The latest update to Valve’s action real-time strategy game Defense of the Ancients (Dota) 2 includes addition of two new characters to the hero roster, along with a number of changes and fixes.
The latest entry into the hero roster includes a strength hero Dirge the Undying and an intelligence hero Thrall the Disruptor.
Dirge is a zombie with a decaying body who possesses the ability to strike fear into the heart of his enemies. His spells make him an ideal choice to get the better of enemy heroes. His ability to steal strength of foes not only makes them more vulnerable, but also has an excellent synergy with his primary attribute. He can also deal damage to his foes or heal allies through Soul Rip. One of his most eye-pleasing spell is Tombstone, which spawns mildly weak yet effective zombies to attack enemy units and heroes. Dirge’s ultimate spell allows him to transform into Flesh Golem, granting him a plague aura that not only slows the speed of his enemies but also amplifies the damage they take.
The four spells serve Dirge well in his role as a support and tank and make him pretty effective in team battles.
The other character becoming available as a playable hero in Dota 2 is Thrall. With the ability to manipulate electricity and create a barrier at his disposal, he indeed is a significant threat that cannot be ignored during battles. His spell Thunder Strike enables him to repeatedly strike his foe with lightening. He is also able to cast Glimpse that instantly sends his enemy back to where it was four seconds ago. Thrall can also trap his enemies in a circular barrier through the use of his Kinetic Field spell. His ultimate Static Storm silences enemies within a small area and also deals damage.
Thrall is indeed a formidable opponent to have due to his potential as both, a damage dealer (nuker) through lightning spells or helping allies to finish off an enemy hero by trapping him with Kinetic Field.
Both Dirge and Thrall are expected to contribute significantly to the Dota 2 experience and make the battles for domination through the destruction of the other team’s Ancient even more compelling.
Aside from adding two classical heroes, the latest update patch for Dota 2 has also introduced a number of changes relating to the gameplay, visuals, user interface (UI), network and audio, along with fixing a few bugs. The complete change-log can be viewed at the game’s official website.
Currently in its beta-testing phase, Dota 2 is scheduled for a full release during the current year. Valve and the game’s designer IceFrog are looking to ensure that by the time the game is presented to public, it is free of all bugs and other issues.
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