This weeks arrival in the Newerth Universe is Witch Slayer (DoTA’s Lion), complete with an epic long rifle and throwing swords.

Initial impressions: His Ult + Staff of the Masters almost seems overpowered, and chaining his stuns/slows together can make for a pretty nasty combo. Check out the full patch notes after the jump.

Version 0.1.53
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XFire Video Contest!
- S2 Games is giving away free Heroes of Newerth accounts to select testers who upload HoN related XFire videos.

For more information, check the Xfire Video Contest thread.

General
- The “No Stats” option when creating a game now works
* The replay and stats are still remembered for viewing in the Stats Viewer
* None of the stats seen there will be added to your account totals (PSR, Matches Played, total K/D/A, etc will not change at all).
- A new Interface option is now available to turn on mouseover Selection Highlighting while ingame. Check it out!
- Deathmatch is disabled temporarily
- Server stability fixes
- Spectators can now select dead heroes and do not lose their selection when a hero dies
- Recommended items for most heroes have been updated where necessary due to past item changes

New Hero
- Witch Slayer, inspired by DotA’s Lion

Heroes

Corrupted Disciple
- Overload will no longer target Runes
- Static Discharge will no longer trigger on any projectile-based offensive abilities (such as Armadon’s Spine Burst)

Devourer
- Devour now acts as a stun, allowing players to queue up other spells and abilities while disabled
* This also fixes an issue causing spells such as Torturer’s Torment to be disabled

Electrician
- Fixed not being able to queue up abilities while gripping
- Static Grip now acts as a stun, allowing players to queue up other spells and abilities while disabled
* This also fixes an issue causing spells such as Torturer’s Torment to be disabled

Night Hound
- Movement speed increased to 300 (from 295)

Pandamonium
- Smash Face now acts as a stun, allowing players to queue up other spells and abilities while disabled
* This also fixes an issue causing spells such as Torturer’s Torment to be disabled

Pollywog Priest
* Magical Bindings now act as a stun, allowing players to queue up other spells and abilities while disabled
* This also fixes an issue causing spells such as Torturer’s Torment to be disabled

PuppetMaster
- Level 1 armor reduced from 3.8 to 2.8

Succubus
- Succubus’ Hold now acts as a stun, allowing players to queue up other spells and abilities while disabled
* This also fixes an issue causing spells such as Torturer’s Torment to be disabled

We still have a bunch of beta keys to giveaway, so if you want to snag one just register up and make a claim below.