The would-be lovers may get some time in the spotlight.
Skywrath Mage and Venge have a complicated history together in Dota 2, and the next set of Arcanas may finally move their story forward. New files added to the game appear to confirm not just one, but two new top-tier cosmetics for the pair. Here’s what we know about the flashy upcoming skins based on information ripped straight from the game’s files.
A greatest hits collection of Battle Pass content.
Dota 2’s developer is notorious for its secrecy, but even the mighty Valve can’t hide what’s already leaked for Crownfall. Dota 2 players are chomping at the bit for the next big update, which is scheduled to come out this month. However, as the weeks have rolled by, fans have revealed several sneak previews hidden in the files.
Here’s everything we know about Crownfall based on leaked files, confirmed info, and Valve’s own reveals.
The International 2023 rolls on and while fans are excited to see the best teams in Dota 2 face off, they’re also looking forward to the probable reveal of new heroes. This year, those heroes might be from Newerth.
Dota 2 doesn’t get new heroes all that often at this point, but when it does they’re first revealed at The International. From Void Spirit to Marci to Muerta, new heroes are typically unveiled before crowning a new championship team. This year likely won’t be any different, but who will the next character, or characters, be? Valve has actually given some hints.
Dota 2’s content updates have typically been defined by Valve’s inability to actually coordinate with itself. This has been seen in a number of different ways, ranging from major balance patches shipping hours before significant Dota 2 esports matches to Dawnbreaker getting revealed right after Marci became a fan favorite in DOTA: Dragons Blood. 2023 has seen Valve actually drop hints and teases about future content, and that provides an actual ability to predict what might get added to the game.
The next Battle Pass is likely on its way
Based on other leaks, Crownfall will likely feature a Battle Pass in tandem with an alternate game mode.
None of the leaks directly mention a Battle Pass, but almost everything surrounding one is present. Files all but confirm two new Arcanas for Skywrath Mage and Vengeful Spirit. They also indicate new Skywrath-themed sets for Crystal Maiden, Drow Ranger, and Oracle. Lastly, Valve has added new files related to Candyworks, indicating the return of the fan-favorite mechanic.
Crownfall will need some way to roll out all of this leaked content, and a Battle Pass is the most obvious choice. Dota 2 hasn’t had one since 2022’s Diretide. The leaked files don’t explicitly refer to a Battle Pass, but between the Arcanas, new skins, and Candyworks references, fans should go ahead and get their wallets out ahead of time.
PvE game mode likely leaked for Crownfall
The biggest reveal from the leaks is a new PvE game mode for Crownfall, the first in several years.
This is based on leaked files from Dota 2 itself. The biggest indicator is a new boss fight featuring Queen of Pain. Fights against super-sized heroes are a staple for PvE game modes like Aghanim’s Labyrinth and Dark Moon.
A second leaked document that shows some kind of Crownfall novel in a folder titled “battlepath” further supports this theory. Battle Path could even be the name of the game mode, which would feature a novel of some sort detailing the event’s story.
Both pieces of leaked information strongly indicate a story event that involves These kinds of fights rarely appear in PvP modes, so casual players should get a fun new way to enjoy the game later this month.
Heroes of Newerth-themed characters may be revealed as the next Dota 2 hero at TI12
There are two notable examples of this, including a “censored” hero name that appeared in August’s Summer Client Update and a mysterious ticket that appeared in artwork used in the New Frontiers Update blog post. The ticket in particular is the most notable and ties into an incomplete hero that was discovered by data miners codenamed “Ring Master.” Ring Master replaced Puppet Master whose name would fit the circus theme of the ticket, another unreleased hero that was discovered by data miners.
Valve has experimented with a version of the hero for years now. Puppet Master was uncovered alongside more than 20 other in-development heroes in a data mine in 2019. These data-mined hero names have teased new releases in the game. A hero codenamed “Hoplite” likely became Mars and “Valkyrie” was probably a prototype of Dawnbreaker
Puppet Master isn’t the only character that has been discovered in data mines and isn’t the only hero of Newerth that could get a Dota 2 homage.
Another prototype hero that was discovered in Dota 2 by data miners more recently is “Bird Samurai,” which fits alphabetically with the “censored” hero. An anthropomorphic bird character conjures up memories of Prophet from Heroes of Newerth but their leaked abilities included “Avian Assault” and “Plumage Parry,” with Prophet being a caster.
The most advanced character from the 2019 data mine next to Puppet Master was “Vampire.” The vampire theme and ability names line up to some degree with Dampeer, an anthropomorphized bat built around lifesteal.
Players likely won’t have to wait long for confirmation of the next Dota 2 hero. The reveal will likely come alongside the TI12 finals weekend on October 28 and 29. The reveal of new heroes may also be accompanied by larger events in Dota 2 like those seen in the game’s early years, with Valve stating that the scaling back of the TI Battle Pass was designed to create more development bandwidth for in-game events. Whether that proves true or if it’s just a cash grab from Dota 2 esports remains to be seen.
Skywrath and Venge Arcanas coming in Crownfall update
The biggest spoiler in the new Crownfall leaks is a pair of new Arcanas for Venge and Skywrath Mage. The two new cosmetics were accidentally revealed in a new image of hero minimap sprites. The list shows five new icons that weren’t there before. One of them is Ring Master, which is expected, but the other four appear to be new Arcanas for Skywrath and Venge.
The new icons are listed with the newest heroes and other Arcanas (Image via Valve)
The tiny images show a more regal appearance for Vengeful Spirit, with Shendelzare regaining her crown as a queen of the Skywrath. The Skywrath Mage icon is much more sinister, with his regal light blue and white becoming dark blue and black. The double icons likely indicate unlockable alternate styles for both characters, as is custom with modern Arcanas.
The Arcanas will likely develop the lore between the two heroes, and other leaked sets hint at what it will be. New leaked sets for Crystal Maiden, Drow Ranger, and Oracle reference Scree’auk, a sinister goddess of the Skywrath. Skywrath may give up his wings so Venge can regain her own. No matter what happens, the complicated love story between the two will likely gain a few more chapters.
The two «lovers» are actually more distant than most fans think (Image via Valve)
As with all leaks, these details are not 100% confirmed. Valve may change the content in the Crownfall update before it drops. It’s also possible that players have completely misidentified the Arcanas and they actually belong to Templar Assassin and Outworld Destroyer. Probably not, but hey, anything’s possible.