How it works
When you open the skill picker there is a Perks checkbox. Enabling it filters the list to show only abilities that are relevant to your hero’s perk categories, making it easier to build around a theme.hero_perks.kv maps each hero to one or more perk categories or specific ability names. If your picked abilities match those categories, the associated perk passives unlock automatically.
Perk categories
Perks are grouped into thematic categories. A hero can be tied to one category, multiple categories, or a specific ability name (using| as a separator). Examples:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
fire | Fire and burn-related abilities |
ice | Frost and cold abilities |
lightning | Lightning and static abilities |
earth | Earth and stone abilities |
nature | Nature and forest abilities |
light | Holy and light abilities |
water | Water and ocean abilities |
dragon | Dragon abilities |
blood | Bleed and blood mechanics |
poison | Poison and venom abilities |
demon | Demon and dark energy abilities |
undead | Undead mechanics |
invis | Invisibility abilities |
illusion | Illusion abilities |
summon_non_ult | Non-ultimate summon abilities |
aura | Aura-type passives |
ranger | Range and projectile abilities |
blink | Blink-style mobility |
mobility | General movement abilities |
support | Healing and support abilities |
silence | Silence abilities |
bash | Bash passives |
drain | Mana/health drain |
skillshot | Skillshot projectile abilities |
physical | Physical damage amplification |
dagger | Dagger attack abilities |
blades | Blade and slashing abilities |
channeled | Channelled abilities |
transformation | Hero transformation abilities |
scientific | Tinker-style mechanical abilities |
enemymoving | Abilities that reposition enemies |
rage | Enrage / berserk abilities |
self_damage | Self-damage mechanics |
trap | Trap abilities |
explosive | Explosive abilities |
neutral | Neutral creep abilities |
teleport | Teleport abilities |
Hero perk assignments
Some representative examples fromhero_perks.kv:
| Hero | Perk tags / abilities |
|---|---|
| Abaddon | abaddon_frostmourne, undead |
| Alchemist | gold |
| Anti-Mage | blink |
| Beastmaster | aura, summon_non_ult |
| Crystal Maiden | crystal_maiden_brilliance_aura, ice |
| Dragon Knight | dragon |
| Ember Spirit | fire |
| Faceless Void | faceless_void_time_lock |
| Gyrocopter | side_gunner_redux |
| Huskar | huskar_berserkers_blood, self_damage |
| Jakiro | fire, ice |
| Keeper of the Light | aether_range_lod |
| Leshrac | light, lightning |
| Mirana | skillshot |
| Obsidian Destroyer | obsidian_destroyer_astral_imprisonment, obsidian_destroyer_astral_imprisonment_redux, imba_obsidian_destroyer_astral_imprisonment |
| Pangolier | pangolier_heartpiercer_old |
| Shadow Demon | demon |
| Silencer | silence |
| Spectre | spectre_dispersion |
| Spirit Breaker | bash |
| Techies | trap, explosive |
| Tidehunter | water |
| Tiny | earth, nature |
| Warlock | (none) |
| Wisp | obsidian_destroyer_essence_aura_lod, light |
| Zeus | lightning |
The Chen creep perk
perks.kv defines a special sub-system for Chen. When Chen’s perk is active, his Holy Persuasion converts creeps that retain specific abilities. The list of abilities Chen can grant to converted creeps includes:
- Enchantress Untouchable
- Faceless Void Time Lock
- Life Stealer Feast
- Luna Lunar Blessing / Moon Glaive
- Anti-Mage Mana Break
- Heartstopper Aura
- Axe Counter Helix
- Phantom Assassin Coup de Grace
- Juggernaut Blade Dance
- Ursa Fury Swipes
- Sven Great Cleave
- Vengefulspirit Command Aura
- and many more
Gender classification
perks.kv also includes a gender map (male / female) used by Queen of Pain’s perk, which has different effects depending on the gender of nearby heroes.