‘Heroes of the Storm’ gets new characters and map

Blizzard’s very own multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA, is getting a new cast of heroes which come from the world of “Warcraft,” “Diablo” and “Starcraft.” The new characters for “Heroes of the Storm” are set to once again give gamers new ways to play. Despite the announcement, no definite release date has been set, though Blizzard already gave players a glimpse of the characters’ playing styles.

Gamespot reports that the three new characters set to join the cast are Kharazim, the monk from “Diablo III”; Rexxar, the beast master from “Warcraft”; and Artanis from the “Starcraft” series. The monk, Khazarim, will be part of a Diablo-themed Eternal Conflict event. He’s a support-type melee fighter that can work well with allies by healing them. He can also heal himself.

In the early stages of the game, players will have to choose between three traits that will change the way the hero functions. The character could be a heavy-hitter with Iron Fists, a healer with Transcendence or a balance of two with Insight.

The hero's abilities include a pounce-like attack that damages his enemies, a healing skill and one that could extend the range of his close combat attacks. Each "Heroes Of The Storm" characters get two heroic abilities; these serve as the strongest skills in the hero's arsenal.

Kharazim can make himself invisible to enemies. He can also heal his allies if they die. The other character, Rexxar, is a tank-type hero who can stun enemies.

Rexxar's high HP makes him very durable in combat. He can summon animals and has a bear companion named Misha, who is also very durable with high HP. He also has another animal, a hawk, which can slow down enemies and heal Misha. One of Rexxar's heroic skills allow him to conjure up a boar that can seek out and reveal hidden enemies as well as slow them down. His other heroic skill gives Misha extra damage.

Blizzard rounds up the three character reveals with Artanis, though details for this character are still sparse. As a fighter, Artanis is known for his close-range heavy hits. He can be accessed for free if a player purchases “StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void,” which will be coming later this year.

With the new characters, Blizzard is expected to once again garner good revenue with “Heroes of the Storm.” VG247 reported that “Heroes of the Storm,” along with “Hearthstone” and “Destiny,” generated a revenue of $1.25 billion (AU$1.7 billion) during the second quarter of this year.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.​