Who is Pangolier: A quick look at Dota 2’s new hard-hitting carry

With the Dueling Updates comes one promise fulfilled—or, really, a two-pack, as two new heroes are released.

Pangolier was previewed at The International as the main focus of the Dueling Fates’s trailer, as he jumped through a crowd of foes and even slashed the quills off one enemy. His charm in the trailer as a fashionable, hack-and-slash free-lover carries into his official, but his boldness as a rolling enemy-stunner is what really shines in his ability kit.

Valve officially lists Pangolier as the following:

• Low-difficulty hero
• Carry
• Nuker
• Disabler
• Durable
• Escape
• Initiator

He’s also an agility hero, which amps up his damage-per-second potential. In other words, once Pangolier kicks in, he’s going to be a very active core in the forefront of any big battle.

His kit focuses on armor reduction, auto-hit abilities and some serious Earth Spirit-style rolling stuns. Every ability of his makes him a threat in a good teamfight.

Swashbuckle

Pangolier dashes to a new position, assaulting enemies in the target direction with multiple quick thrusts, dealing physical damage and apply on hit effects.

This is a typical dash-attack abilities, except with one difference: the physical damage. The ability also notes that “on-hit effects” are included, meaning items that apply crit and armor reduction are included in these attacks.

Shield Crash

Pangolier jumps in the air and slams back to the ground. Enemies around him are damaged and grant him temporary damage reduction the more heroes he hits.

If you need any motivation to dive into a pack of enemies, look no further than Shield crash. For every hero you hit with this ability, you receive a bit of armor reduciton

Heartpiercer

Pangolier reads his enemies perfectly, deftly slipping his blade past defenses to give his attacks a chance to slow the target and fully negate enemy armor after a short delay.

This will likely be what players focus their builds around, as it emphasizes the DPS aspect of this agility hero. It may not be an early-game highlight, but once ganks and teamfights break out, Pangolier will shine—given he's farmed enough to join in.

Rolling Thunder

Pangolier curls into a magic-immune ball and thunders forward, damaging and stunning any enemies he hits. Shield Crash can also be used while this ability is active to jump over obstacles. Has a brief channeling period.

It appears Pangolier’s ultimate can pack a duo-punch. For one, much like Earth Spirit’s kick, he can roll through and smack any enemy into a stun, and with the addition of magic immunity, it’ll be a powerful initiator.

But if Shield Crash is available at the same time, it sounds like he’ll be able to roll uphill and past anything that may be blocking him—especially from that one enemy trying to make an escape.

More specific and finalized details about this hero will appear in the days to come. Since Pangolier sounds like he can dominate teamfights with little effort, balance changes will likely spring up before the official update rolls around. But players looking for a new core to master are in for a treat with this fashionable critter.

Is supporting more of your style? Get your quick preview of Dark Willow, the other hero released with Dueling Fates.