Is a new Dota 2 hero coming with new show DOTA: Dragon's Blood?

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood is set to premiere in less than three weeks, and people are wondering whether Valve has anything big set to launch in the game alongside it. And it might just be a new hero.

Many theories have been put forward on this front, ranging from new skins for Mirana and Dragon Knight based on their DOTA: Dragon’s Blood looks to the long-awaited “new player experience” update that could make it so people aren’t chased away after installing the game. More cynical fans are putting forward the possibility that Valve might just completely squander all of the newfound enthusiasm surrounding Dota 2 and do nothing with it at all.

While there are plenty of possibilities, the most likely big addition to the game is the introduction of a new hero.

Back in October, Valve discussed its plans for the next two Dota 2 heroes by noting it’s “currently aiming for end of November for a new hero release...with the next one in the first quarter next year.” The first of these two new Dota 2 heroes arrived in December with the arrival of Hoodwink, but there hasn’t been a peep regarding the next Dota 2 hero since then.

The premier date of DOTA: Dragon’s Blood fits in just before the end of the first quarter of 2021, so the release dates of the series and the new hero line up nicely. Even if the new hero was delayed out of the first quarter of 2021 due to the infamous "Valve time," it’s very likely that the next new Dota 2 hero will be someone pulled from the anime. But who could it be?

Will the new Dota 2 hero be a character from DOTA: Dragon’s Blood?

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood is set to introduce a number of new characters, some of which have been mentioned in the lore of Dota 2 and Dota Underlords and others that are completely original. Depending on what happens in the series it could be any one of them, but there are a few frontrunners based on the trailers.

First and foremost among them is Kaden, someone that seems to be a former friend or partner of Davion. Kaden is referenced in Dota Underlords as a “famed Dragon Knight” and seems poised for a showdown with Davion judging by the last trailer for DOTA: Dragon’s Blood. Though most have forgotten about Dota Underlords at this point, the game seems to be important when it comes to the animated series as the rivalry between Dragon Knight and Terrorblade that will likely be central to the plot was referenced in Underlords, not Dota 2.

Selemene is another possibility. The moon goddess is a central character in the lore of both Mirana and Luna and is seemingly set up to be a major antagonist in the series. That may set her up to be a viable hero in Dota 2, depending on how she’s presented.

A less-discussed character who seems to be of some import is the unnamed sidekick of Mirana. The character is shown fighting people in the second trailer and seems to be a very prominent character despite being downplayed to this point in the build to the new show.

There are several other options as well, but only time will tell who the next hero will be and whether Valve makes the most of the hype that will come with the new series.