Dota 2’s wide array of playable characters just got a whole lot bigger, as American video game developer Valve shared a glimpse of two new heroes to join its multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA).
Attendees of the International 7 (TI7) event over the weekend were treated to a pleasant surprise, as Valve introduced two welcomed additions to the game—a pangolin-like swordsman and an enchanting pink fairy, which will be added in the the upcoming “The Dueling Fates” patch.
Although Valve did not confirm the heroes’ names and skills, fans speculate that the small flying hero matches the description of “Slyph,” a character uncovered in the game’s codebase last May.
Screen Grab from YouTube/dota2
The dapper-looking swashbuckler, meanwhile, is getting early comparisons to another famous sword-wielding critter, folk tale’s “Puss in Boots.”
Screen Grab from YouTube/dota2
Currently, the game has 108 playable heroes to choose from, but Valve has yet to announce when they’ll add the two new ones.
Meanwhile, unveiling new characters during the annual esports tournament has been an ongoing tradition for Valve, as TI6 featured the debut of the Abyssal Underlord last year.
Dota 2’s first original hero, the Monkey King, was also released a short time later last December. /ra