/0.4/0.45/0.5 to 0.3/0.35/0.4/0.45.

• Talents:
   

  LVL 20

   

  +60 Falcon Rush attack speed reduced to +40.

7.40
(2025-12-15)

• Increased base strength from 19 to 20.
• Switch Discipline
  • Increased cooldown reduction per hero level from 0.2 to 0.25.
  • 
    • Reduced set base attack time from 2 to 1.8.
    • Reduced main attack damage per agility from 1.2 to 1.12.
• 
  • Kazurai Katana
    • Now has a max 500 damage per second threshold.
    • U
      Reduced active stack value to damage factor from 1 to 0.5.
    • Rescaled damage dealt to damage per second from 5%/7%/9%/11% to 3%/6%/9%/12%.
• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • No longer has a 9% attack speed factor.
    • Now has a 0.5 attack modifiers proc chance factor.
    • The instant attack component can no longer activate Shodo Sai's (Marked) component.
      • However, it can still apply the debuff per normal.
    • Reduced instant attack factor from 0.45/0.55/0.65/0.75 to 0.35/0.4/0.45/0.5.
    • Reduced set haste speed from 1000 to 850.
  • Shodo Sai
    • Reduced bash duration from 0.5 to 0.4.
    • U
      Reduced parry stun duration from 1 to 0.4.
• Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • Kazurai Katana
    • Now increases max damage per second threshold by 500.
    • Now increases active stack value to damage factor by 0.5.

• Talents:
   

  LVL 20

   

  +50% Talon Toss instant attack damage ➜ +60 Falcon Rush attack speed.

7.39e
(2025-10-02)

• ADDED
  to Captain's Mode.
• Increased base mana regeneration from 0 to 0.25.
• U
  Reduced base attack time from 2 to 1.9. [?]
• Switch Discipline
  • 
    • Flutter
      • The first hit bonus is now consumed by the first attack of Echo Slash and Raptor Dance, rather than applying to the entire cast.
        • Still applies bonus to all enemy units in the area.
• 
  • Kazurai Katana
    • Impale damage changed from post-critical strike bonus damage to a separate instance of physical spell damage.
  • Raptor Dance
    • Grappling Claw no longer interrupts the ability's channeling component.
    • Reduced max health as damage from 3% to 2.5%.
• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • Now has an 825 max rush distance.
    • Rescaled attack speed factor from 6%/8%/10%/12% to 9% on each level.
  • Reduced Shodo Sai mark critical strike from 140%/160%/180%/200% to 125%/150%/175%/200%.

7.39c
(2025-06-24)

• 
  • Reduced Echo Slash mana cost from 85/100/115/130 to 75/90/105/120.
  • Kazurai Katana
    • Reduced impale duration from 0.6 to 0.5.
    • Reduced mana cost from 50 to 40.

7.39b
(2025-05-29)

• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • Unit-targeted based abilities now causes Kez to rush to the targeted unit.
      • The Kazurai Katana active component now procs this ability component within range.
    • U
      Kez is no longer restricted from triggering Echo Strike while Falcon Rush is active.
    • Increased duration from 3/4/5/6 to 3.75/4.5/5.25/6.
  • Reduced Talon Toss mana cost from 75 on each level to 60/65/70/75.
  • Shodo Sai
    • RESTORED
      both the parry stun and parry critical strike component.
    • Rescaled parry critical strike bonus from 25%/50%/75%/100% to 4% * EnemyHeroLVL.

7.39
(2025-05-21)

• Increased base health regeneration from 1 to 1.5.
• Increased base attack speed from 100 to 110.
• Switch Discipline
  • 
    • No longer grants 12% base attack damage bonus.
    • Now increases main attack damage per agility from 1 to 1.2.
• 
  • Echo Slash
    • Reduced hero attack damage bonus from 25/45/65/85 to 20/40/60/80.
    • Rescaled cooldown from 20/18/16/14 to 21/18/15/12.
  • Grappling Claw
    • No longer applies 65%/85%/105%/125% lifesteal.
    • Reduced cast range from 700/800/900/1000 to 650/750/850/950.
    • Rescaled movement speed slow from 80% on each level to 70%/80%/90%/100%.
    • Rescaled slow duration from ΣTravelTime to a fixed 0.7/0.8/0.9/1.
    • Reduced cooldown from 16/13/10/7 to 13/11/9/7.
    • Reduced mana cost from 50 to 40.
  • Kazurai Katana
    • No longer applies a 20%/25%/30%/35% health regeneration reduction.
    • Rescaled damage dealt to damage per second from 6%/7%/8%/9% to 5%/7%/9%/11%.
    • Rescaled duration from 5/6/7/8 to 7 on each level.
    • ADDED
      an active component.
      • Impales and applies an instant attack on the unit-targeted enemy upon cast.
      • Applies a 0.6-second 0-set movement speed and 0-turn rate debuff on the affected unit.
      • Deals 0.5 * KatanaStacks as one spell damage instance.
      • Has a 200-cast range, 20/15/10/5-second cooldown, and a 50-mana cost.
  • Raptor Dance
    • No longer has a 1-second channeling time.
    • The lifesteal component now considers illusions as creeps.
    • Increased cast point from 0 to 1.
      • Cannot be canceled upon cast.
    • Increased total slashes from 2/3/4 to 4 on each level.
    • Rescaled base damage from 75 on each level to 30/60/90.
    • Reduced max health as damage from 4% to 3%.
• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • The max proc distance component is no longer affected by area-of-effect sources.
    • Now grants 15%/30%/45%/60% slow resistance for the entire buff duration.
    • Reduced instant attack factor from 1 on each level to 0.45/0.55/0.65/0.75.
    • Rescaled cooldown from 20/18/16/14 to 21/18/15/12.
  • Talon Toss
    • No longer has a 275-effect radius.
    • Now only affects the unit-targeted enemy.
    • CHANGED
      from applying 75/125/175/225 physical spell damage to a fixed 60/120/180/240 instant attack damage.
    • Increased silence duration from 1.75/2/2.25/2.5 to 2/2.25/2.5/2.75.
    • Reduced cooldown from 16/13/10/7 to 13/11/9/7.
  • Shodo Sai
    • The marked debuff no longer grants True Strike for the next attack.
    • No longer applies the following bonus ability components from marks parrying an enemy hero:
      • No longer has a 1-second parry stun duration.
      • No longer has a 165%/210%/255%/300% parry critical strike bonus.
    • Increased proc chance from 17% to 18%.
    • Shadowhawk
      • No longer applies a 20%/30%/40%/50% cooldown reduction on Shodo Sai and/or Kazurai Katana upon proc.
      • Reduced critical bonus damage from 40%/60%/80%/100% to 30%/45%/60%/75%.
  • Raven's Veil
    • ADDED
      the Shadowhawk facet.
      • Now also increases buff duration by 1.
• REWORKED
  Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • Kazurai Katana
    • MOVED
      the ability upgrade active component to the ability's default functionality.
    • NEW
      • The active component now applies 1 * KatanaStacks as lifesteal upon cast.
      • Applies a 0.6-second stun duration when impaled from 105° behind the enemy unit, and deals 1 * KatanaStacks as one spell damage instance instead.

• Talents:
   

  LVL 10

   

  +1.5 mana regeneration ➜ +50 Raptor Dance radius.

   

  LVL 15

   

  Raven's Veil applies Shodo Sai parry debuff ➜ +1 Raptor Dance slash.

   

  LVL 20

   

  +50% Falcon Rush evasion ➜ +50% Talon Toss instant attack damage. [?]

   

  LVL 20

   

  +5% Kazurai Katana damage per second reduced to +4%.

7.38c
(2025-03-27)

• Talents:
   

  LVL 25

   

  +75% Shodo Sai mark critical strike increased to +100%.

7.38b
(2025-03-05)

• Increased strength gain from 2.6 to 2.8.
• Increased base intelligence from 18 to 20.
• 
  • Increased Grappling Claw lifesteal from 50%/75%/100%/125% to 65%/85%/105%/125%.
  • Increased Raptor Dance invulnerability duration from 0.1 to 0.2.
• 
  • Shodo Sai
    • Now parries and block all incoming physical attack damage sources, except sources from non-hero units.
    • Shadowhawk
      • Rescaled critical bonus damage from 50% on each level to 40%/60%/80%/100%.
      • This component now levels up with either Raptor Dance or Raven's Veil.

7.38
(2025-02-19)

• Increased base agility from 26 to 27.
• Reduced base armor from 2 to 1.
• Reduced base movement speed from 320 to 315.
• Switch Discipline
  • 
    • Reduced main attack damage bonus from 20% to 12%.
  • ADDED
    new Flutter facet.
    • 
      • Grants the following ability effects upon switching to Katana Discipline:
        • Deals 12% more damage on the first attack.
        • Grants 12% spell damage amplification on the first ability cast.
    • 
      • Grants 12% movement speed bonus upon switching to Sai Discipline.
• 
  • Grappling Claw
    • No longer applies a 30/60/90/120 lifesteal-based self-heal.
    • Rescaled lifesteal from 100% on each level to 50%/75%/100%/125%.
  • Raptor Dance
    • No longer grants debuff immunity and applies a strong dispel upon cast.
    • Now applies a basic dispel upon cast.
    • Now grants 0.1-second invulnerability duration upon cast.
    • Now grants 100% magic resistance for the entire duration.
    • Now follows the lifesteal mechanic.
• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • Can now change attack targets while active.
    • Reduced max proc distance from 575 to 525.
    • Increased Sai Discipline base attack time from 1.2/1.1/1/0.9 to 1.3/1.2/1.1/1.
    • Increased Katana Discipline base attack time from 1.4/1.3/1.2/1.1 to 1.5/1.4/1.3/1.2.
    • Increased attack speed factor from 6%/7%/8%/9% to 6%/8%/10%/12%.
  • CHANGED
    Talon Toss damage type from Magical to Physical.
  • Shodo Sai
    • No longer applies a 10% movement speed slow on debuff-affected enemy units.
    • ADDED
      the Shadowhawk facet.
      • The marked debuff procs from invisibility now deals 50% critical damage bonus.
      • Applies a 20%/30%/40%/50% cooldown reduction on the following abilities upon proc:
        • Shodo Sai
        • Kazurai Katana
• Aghanim's Shard upgrade:
  • Kazurai Katana
    • Increased cast range from 150 to 200.
    • Increased cooldown from 5 on each level to 20/15/10/5.
  • Shodo Sai
    • No longer passively grants self 10 movement speed bonus.
    • No longer grants 10 movement speed bonus per debuff-affected enemy.

7.37e
(2024-11-19)

• 
  • Rescaled Echo Slash hero attack damage bonus from 30/45/60/75 to 25/45/65/85.
  • Reduced Grappling Claw hero lifesteal-based heal from 50/100/150/200 to 40/80/120/160.

7.37d
(2024-10-01)

• CREATED

Patch History

Patch

Description

24 Mar 2026

• Shodo Sai
  • Increased creep proc sound volume from 0.5 to 0.75.
  • Added a critical strike sound effect to Shodo Sai.
• Updated base model and textures.

23 Dec 2025

• Kazurai Katana
  • Fixed the debuff wrongly getting dispelled upon casting its active component on the backside of an enemy.
  • Fixed the active impale sometimes failing, causing it to trigger later than expected.
• Fixed Kez being unable to trigger the Shodo Sai mark placed by Raven's Veil if it was at maximum attack range.
• Fixed Kez being able to trigger the Shodo Sai marks twice during Raptor Dance with certain specific settings and item configurations.

15 Dec 2025

• Updated head and shoulder materials.

02 Oct 2025

• Switch Discipline
  • Fixed a bug with Aghanim's Scepter that would allow extra Sai abilities to skip cooldown.

08 Aug 2025

• Kazurai Katana
  • Fixed a crash related to the bleed debuff.
  • Fixed the overhead damage number on the target not respecting outgoing damage manipulation.
  • Fixed the active component's debuff ignoring debuff immunity.
  • Fixed the lifesteal from Aghanim's Shard triggering on other instant attack sources.
• Grappling Claw
  • Fixed being able to attack targets outside the melee attack range buffer after landing.
  • Fixed Grappling Claw allowing Kez to escape Kinetic Field.
• Fixed Raptor Dance giving an inconsistent amount of invulnerability when cast with cast speed bonuses or reductions.
• Fixed Falcon Rush speed being inconsistent in some scenarios.
• Fixed Shodo Sai's parry sometimes causing Echo Slash to slash into the 3rd dimension.
• Fixed Shodo Sai Cancel sub-ability proccing on-cast effects.

05 Aug 2025

• Updated feather fx and feather models.

29 May 2025

• Flutter
  • Fixed Katana dealing less damage than intended.
  • Fixed Katana damage being consumed for no effect in some scenarios.
  • Fixed Flutter's effect being consumed by Talon Toss's, Falcon Rush's, and Kazurai Katana's fake attacks.
• Fixed Raven's Veil going on cooldown even when Raptor Dance was interrupted.
• Grappling Claw
  • Fixed the slow debuff being removed even when the attack landed.
  • Fixed the slow to not expire before the hook finishes pulling.

08 Jan 2025

• Updated various backend ability animations.
• Updated Kazurai Katana ability effects.

06 Jan 2025

• Updated ability modifiers:
  • Switch Discipline
  • Cancel

05 Dec 2024

• Enabled Kez's Sai abilities in Ability Draft. The draft screen will show a random combination of Kez's Katana and Sai abilities.

03 Dec 2024

• Switch Discipline
  • Updated the HUD.
    • Now displays both KATANA and SAI discipline icons on the HUD at all times, switching back and forth between them upon changing disciplines, with the inactive discipline being greyed out.
  • ADDED
    an inactive variant icon to both disciplines.
  • Fixed all linked abilities not affected by cooldown reduction sources.
• 
  • Echo Slash
    • Updated ability icon.
    • The instant attacks component no longer proc cleave sources.
    • Fixed the instant attacks breaking invisibility sources on Kez.
    • Fixed hitting units slightly beyond the slash range.
  • Grappling Claw
    • Updated ability icon.
    • Updated ability descriptions.
    • Reduced hero lifesteal-based heal from 40/80/120/160 to 30/60/90/120.
    • Increased cooldown from 15/12/9/6 to 16/13/10/7.
  • Updated Kazurai Katana ability icon.
  • Raptor Dance
    • Updated ability icon.
    • Fixed particle effects not dynamically adapting to radius changes.
• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • Fixed the secondary attack sound effects.
    • Reduced max proc distance from 650 to 575.
  • Talon Toss
    • Updated ability icon.
    • U
      Increased cooldown from 15/12/9/6 to 16/13/10/7.
  • Shodo Sai
    • Fixed cases where the debuff would not be applied properly if it was already applied.
    • Fixed Cancel sub-ability being affected by Time Dilation.
  • CHANGED
    Raven's Veil from applying the Shodo Sai parry debuff to applying the regular debuff.

• Talents:
   

  LVL 15

   

  +50 Raptor Dance radius ➜  Raven's Veil applies the Shodo Sai parry debuff.

12 Nov 2024

• 
  • Echo Slash
    • Fixed the instant attack component ignoring evasion sources.
    • No longer can kill Couriers.
    • Fixed ability interactions with leash sources and temporary fence sources.
  • Reduced Falcon Rush base attack time from 1.3/1.2/1.1/1 to 1.4/1.3/1.2/1.1.
  • Grappling Claw
    • Fixed projectile not being broken when linked to a target exceeding its range.
    • Fixed the attack order ignoring evasion sources.
  • Reduced Kazurai Katana damage dealt to damage per second from 7%/8%/9%/10% to 6%/7%/8%/9%.
  • Increased Raptor Dance cooldown from 40/32/24 to 40/35/30.
• 
  • Reduced Falcon Rush duration from 7 on each level to 3/4/5/6.
  • Fixed certain Shodo Sai ability interactions applying more damage than intended.
  • Increased Raven's Veil cooldown from 40/32/24 to 40/35/30.

08 Nov 2024

• Increased base armor from 0 to 2.
• Increased base movement speed 315 to 320.
• 
  • Falcon Rush
    • Increased base attack rate from 1.3/1.2/1.1/1 to 1.2/1.1/1/0.9.
    • Fixed ability can target enemy units out of range.
    • Fixed ignoring the max attack speed limits.

07 Nov 2024

• Released.

15 Sep 2024

• Revealed during The International 2024.