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DOTA 2 / HERO HISTORY

Kez changes

Balance notes across the versions listed by Valve. An unchanged patch is a small victory for your muscle memory.

Change record

14 patches with recorded changes · 118 of 118 listed patches readable.

Coverage: Feb 1, 2018 to Sep 15, 2026. This feed does not include every patch in Dota’s lifetime.

Inspect coverage by patch

Sep 15, 2026

Kez in 7.41f

  • Base Damage decreased by 1
  • Damage at level 1 decreased from 50-56 to 49-55
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent Kazurai Katana Damage Per Second decreased from +4% to +3.5%

Jun 4, 2026

Kez in 7.41d

  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent +12% Magic Resistance replaced with +6% Switch Discipline Swap Bonuses
  • Talents · ContextKatana Swap Bonus Damage from 12% to 18%. Sai Swap Movement Speed from 12% to 18%
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Bonus Agility Base Damage decreased from 16% to 12%
  • Kazurai KatanaCooldown increased from 20/15/10/5s to 24/18/12/6s
  • Shodo SaiCooldown increased from 20/15/10/5s to 24/18/12/6s
  • Shodo SaiParry Duration decreased from 2s to 1.5s

Mar 27, 2026

Kez in 7.41a

  • Raptor DanceBase Damage increased from 30/60/90 to 40/70/100
  • Raven's VeilBuff Duration increased from 7/8/9s to 8/10/12s

Mar 24, 2026

Kez in 7.41

  • Base Movement Speed decreased from 315 to 310
  • Base Attack Speed decreased from 110 to 100
  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent +100% Shodo Sai Mark Critical Strike replaced with +80% Shodo Sai Critical Strike
  • Switch DisciplineCooldown changed from 7.75s - 0.25s per level up to 8s - 0.25s per level
  • Switch Discipline · ContextEffective values are not changed
  • Switch DisciplineNow the first katana hit or ability will deal 12% bonus damage after switching to Katana, and after switching to Sai Kez gains +12% movement speed for 2 seconds
  • Switch DisciplineAghanim's Scepter no longer restarts the alternate ability cooldown if it was already on cooldown
  • Grappling ClawWhen targeting a tree, now always destroys the targeted tree and ends in the tree's position
  • Talon TossCast Range decreased from 1200 to 650/750/850/950
  • Talon Toss · ContextNow matches Grappling Claw
  • Shodo SaiThe proc effect now triggers a critical strike only instead of creating a Mark
  • Shodo Sai18% Chance to Mark replaced with 20% Critical Strike Chance
  • Shodo SaiAs a result, marks are applied only by parrying and casting Raven's Veil
  • Shodo SaiNo longer restricts Kez from proccing passive Bash spells of Skull Basher and Abyssal Blade
  • Shodo SaiMark Stun Duration increased from 0.4s to 0.5/0.6/0.7/0.8s
  • Shodo SaiNo longer has a parry bonus by default
  • Shodo SaiNow upgraded with Aghanim's Shard
  • Shodo SaiParrying creates a stronger mark that will stun the target for an additional 0.2s and an a crit bonus of 50%
  • Raptor DanceNo longer provides magic damage immunity

Dec 23, 2025

Kez in 7.40b

  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent Attack Speed During Falcon Rush decreased from +60 to +40
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Base Attack Time worsened from 1.8s to 1.9s
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Bonus Agility Base Damage increased from 12% to 16%
  • Switch DisciplineCan no longer be disabled by Silence
  • Falcon RushCan no longer rush towards buildings or trigger on them
  • Falcon RushEcho Attack Damage decreased from 35/40/45/50% to 30/35/40/45%

Dec 15, 2025

Kez in 7.40

  • Base Strength increased from 19 to 20
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent +50% Attack Damage Added to Talon Toss replaced with +60 Attack Speed During Falcon Rush
  • Switch DisciplineCooldown reduction per level increased from 0.2s to 0.25s
  • Switch DisciplineCooldown on level 1 decreased from 7.8s to 7.75s
  • Switch DisciplineCooldown on level 30 decreased from 2s to 0.5s
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Base Attack Time improved from 2.0s to 1.8s
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Bonus Agility Base Damage decreased from 20% to 12%
  • Kazurai KatanaDamage per second rescaled from 5/7/9/11 to 3/6/9/12%
  • Kazurai KatanaThe active effect may only trigger up to a maximum of 500 stacks
  • Kazurai KatanaAghanim's Shard now also increases Max Stacks to 1000 and stack as burst damage from 50% to 100%
  • Falcon RushNo longer causes Kez to have a fixed attack rate or any interaction with attack speed
  • Falcon RushEcho Attack Damage decreased from 45/55/65/75% to 35/40/45/50%
  • Falcon RushEchoes now have 50% reduced chance to proc random effects
  • Falcon RushEcho with Maelstrom (25% chance) will have a 12.5% chance to proc its passive
  • Falcon RushEchoes can no longer trigger Marks, but may still create them
  • Falcon RushHowever, their chance to mark will be reduced from 18% to 9% due to the proc chance change mentioned before
  • Falcon RushRush Speed decreased from 1000 to 850
  • Shodo SaiMarked Stun Duration decreased from 0.5s to 0.4s
  • Shodo SaiParry Stun Duration decreased from 0.5s to 0.4s

Oct 2, 2025

Kez in 7.39e

  • Added to Captain's Mode
  • Base Mana Regen increased from 0 to 0.25
  • Flutter: Switch Discipline: The first hit bonus is now consumed by the first attack of Echo Slash and Raptor Dance, rather than applying to the entire cast
  • ContextStill applies bonus to all enemies in the area
  • Flutter: Switch Discipline: Fixed the Katana bonus being lost if Echo Slash hit nothing
  • Switch DisciplineFixed a bug with Aghanim's Scepter that would allow extra Sai abilities to skip cooldown
  • Kazurai KatanaImpale damage changed from post-critical strike bonus damage to a separate instance of physical spell damage
  • Raptor DanceMax Health as Damage decreased from 3% to 2.5%
  • Raptor DanceCan no longer be interrupted by casting Grappling Claw
  • Falcon RushNow has an 825 break distance
  • Falcon RushAttack Speed Factor rescaled from 6/8/10/12% to 9%
  • Shodo SaiMark Critical Strike decreased from 140/160/180/200% to 125/150/175/200%

Jun 24, 2025

Kez in 7.39c

  • Echo SlashMana Cost decreased from 85/100/115/130 to 75/90/105/120
  • Kazurai KatanaImpale Duration decreased from 0.6s to 0.5s
  • Kazurai KatanaMana Cost decreased from 50 to 40

May 29, 2025

Kez in 7.39b

  • Falcon RushAbilities that are unit targeted attacks now allow Kez to rush to the target
  • Falcon Rush · ContextAs a result, Kazurai Katana's active will now cause Kez to rush if he is within rush range
  • Falcon RushDuration increased from 3/4/5/6s to 3.75/4.5/5.25/6s
  • Talon TossMana Cost decreased from 75 to 60/65/70/75
  • Shodo SaiOnce again grants bonus stun and critical strike from marks generated by parrying an enemy Hero
  • Shodo SaiParry Bonus Critical Strike rescaled from 25/50/75/100% to 4% * Enemy Level

May 22, 2025

Kez in 7.39

  • Base Health Regen increased from 1.0 to 1.5
  • Base Attack Speed increased from 100 to 110
  • Shadowhawk: No longer grants cooldown reduction
  • Shadowhawk: Invis Bonus Crit decreased from 40/60/80/100% to 30/45/60/75%
  • Shadowhawk: Raven's Veil: Now also increases buff duration from 7/8/9s to 8/9/10s
  • TalentsLevel 10 Talent +1.5 Mana Regen replaced with +50 Raptor Dance Radius
  • TalentsLevel 15 Talent Raven's Veil Mark Applies Parry Bonus replaced with +1 Raptor Dance Strike
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent +50% Falcon Rush Evasion replaced with Add 50% of Attack Damage to Talon Toss (always uses attack value of Sai discipline)
  • TalentsLevel 20 Talent Kazurai Katana Damage Per Second decreased from +5% to +4%
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Discipline no longer increases damage by 12%
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Discipline now increases damage gained from Agility by 20%
  • Echo SlashCooldown rescaled from 20/18/16/14s to 21/18/15/12s
  • Echo SlashBonus Hero Damage decreased from 25/45/65/85 to 20/40/60/80
  • Grappling ClawNo longer has lifesteal
  • Grappling ClawMana Cost decreased from 50 to 40
  • Grappling ClawCooldown decreased from 16/13/10/7s to 13/11/9/7s
  • Grappling ClawCast Range decreased from 700/800/900/1000 to 650/750/850/950
  • Grappling ClawMove Slow rescaled from 80% to 70/80/90/100%
  • Grappling ClawSlow now lasts a fixed 0.7/0.8/0.9/1s instead of Kez's travel time
  • Kazurai KatanaNo longer applies health regen reduction
  • Kazurai KatanaDamage per second rescaled from 6/7/8/9% to 5/7/9/11%
  • Kazurai KatanaDuration rescaled from 5/6/7/8s to 7s
  • Kazurai Katana · ContextTotal damage with duration increased from 30/42/56/72% to 35/49/63/77%
  • Kazurai KatanaNow has a reworked active component as a default part of the ability
  • Kazurai KatanaKez impales the target, landing an attack on it and setting its move speed and turn rate to 0 for 0.6s. The target also takes 50% of current Kazurai Katana bleed stacks as burst damage. Cast Range: 200. Mana Cost: 50. Cooldown: 20/15/10/5s
  • Kazurai KatanaThis attack can proc attack modifiers similarly to regular attacks. The stacks that would be created by the impale are not added to the burst damage and are added after the effect ends as the usual bleed stack. Previous version did include them in the burst
  • Kazurai KatanaReworked Aghanim's Shard upgrade
  • Kazurai KatanaAdds 100% lifesteal off the attack damage dealt on impalement. If the impalement was made from behind (in a 105 degree cone), the slow is replaced with a stun, and the number of Bleed stacks is increased from 50% to 100%
  • Raptor Dance1s channeling was replaced with a 1s cast time (still cannot be cancelled by Kez)
  • Raptor Dance · ContextIt means it won't go on cooldown if the cast is interrupted and it's affected by Cast Speed bonuses (i.e. Yasha and Kaya)
  • Raptor DanceStrikes count increased from 2/3/4 to 4
  • Raptor DanceBase Damage rescaled from 75 to 30/60/90
  • Raptor Dance · ContextTotal damage rescaled from 150/225/300 to 120/240/360
  • Raptor DanceMax Health as Damage decreased from 4% to 3%
  • Raptor Dance · ContextTotal max health damage rescaled from 8/12/16% to 12%
  • Raptor DanceLifesteal against illusions now has an 80% penalty, similarly to creep lifesteal penalty
  • Falcon RushNow also provides 15/30/45/60% Slow Resistance during the buff
  • Falcon RushSecondary Attacks Damage decreased from 100% to 45/55/65/75%
  • Falcon RushRush Range is no longer increased by AoE bonuses
  • Falcon RushCooldown rescaled from 20/18/16/14s to 21/18/15/12s
  • Talon TossNo longer has an AoE effect, proccing only on target
  • Talon TossNow inflicts an attack with True Strike and fixed damage instead of simply dealing physical damage
  • Talon Toss · ContextThis means it can proc and apply attack modifiers, but it also doesn't affect attack immune units (i.e. Ethereal)
  • Talon TossDamage rescaled from 75/125/175/225 to 60/120/180/240
  • Talon TossSilence Duration increased from 1.75/2/2.25/2.5s to 2/2.25/2.5/2.75s
  • Talon TossCooldown decreased from 16/13/10/7s to 13/11/9/7s
  • Shodo SaiChance to Mark increased from 17% to 18%
  • Shodo SaiMark no longer provides True Strike
  • Shodo SaiNo longer grants bonus stun or critical strike from marks generated by parrying an enemy Hero
  • Shodo Sai · ContextAs a result, there is no longer a visually distinct mark for being parried

Mar 27, 2025

Kez in 7.38c

  • TalentsLevel 25 Talent Shodo Sai Mark Critical Strike increased from +75% to +100%

Mar 4, 2025

Kez in 7.38b

  • Base Intelligence increased from 18 to 20
  • Strength gain increased from 2.6 to 2.8
  • Shadowhawk: Now scales with ultimate abilities instead of Shodo Sai
  • Shadowhawk: Shodo Sai: Invis Bonus Crit rescaled from 50% to 40/60/80/100%
  • Grappling ClawLifesteal increased from 50/75/100/125% to 65/85/105/125%
  • Shodo SaiCan now block all physical attack sources (still can't Mark non-hero units)
  • Raptor DanceInvulnerability period increased from 0.1s to 0.2s

Feb 18, 2025

Kez in 7.38

  • Base Armor decreased by 1
  • Base Agility increased from 26 to 27
  • Base Movement Speed decreased from 320 to 315
  • Removed Hero of the Flightless Facet
  • Flutter: New Facet
  • Flutter: Switch Discipline: Kez deals 12% more damage on the first attack or ability after switching to Katana, and gains 12% bonus movement speed for 2 seconds after switching to Sai
  • ContextKatana's bonus has no expiration time. Sai's bonus is disabled when switching to Katana
  • Shadowhawk: New Facet
  • Shadowhawk: Shodo Sai: Triggering a Shodo Sai Mark from invisibility deals 50% more critical damage. When Kez triggers a Shodo Sai Mark, reduce the cooldown of both Shodo Sai and Kazurai Katana by 20/30/40/50%
  • Switch DisciplineKatana Bonus Damage decreased from 20% to 12%
  • Grappling ClawNo longer grants flat bonus hero lifesteal
  • Grappling ClawLifesteal on attack rescaled from 100% to 50/75/100/125%
  • Kazurai KatanaAghanim's Shard Cast Range increased from 150 to 200
  • Kazurai KatanaAghanim's Shard cooldown increased from 5s to 20/15/10/5s
  • Raptor DanceNow follows global Lifesteal rules (as a result, gained creep penalty)
  • Raptor DanceNo longer provides debuff immunity and a hard dispel
  • Raptor DanceNow provides a basic dispel and 0.1s invulnerability period on cast, and complete magic damage immunity for the duration
  • Falcon RushCan now change targets while rushing
  • Falcon RushRush Range decreased from 575 to 525
  • Falcon RushSai Base Attack Rate increased from 1.2/1.1/1.0/0.9s to 1.3/1.2/1.1/1s
  • Falcon RushKatana Base Attack Rate increased from 1.4/1.3/1.2/1.1s to 1.5/1.4/1.3/1.2s
  • Falcon RushAttack Speed Factor increased from 6/7/8/9% to 6/8/10/12%
  • Talon TossNow deals physical damage
  • Shodo SaiNo longer slows Marked targets
  • Shodo SaiAghanim's Shard no longer grants bonus movement speed

Nov 19, 2024

Kez in 7.37e

  • Echo SlashBonus Hero Damage rescaled from 30/45/60/75 to 25/45/65/85
  • Grappling ClawHero Bonus Lifesteal decreased from 50/100/150/200 to 40/80/120/160

Source: Valve’s public Dota 2 data feeds. Notes belong to Valve. Dates use Bellevue time (Pacific).