The following is an overview of the new features available in HoN 2.5, the latest update to Heroes of Newerth.


Mentoring

You've asked for it and we've delivered! Mentoring is here to give
players the ability to teach HoN to their friends. New players will be
able to learn HoN faster than ever. With the help of their friends,
they'll be playing on the same level in no time.

• View your pupil's screen live, in real time
• Communicate using the private mentoring chat channel, supporting both voice and text
• Give pointers by displaying your cursor and pinging directly
  onto your pupil's screenGive pointers by displaying your cursor and
  pinging directly onto your pupil's screen

Matchmaking Rework

A massive update wouldn't be complete without a little optimization and
that's exactly what's happening to the matchmaking system in HoN. There
are a plethora of updates coming to the matchmaking system, but the
bottom line for you is going to be shorter queue times, better matchups,
and group options you can modify from within the queue to make your
matchmaking experience better than ever.

Live Spectating

HoN 2.5 is sure to please anyone looking to bring their friends along to
storm the battlefields of Newerth. With the new spectating feature,
players take advantage of the down time between their HoN matches by
jumping into their friend's live games as if you're watching over a
friend's shoulder. Gone are the days of waiting around for your friends
to finish their matches or abandoning them and starting your own game.
With player spectating you can instantly watch your friend's games in
real time and enjoy all the action like never before.

New Hero and Alt Avatars

Shadowblade, the hero with a thousand faces. The very first
strength/agility/intelligence hero ever to hit the streets of Newerth.
You'll have to keep both eyes open and your mind sharpened to fully
understand the power of this jack of all trades, but choose wisely,
because Shadowblade can only assume one of his four forms at a time.
Two New Items

In addition to a new hero and his alt, we might as well mention two more
alts coming in patch 2.5 straight from everyone's favorite community
alt avatar contest. I hear Kangamonium and Sister Martyr are very
excited to bring it on.
Aesthetic Updates

Last but not least, there are a number of aesthetic improvements that
are going to be included in the HoN 2.5 patch. From new trees and creeps
to an overhaul of the ambient sounds that make up the Heroes of Newerth
experience, we are going to be breathing new life into the game with
the release of patch 2.5.