AgilitySince you last played
New hero, released Nov 2024Kez did not exist when you last played. Here is the kit as it stands today.
Reworked in 7.39 May 2025
Kez changed enough that old habits may not hold. The kit further down is how Kez plays now.
- ◆Kazurai Katana Now has a reworked active component as a default part of the ability
- ▼Switch Discipline Katana Discipline no longer increases damage by 12%
- ◆Switch Discipline Katana Discipline now increases damage gained from Agility by 20%
- ▼Grappling Claw No longer has lifesteal
- ◆Grappling Claw Slow now lasts a fixed 0.7/0.8/0.9/1s instead of Kez's travel time
13 buffs and 30 nerfs since the rework: trending weaker.
Biggest ability changes
- ▼Shodo Sai Parry Duration decreased from 2s to 1.5sadjusted 14 times across 5 patches, net nerf
- ▼Kazurai Katana Cooldown increased from 20/15/10/5s to 24/18/12/6sadjusted 6 times across 4 patches, net nerf
- ▼Switch Discipline Katana Bonus Agility Base Damage decreased from 16% to 12%adjusted 11 times across 4 patches, net nerf
- ▼Falcon Rush Echo Attack Damage decreased from 35/40/45/50% to 30/35/40/45%adjusted 13 times across 4 patches, net nerf
- ▼Raptor Dance Base Damage increased from 30/60/90 to 40/70/100adjusted 4 times across 3 patches, net nerf
- ◆Talon Toss Cast Range decreased from 1200 to 650/750/850/950adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
- ▲Raven's Veil Buff Duration increased from 7/8/9s to 8/10/12s
- ▲Echo Slash Mana Cost decreased from 85/100/115/130 to 75/90/105/120
- ◆Falcon Rush Info As a result, Kazurai Katana's active will now cause Kez to rush if he is within rush range
- ◆Switch Weapons Info Effective values are not changed
- ◆Grappling Claw When targeting a tree, now always destroys the targeted tree and ends in the tree's position
- ◆Talon Toss Info Now matches Grappling Claw
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ▼Scepter Aghanim's Scepter no longer restarts the alternate ability cooldown if it was already on cooldownchanged 2 times, latest shown
- ◆Shard Now upgraded with Aghanim's Shardchanged 2 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▼Base Attack Speed decreased from 110 to 100
- ▲Base Strength increased from 19 to 20
- ▼Base Movement Speed decreased from 315 to 310
- ▼Damage at level 1 decreased from 50-56 to 49-55
- ▲Base Mana Regen increased from 0 to 0.25
- ▼Base Damage decreased by 1
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent +12% Magic Resistance replaced with +6% Switch Discipline Swap Bonuses
- ◆Lv20 talent Kazurai Katana Damage Per Second decreased from +4% to +3.5%
- ◆Lv25 talent +100% Shodo Sai Mark Critical Strike replaced with +80% Shodo Sai Critical Strike
- ◆Talent Katana Swap Bonus Damage from 12% to 18%. Sai Swap Movement Speed from 12% to 18%
Most recent change patch 7.41f, Sep 2026
- ▼Lv20 talent Level 20 Talent Kazurai Katana Damage Per Second decreased from +4% to +3.5%
- ▼Base stats Damage at level 1 decreased from 50-56 to 49-55
- ▼Base stats Base Damage decreased by 1
Current abilities
Echo SlashKez slashes forward in a 800 distance line with his Katana, attacking enemies in an area and applying a brief 100% impact slow. After a short delay, the area is attacked again. Heroes take bonus damage.
Grappling ClawKez swings on a grappling hook towards the target unit or tree. When the grappling hook collides with the target, that unit has slowed movement speed. Upon reaching the enemy target, Kez lands an attack on them.
Kazurai KatanaKatana 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. Kez may activate the ability to impale the target with his attack, preventing them from moving or turning. The target's Katana debuff bursts, causing some of the stacks to deal damage instantly.
Switch Discipline innateKez switches between his Kazurai Katana and Shodo Sai. He gains different attack capabilities and abilities based on the weapon equipped. The abilities level up together, and when an ability is used, the associated alternate weapon ability also goes on cooldown. Kez deals extra damage on the first Katana hit or ability after switching to Katana, and gains bonus speed after switching to Sai.
Raptor DanceKez enters into an uncontrollable state for 1 second, becoming invulnerable for 0.2s and receiving a basic dispel. If the cast 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.
Falcon RushKez gains the ability to rush towards enemy targets to deliver echoing secondary attacks. While in this state, Kez has phased collision and slow resistance.
Talon TossKez throws a Sai at the target unit, applying a fixed damage attack and silence.
Shodo SaiKez has a chance to critically strike the target when attacking with Sais. Kez may activate the ability to disarm himself, lock his facing, and parry attacks and attack effects from the targeted direction for 1.5 seconds. If an attack is parried from an enemy Hero in this way, that Hero is stunned for 0.4s and gains a Mark. When a Marked target is attacked by Kez, it will guarantee a critical strike and stun the target. The sub-ability may be used to cancel the blocking early.
Raven's VeilKez releases a wave of smoke that applies his Mark to nearby enemy heroes, briefly reducing their vision. Kez receives a basic dispel and gains bonus movement speed and invisibility until he attacks or casts a spell.
CancelStop blocking physical attacks.
What players buy on Kez
Starting items
- Circlet 155g
- Quelling Blade 100g
- Magic Stick 200g
Early game
- Power Treads 1400g
- Perseverance 1400g
Mid game
- Mage Slayer 3100g
- Desolator 3500g
Armor reduction to burst through tanks
Debuff immunity, to act in a fight without being disabled
Late game
- Aghanim's Scepter 4200g
- Daedalus 5200g
- Swift Blink 6800g
- Linken's Sphere 4800g
- Satanic 5050g
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.