HotS - Who Is The Next Hero After Artanis?

Artanis has been released a couple of days ago on 27th and our Heroes of the Storm boost team thinks believes he's another weak release. His kit just does not fit the current meta and in this state I doubt we will see him anywhere in competitive scene or placing well in our HotS Tier List. So everyone is likely eagerly waiting for new heroes, preferably WoW heroes! Sorry, we're a little biased when it comes to WoW. ;)

So, who is the next hero after Artanis?!

We won't lie to you, nobody knows, the information hasn't leaked and they're holding it back for the Blizzcon on November 7th.

But that doesn't mean we cannot make predictions...

As a matter of fact there are a couple of heroes that are very likely to come next, we also believe the next hero is from the World of Warcraft franchise solely for one reason. Blizzard times the hero releases with the other Blizzard games' release dates. They will likely announce the WoW: Legion release date on Blizzcon and additionally hype it up with a new WoW hero. We strongly believe they will announce atleast 2 heroes, if not three. If we're wrong about this, we're likely looking at one more Protoss hero from Starcraft franchise.

Two or more WoW heroes?!

Last year during Blizzcon 2014, Blizzard teased many heroes and there are a couple that have not been released. All from Warcraft franchise.

Zul'Jin

Zul'jin (aka Zuljin) is a warlord of the Amani forest trolls and has been chieftain of the Amani tribe since before the Second War. Zul'jin and the Amani tribe were allied with the orcish Horde for the duration of the Second War, but Zul'jin himself was captured near its end by the Alliance. Upon gaining his freedom he went into hiding to rebuild his army and plan an attack on the remnants of the high elves, now known as blood elves, only to find them allied with the Horde. During last year's Blizzcon they teased him in during HotS presentation and in the cinematic. Meaning he has a currently functioning model and spells.



Zul'Jin showcasing

Zul'Jin and Za'Muro taking a siege camp at Blizzcon 2014

Za'Muro

Za'Muro is an orc blademaster who appeared in early builds of Heroes of the Storm. Although he was based in concept from the Warcraft Universe, he does not appear in any Warcraft games We believe he will not be released because all the abilities he should have had were already claimed by other heroes (Tassadar used his 'Wind Walk', Nova used his 'Mirror Image', Sonya has 'Bladestorm') and Blizzard is trying to avoid random critical strikes so that's a no. We already have enough Orcs too so why add another Orc when other races have less representation.



Za'Muro and Thrall from WoW compared to their Heroes of the Storm versions @ Blizzcon 2014

Cho'Gall

Cho'gall is a two-headed ogre - alongside Blackheart, one of the first seen in many generations - and was trained in the arts of the arcane by the warlock Gul'dan, who aided the struggling ogre in mastering the powers of the Twisting Nether. In time, Cho'gall became one of the most feared and venerated members of the Old Horde during the First and Second Wars against the humans.



Cho'gall showcasing



Cho'gall struck by Nova's Heroic

Kel'Thuzad

Kel'Thuzad was the founder of the Cult of the Damned and one of the principal agents of the Lich King responsible for the spreading of the plague of undeath across Lordaeron. Originally a human mage of the Kirin Tor, Kel'Thuzad was swayed under the influence of the Lich King. After bringing the plague to Lordaeron under the pretense of being under the orders of Mal'Ganis he was slain by Arthas. Arthas (by then a death knight) resurrected him as a lich so he could summon Archimonde the Defiler into Azeroth. Following Arthas' departure for Northrend, Kel'Thuzad was left to command the Scourge of Lordaeron from his necropolis, Naxxramas. Following his first defeat, he and his necropolis moved to Northrend.

Oh boy, Heroes of the Storm boost team is seriously hyped for this release! Sadly unlike Zul'Jin and Cho'Gall, Kel'Thuzad was only shown as a model on Blizzcon 2014 but that doesn't mean they didn't work on him for a whole year, fingers crossed.

Mekkatorque

Gelbin Mekkatorque is the current High Tinker of Gnomeregan, and is also styled "King of Gnomes". Gelbin has been at the helm of the gnome race during some of its most difficult and trying times. Since his title is an elected one, the fact that he has held his position throughout such hardship is a testament to the love his people have for him.

A brilliant inventor, Gelbin Mekkatorque rose quickly to prominence among the meritocratic gnomes with his innovative designs and creative problem-solving skills. He built the very first functioning mechanostrider, assisted in the development of the dwarven siege engine, and was instrumental in the creation of the Deeprun Tram running from Ironforge to Stormwind City. This fella has been around as a potential hero since 2013. Here he is screenshotted from a Blizzards video we'll post below.

Gul'dan

Gul'dan of the Stormreaver Clan was a former orcish shaman of the Shadowmoon Clan from Draenor, who became the first orcish warlock as well as the founder of the Orcish Horde. Abandoning the ways of shamanism and betraying both his people and his mentor to the demon-lord Kil'jaeden for personal gain and power, Gul'dan was directly responsible for the orcs' fall to demonic enslavement as well as for the Horde's invasion of Azeroth.

Tutored by the lord of the Burning Legion, he became the founder and master of the Shadow Council as well as the creator of the necromantic terrors known as Death-Knights. Gul'dan is considered by many to have been the most cunning and powerful mortal Warlock to ever have existed.He often referred to himself as "Darkness Incarnate" and "The Destroyer of Dreams".

He disbanded the clan of Raiders in the First War. Thrall, son of Durotan, trained grunts to ride to battle on wolves, however, and a few more Raiders came into the Horde. He is the secondary antagonist of Warlords of Draenor and the leader of the Iron Horde, having managed to usurp the position from Grom.

This guy only has one voiceover in the datamined files, Illidan tells Gul'dan: "I'm taking your skull, deal with it." (Infamous Skull of Gul'dan) meaning HE WILL be released, but as we have no info whatsoever, less chance he will be announced now. He is tightly connected to WoW: Legion, so who knows? Another Warlock specialist incoming?



Gul'dan artwork

What if the next hero is another Starcraft hero?

That indeed might happen.

Dehaka

Dehaka is a primal zerg pack leader from Zerus. He was among the last of the primal zerg pack leaders. Dehaka is bipedal with a large left arm and a small right arm. The small right arm appears to be counterpart for a severed small left arm.

He also has a voiceover in the game's files, Abathur says: "Primal Zerg, unacceptable." This guy from Starcraft has abilities such as pulling an enemy to yourself, including friendly enemies, Stitches much? Able to spawn two Spawns of Dehaka. Some kind of self-heal and jumping up and down the cliffs, how will this translate to Heroes of the Storm we do not know.



Dehaka artwork

Arcturus Mengsk

Arcturus Mengsk was a terran from Korhal. He led the Sons of Korhal and orchestrated the downfall of the Terran Confederacy during the Great War. Mengsk ruled the Terran Dominion, the Confederacy's successor, as Emperor Arcturus Mengsk I.

Mengsk also has voiceovers in the data files. Raynor says "I have been long waiting for this" after killing Mengsk. Kerrigan says: "I never get tired of killing him" and a couple of more.

Mengsk artwork

Fenix

Fenix was a protoss zealot, and praetor of the Protoss Defense Forces. He personally led his fellow warriors into battle against those who called themselves the enemies of the Protoss Empire.Revered by his warrior-brethren, he was dubbed the Steward of the Templar.

Fenix was initially thought to be released before Artanis, looks like Blizzard changed their mind because they felt it was needed to show his transition mechanic from Zealot to Dragoon but didn't want to release him close to Leoric with a resurrection mechanic. Too bad, our Heroes of the Storm boost team was hyped for him.

He also has a voiceover in the data files where Tassadar speaks to him: "Praetor Fenix, it's time to start a glorious battle with the enemy!"



Fenix artwork What do you guys think who will the next hero be? How will he place in our regular Heroes of the Storm Tier List?