They said she's arriving this month, and they weren’t kidding. Dota 2 released the Mistwoods Update bringing in Hoodwink. She’s a ranged hero that’s also a great nuker. Hoodwink is a disabler as well and got an interesting Escape skill. Just in case we forget to mention later, she’s an Agility-based hero.
Today, we take a closer look at what this new hero brings to the game.
The Story so Far
The best way to describe this hero is how a gender-swapped Robin Hood would be like in Zootopia. This cunning fox has no problem going toe-to-toe with the best fighters.
In lore, Hoodwink spent her early years in the edges of the kingdom of Krimwohl. However, as the kingdom progressed, timber barons tried to outpace each other and destroyed the border forests. Many living in the area withered, surrendered, fell defending their homes, or worse, went north and tried their luck in the misty Wood Tomo’kan.
Hoodwink would take none of it and dared anybody to try and destroy her home.
It’s Not What the Doctor Ordered
Her Skills and Ultimate are best described as upgraded versions of skills in previous heroes.
Take her first skill, for example, which is Acorn Shot. It fires an acorn at opponents that bounces to nearby enemies. And then, slow them down while also dealing bonus damage. Sounds like the Paralyzing Cask of Witch Doctor? One difference is it can target the ground to create a tree. The only effect is that the added bounce is lost. So, don't forget that part.
Other details are:
- Skill: Acorn Shot
- Damage Type: Physical
- Bonus Attack Range: 125/200/275/350
- Bonus Damage: 25/50/75/100
- Bounce Count: 3/4/5/6
- Slow Duration: 0.25
- Movement Slow: 100%
- Mana Cost: 75/85/95/105
- Cooldown: 16/14/12/10
You’ve been Bushwacked
Her second skill is Bushwack that tosses a net trap, which stuns enemy heroes, especially when near a tree. Sound familiar? It’s Windranger’s Shackleshot. There are three different things though. First, it’s an AOE skill meaning, you can catch more than one hero. Second, enemies pulled toward the tree have their vision reduced to 0. The third part is interesting. Remember the tree effect of Acorn Shot? You can combo that with Bushwack to catch heroes even if there are no trees.
Other details are:
- Skill: Bushwack
- Damage Type: Magical
- Radius: 325
- Stun Duration: 1.3/1.6/1.9/2.2
- Damage: 90/180/270/360
- Mana Cost: 90/100/110/120
- Cooldown: 14
Run and Hide
Moving on, her third skill is Scurry. This is her escape skill but it can also be used offensively. Its passive gives her a chance to evade physical attacks when near trees. When activated, she gains bonus movement speed, phased collision, and even tree-walking for a brief period of time. Now, where have we seen that before? Pretty much the better version of Treant Protector’s Nature’s Guise skill.
Other details are:
- Skill: Scurry
- Max Charges: 2
- Charge Restore Time: 30/25/20/15
- Evasion Radius: 275
- Bonus Movement Speed: 25%/30%/35%/40%
- Buff Duration: 4
- Evasion: 8%/16%/24%/32%
- Mana Cost: 35
Take the Shot
This brings us to her Ultimate Skill. It’s called Sharpshooter and we’ll give you a minute to think about how this one works.
It’s like the Assassinate ultimate of Sniper. Same with her basic skills, this one is somewhat an improved version. With her Ultimate, Hoodwink charges up and fires a deadly bolt from her crossbow. Not only it does massive damage but also slows and triggers Break. The amount of damage and duration of the debuff scales up with her charge.
Other details are:
- Skill: Sharpshooter
- Damage Type: Magical
- Max Wind-up Time: 3
- Max Damage: 600/1000/1400
- Max Debuff Duration: 6
- Move Slow: 50%
- Mana Cost: 150
- Cooldown: 45
Choose your Skill
Of course, our hero introduction won’t be complete without knowing about her other skills. At Level 10 her Talent Tree choices are between -3s Bushwack cooldown vs. +175 health. Chances are, most players would go for the former as it gives Bushwack that needed offensive push.
At Level 15, it’s a choice between +14 Agility and Scurry Camouflage. Here, the choices start to become difficult and it’s going to depend on how the game is going.
By Level 20, choose between -5 Armor Corruption and 25% Sharpshooter Faster Projectile/Charge Time. Most likely the choice here is based on the item build.
Finally, at Level 25, the choices are Sharpshooter Pure Damage and Pierces Spell Immunity or two Acorn Shot Charges. At this point, it’s all going to be about the endgame. It may depend on the role you’re playing.
Now, you’re probably wondering what her Aghanim’s bonuses are. Well, considering she is still a new hero, it hasn’t been decided yet. Hopefully, when she does get one, it’s going to change her game.
So, what do you think? Is she a good addition to the roster?
