HOTS Kel'Thuzad New Hero Preview - Primary, Heroic Abilities & Trait

Heroes of the Storm’s new hero is Kel’Thuzad, and Blizzard has made a preview of his abilities and traits. We’ll get to see him on PTR soon, and he will be probably go live (or unlive) sometime in September. The trailer featuring this hero is a work of art in itself.

Kel’Thuzad Preview

Kel’Thuzad, Archlich of Naxxramas is a ranged assassin coming from the Warcraft Universe. Although his abilities will be familiar to all Nexus veterans, his chains skill does sound rather fun to play with.

• Trait
  
  • Master of the Cold Dark – Quest: Gain 1 Blight every time a Hero is Rooted by Frost Nova or hit by Chains of Kel’Thuzad. Reward: After gaining 15 Blight, the cooldown of all Basic Abilities is reduced by 2 seconds. Reward: After gaining 30 Blight, gain 75% Spell Power.
• Primary Abilities
  
  • Death and Decay – After 0.5 seconds, launch an orb that explodes upon hitting an enemy, dealing 150 damage to enemies in the area. The explosion leaves behind a pool of decay that lasts 2 seconds, dealing 70 damage every 0.5 seconds to enemies.
  • Frost Nova – Create a nova that explodes after 1 second, dealing 212 damage to enemies inside and Slowing them by 35% for 2.5 seconds. Enemies in the center are Rooted for 1 second.
  • Chains of Kel’Thuzad – Launch a chain, dealing 97 damage to the first enemy Hero or Structure hit. For 4 seconds after hitting an enemy, Chains can be reactivated to launch to an additional enemy, pulling both enemies together and Stunning them for 0.5 seconds.
• Heroic Abilities
  
  • Frost Blast – Launch a meteor of ice at an enemy Hero. Upon impact, the meteor deals 100 damage to its target and 275 damage to enemies in the area. All enemies hit by Frozen Tomb are Rooted for 1.5 seconds.
  • Shadow Fissure – Create a fissure anywhere on the Battleground that explodes after 1.5 seconds, dealing 440 damage to enemy Heroes in its area.

Kel’Thuzad Skins

There are two skins in the preview on the official hero page: Kel’Thuzad Archlich of Naxxramas (the default one) and Star Lich Kel’thuzad. We expect a lot more of them will be shown soon, especially in the upcoming hero spotlight and in-development trailer.

Kel’Thuzad Archlich of Naxxramas: Kel’Thuzad has faithfully served the Lich King both in life and after death. Reanimated as the Archlich of the Scourge and given domain of the Dread Necropolis, Naxxramas, Kel’Thuzad remains Arthas’s most trusted advisor and master of the cold dark.

Star Lich Kel’thuzad: What the heroes of this pitiful blue marble fail to understand is the Earth’s fate cannot be delayed forever. In the end, the stars will fade and die, and in the cold dark… our empire is eternal.