Is Abzidian a New Dota 2 Hero in 2025?
Talk of a new Dota 2 hero always intensifies around major patches, The International, or whenever hidden strings appear in the game’s source code. For years, Abzidian has sat at the heart of one such rumor mill: an ancient Demon Smith tied to the Demon Edge and the Mad Moon, often mistaken for a teased character.
In this article, we’ll break down exactly who Abzidian the Demon Smith is in Dota 2, explore the realistic timing of the next Dota 2 new hero release, and separate community speculation from confirmed facts.
Image source: Valve
Who Is Abzidian The Blacksmith In Dota 2?
In the official Dota 2 lore, Abzidian is said to have forged the Demon Edge from Radiant Ore with a Direstone hilt—a weapon so dangerous it killed him the moment he tested it. Beyond that tragic tale, the rumored new Dota 2 hero is also linked to the Demon Shard cosmetic and the wider Nemesis Stones and Mad Moon arc.
Why Abzidian Is Trending Now?
At The International 2025 in Hamburg, fans noticed rune-inscribed monoliths around the arena. Almost instantly, the community sleuths began decoding the glyphs, sparking a live ARG thread that gained massive traction.
Phrases like “from the Demon Smith” and “end of a cycle” stood out, fueling speculation that Valve was teasing a new hero in Dota 2. People even linked the rune alphabet back to an older promotional wallpaper and cross-referenced it with freshly datamined strings, reinforcing the theory.
Image source: TI / Reddit
Abzidian Kit Speculation
If Abzidian were to be released as Dota 2’s new hero, the question many players want to know is: What sort of abilities, role, and strengths might he have? Drawing on lore and community expectations, here’s how his kit might look:
- Role: Abzidian would presumably be a melee Strength or Universal hero. He would most likely be played as an Offlaner or Utility Support (think Underlord) who forges short-duration weapon buffs for himself and his allies, and applies armor-shredding debuffs to enemies.
- Forgecraft Core: His abilities could use a special “Forgecraft” mechanic, themed around Radiant Ore and Direstone. This might let him swap between different damage types or defensive resistances, giving him flexibility depending on the fight.
- Weapon Crafting: Abzidian could temporarily “imbue” an allied weapon, granting temporary buffs like bonus attack damage or cleave. These would offer small power spikes that reward usage with good timing.
- Risk vs. Reward: To stay true to his lore, one of his mechanics might involve self-damage or recoil. This would echo the Demon Edge backfiring on its creator, allowing for huge output, but only if timed and managed carefully.
Many fans draw a parallel between Abzidian and Ornn from League of Legends, since both characters share the “master smith” identity. For those unfamiliar, Riot integrated that theme directly into Ornn’s kit by allowing him to forge items while still in the lane, without needing to return to base.
Why Could Abzidian Be A New Dota 2 Hero?
Valve has a history of turning established characters from the game’s lore into new Dota 2 heroes, with Marci being the obvious example. That said, Abzidian’s links to the Demon Edge and Radiant materials—and not to mention, his shard forging—make him a natural fit for a future hero concept.
Community speculation only fuels the fire. Datamines and analyst musings have repeatedly sparked hero talk (much like the teases that precede Primal Beast). The name “Abzidian” often reappears whenever code strings or lore drops reference the Demon Edge, leading fans to wonder when he’ll make his debut.
When Is The New Dota 2 Hero Coming Out?
As of September 18, 2025, Valve has not made any official announcement about a new Dota 2 hero. Kez was the last Dota 2 hero to come out, releasing with Crownfall Act IV on November 7, 2024. Before that, Ringmaster was introduced alongside the Compendium in late August that same year.
Historically, new heroes tend to coincide with late-year beats (i.e., The International and the holiday season), so a 2025 release is likely but not confirmed yet. Here is a list of all the new Dota 2 hero releases since Patch 7.00:
| Hero | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey King | Dec 12, 2016 | Patch 7.00 |
| Dark Willow | Oct 31, 2017 | “Dueling Fates” (Patch 7.07) |
| Pangolier | Oct 31, 2017 | “Dueling Fates” (Patch 7.07) |
| Grimstroke | Aug 24, 2018 | Patch 7.19 |
| Mars | Mar 5, 2019 | Patch 7.21d |
| Snapfire | Nov 26, 2019 | Outlanders (Patch 7.23) |
| Void Spirit | Nov 26, 2019 | Outlanders (Patch 7.23) |
| Hoodwink | Dec 17, 2020 | Mistwoods (Patch 7.28) |
| Dawnbreaker | Apr 9, 2021 | Patch 7.29 |
| Marci | Oct 28, 2021 | Patch 7.30e |
| Primal Beast | Feb 23, 2022 | Patch 7.31 |
| Muerta | Mar 6, 2023 | Dead Reckoning (Patch 7.32e) |
| Ringmaster | Aug 22, 2024 | 2024 Compendium (Patch 7.37b) |
| Kez | Nov 7, 2024 | Crownfall Act IV (Patch 7.37d) |
| Abzidian (Speculation) | TBD | TBD |
Image source: Valve
Who Is The Bard Frog In Dota 2?
While Abzidian has drawn most of the community’s attention for the moment, the “Bard Frog” is another name that repeatedly turns up in Dota 2 file digs.
Strings referencing a bard_frogcodename and a “LuteHero” label hint at a lute-themed design with an extra ability panel—akin to the systems-heavy interface used by heroes that juggle cards or spell grids.
Seems like Bard Toad (Frog King) is real REAL?
byu/cgy0509 inDotA2
Community sleuthing has tracked the codename since late 2024, including posts noting background-asset entries and placeholder ability lines like toad_battle_croak, toad_hop, and toad_tongue.
Recent roundups echo the same beats. Abzidian is framed as a high-APM, composition-shaping character, one likely to be revealed around a major update window. Yet as of September 18, 2025, he remains unannounced and firmly in rumor territory.
FAQs
Is Abzidian a confirmed new hero in Dota 2?
No. Abzidian appears in lore as the Demon Smith (the creator of the Demon Edge item in-game). Valve hasn’t announced him as a playable hero in Dota 2.
What was the last new Dota 2 hero?
Kez was the last hero to be released. He was introduced with Crownfall Act IV on November 7, 2024. Since then, no new hero has been revealed.
Why do fans link Abzidian to a new Dota 2 hero release?
Community posts and speculation referenced runes and hints tying Abzidian to a potential hero or event boss. But so far, it’s all speculation.
When is the next Dota 2 new hero release date?
Valve has not announced a release date for the next Dota 2 hero. However, major reveals land around The International or year-end updates, but as of now, there’s no confirmed timeline for 2025.
Could Abzidian’s concept involve “forging” mechanics?
Speculatively, yes. The Demon Edge and Demon Shard lore supports forging mechanics, but this is an inference, not the hero’s official kit.
