Dota 2’s newest addition, Kez, has quickly become a hot topic within the community. With his bold design and versatile abilities, Kez promises both power and complexity that appeal to players eager for a fresh challenge. Let’s break down the Skywrath Exile and find out his place in the Dota 2 meta right now.

To better understand Kez’s place in the game and his impact on the meta, we’ve teamed up with Ssaspartan, a professional player with extensive experience in high-stakes Dota 2 matches. Known for his deep insights and strategic thinking, Ssaspartan provides us with a unique look into what makes Kez formidable, where he excels, and what it might take to master him.

Giorgos "SsaSpartan" Giannakopoulos is a professional Dota 2 player from Greece, renowned for his role as a support and team captain. He began his professional career in 2014 has since been part of several teams, including London Conspiracy, No Logic Gaming, Ad Finem, mousesports, Clutch Gamers, and Brame. Notably, he captained Ad Finem to a second-place finish at The Boston Major in 2016, earning $500,000 in prize money.

A Hero with Bold Design and Versatile Abilities

Kez has quickly caught the community’s eye, not just for his gameplay, but for his aesthetics. Dota 2 heroes often balance function with visual appeal, and Kez’s design has been celebrated for its striking appearance and unique abilities. His skill set combines control, utility, and burst potential, which seems to make him both versatile and hard to counter.

Sharing his thoughts on Kez’s design, Ssaspartan commented, “This hero looks really dope—design and abilities. He’s a super core overall, not a support at all.” He sees the hero as an “all-in” core who could be flexed if needed, but ultimately believes Kez is built to thrive as a carry. “Can be flexed easily, although I prefer him as a carry,” he adds, indicating that Kez’s strength lies in his ability to dominate as a primary damage dealer.

Dominance Across All Stages of the Game

Kez’s power seems evident at every stage of a match, with many players already voicing concerns that he may be a little too strong. This is a sentiment echoed across Dota 2 forums, with players speculating that his toolkit makes him viable in any role and lane. In the right hands, Kez’s abilities allow him to secure kills, control space, and scale well into the late game.

Speaking to this, Ssaspartan shared, “I don’t know how else I can say it, but this hero and Earth Spirit are probably the most OP/hardcore heroes that have ever been released.” He emphasizes, “Since its start, the hero is strong at all stages, but I guess as the game goes into mid/late game, Kez is doing miracles.” His words highlight that Kez’s power doesn’t diminish as the game progresses—instead, he becomes even more impactful in mid-to-late-game fights, where his abilities have maximum effect. Numbers from DOTABUFF works in favor of such train of thought.

It is worth mentioning though, that the first introduction of the hero splashed against the sheer amount of skill needed to master Kez. Even after a quick fix from Valve things still not looking bright for Skywrath Exile, his winrate barely reaches 45%. Surely more time is needed to pass, but from the first look, some buffs definitely wouldn’t hurt, Valve.

Countering Kez in the Current Meta

Given how powerful Kez appears, the question of how to counter him is crucial. Players need to know which heroes are best equipped to handle him, especially since his flexible kit could lead to him dominating in various scenarios. From heavy control to burst damage, finding the right heroes to manage Kez is top of mind for the community.

To this, Ssaspartan offers some insight, suggesting that “Storm, Ember, Void Spirit, and Monkey King are legit from mid lane,” since they have the tools to dodge his attacks and strike back hard. From the offlane, he recommends “Beastmaster and Enigma,” while “Disruptor as a support” can also prove valuable in keeping Kez in check. His emphasis on these heroes as counters reflects their ability to prevent Kez from snowballing into an unstoppable force.

The Complexity and "Unlimited Potential" of Kez

For experienced players, Kez’s complexity is part of his appeal. His abilities require strategic decision-making and high mechanical skill, making him a hero that rewards mastery. In the right hands, his toolkit offers seemingly endless possibilities, but that also makes him challenging to play well.

On this, Ssaspartan describes Kez as a hero with “no limits,” adding, “Unlimited potential, too many spells. As I said, it reminds me of the early stages of Earth Spirit.” He feels that Kez has “all the abilities, which is very rare!” However, he believes this complexity is part of why Kez isn’t ready for pro-level matches just yet. “He totally needs a lot of nerfs and he is not even close to joining the competitive scene,” he explains.

Despite Kez’s impressive toolkit, Ssaspartan, like many pros, feels he’s not quite ready for competitive play. His current power level and complex mechanics make him more suitable for pubs than the high-stakes environment of professional matches. With such an extensive skill set, he may need further adjustments to prevent him from disrupting the game’s balance.

Ssaspartan emphasizes, “I give him at least 3 months if no more to be adjusted till he's ready to compete in the big scene,” suggesting that Kez requires multiple balance updates before he’s tournament-ready. Ssaspartan’s outlook speaks to the hero’s potential, but also to the level of fine-tuning necessary to ensure Kez fits into the pro scene without upsetting the meta.

Itemization for Kez: A Balancing Act Between Damage and Wave Clear

For many heroes, effective itemization is essential, and Kez is no exception. With limited wave-clear in his skill set, early pushing and farming items appear crucial to maximize his impact. However, as the game progresses, items that boost his damage and survivability are key for Kez to thrive in team fights.

When it comes to items, Ssaspartan recommends “Kez is a great fighter but he lacks push so he needs something to clean waves even faster so I believe early pushing items such as maelstrom/battlefury looks to be very important for the hero”. He then suggests “big attack speed items, BKB (a must), and Aghanim’s Scepter” to transform Kez into a formidable teamfighter. For Ssaspartan, these items bring out Kez’s full potential, allowing him to remain impactful across all stages of a match.

Although statistically speaking, the build order looks a bit different, the general idea has merit.

Final Thoughts: A Hero with Massive Potential and Room for Adjustment

Kez has introduced a new dynamic to Dota 2, thrilling the community with his complexity and potential. Ssaspartan, who’s tested Kez extensively, has high hopes for the hero, sharing, “I love his concept, I love his complex... LET’S GO KEZ.” His enthusiasm for Kez’s design and mechanics reflects the excitement many players feel, though balancing updates will be essential for him to remain fair and competitive.

It is worth adding, that from a casual player’s point of view this quote from Julez_Jay sums up Kez pretty much in one sentence:

“Only strong on enemy team. Gets 27 kills. When my pos3 picks him, he goes 3-17 and we lose in 28”

Kez’s arrival brings a hero with seemingly limitless potential and a unique playstyle that challenges players to adapt and innovate. Whether he’ll evolve into a staple in professional matches remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Kez has made his mark on Dota 2.