Blizzard teases a new hero for Heroes of the Storm. Is it the primal Zerg Dehaka from Starcraft 2?
Update: Dehaka has now been confirmed and the abilities are also known. Information can be found here:
Dehaka – A primal Zerg with a collecting obsession
With two small screenshots and the phrases “Something strange is happening in the Nexus…” and “This mystery has just become much deeper!” Blizzard announces a new hero for Heroes of the Storm. While the screenshot itself does not give too many concrete hints, exciting theories can already be made based on the visible footprints, the “sucked dry” minion, and the “buried” hero.
Most fans now assume that the new character is Dehaka, a primal Zerg who appears in the campaign of StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm. After Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades, was reborn on Zerus and the other swarms of the primal Zerg were destroyed, Dehaka joined the Queen to collect more “essence”.
Similar to Abathur, Dehaka sees the collection of essence as a purpose in life, for it is only through this that Zerg fulfill their purpose and become more powerful. This “collection of essence” would fit perfectly with the above image – a Zerg feeding on minions to gain new abilities. The second screenshot also supports this theory – for Dehaka could burrow in the campaign – like many Zerg.
Or to put it in Dehaka’s words: “Essence is change. Change is survival. Collect and live. Stand still and die.”
Whether it really is Dehaka and when he will appear is still unknown. Since Tracer is not expected to appear until late April, there would still be room for a new hero at the end of March – it remains to be seen whether the primal Zerg will take on this role.
Balancing changes – Back to the grave, Xul.
Currently, some balancing changes are being tested, mainly targeting the specialist Xul, the newest hero in HotS, who is going to get hit hard. Where nerfs can be applied, they will be! Basic attacks will deal 10% less damage, and Spectral Sense will reduce damage by 20%, while the mana costs will rise from 45 to 60. Haunted Harvest now slows enemy attacks by only 40% (previously 50%) and the summoned skeletons deal less damage as some of their talents are weakened. Overall, Xul was simply too powerful, and it is hoped that this can now be brought under control.
For the third time in a row, the nerf hammer is hitting the supporter Rehgar, whose Elder Healing can no longer be cast on himself.
Only the assassin Nova emerges as the shining winner from this patch. Health points and the corresponding regeneration increase by nearly 7%. The cooldown of Sniper has decreased from 8 to 6 seconds, and the mana costs are reduced from 60 to 50. Additionally, the slow effect of Impairing Shot increases to 40% (previously 30%).
These changes are not yet live, but unless drastic adjustments are made, they should be implemented by this Wednesday (16.03.2016).
For more news and articles regarding Blizzard’s MOBA, you can find it on our Heroes of the Storm theme page.
