Hoodwink is one of the most dynamic, versatile, and entertaining heroes in Dota 2. Introduced in the Mistwood Patch (7.28) on December 17, 2020, this quirky squirrel-like character brings a unique blend of mobility, utility, and high damage burst to the battlefield. With her abilities centered around a tree-loving playstyle, she can confuse, outmaneuver, and obliterate her enemies in both early-game skirmishes and late-game team fights. Whether you’re looking to harass opponents in the lane, make split-second escapes, or line up the perfect Sharpshooter shot, learning to master Hoodwink can give you a considerable edge in your matches. In this guide, we’ll delve deep into Hoodwink’s gameplay, abilities, talents, suggested items, and intriguing trivia.
Hoodwink – Bio, Lore, and Background
Hoodwink is a mischievous forest-dweller with a strong affinity for trees. Her design draws inspiration from her rapid, squirrel-like agility and cunning trickster nature. Though her origins in lore are somewhat shrouded by mystery, Hoodwink is portrayed as an independent and clever survivor. She thrives in her natural habitat of dense forestry, and her kit reflects her deep connection to the environment. This allegiance to her surroundings manifests in abilities like Scurry, which allows her to gain advantages while near trees, and Bushwhack, which draws enemies into the very foliage she utilizes so effectively. Colorful, crafty, and always ready to outplay, Hoodwink ensures no match is ever dull.
Abilities – Mastering Hoodwink’s Skillset
Hoodwink’s abilities are designed around high mobility, crowd control, utility, and bursts of damage. Here’s a detailed breakdown of her toolkit:
Acorn Shot
- Effect: Hoodwink fires an acorn thatbounces between nearby enemies, dealing damage and applying a slow. It can also be cast on the ground to create a tree at the target location.
- Cast Range: 650/725/800/875
- Bounce Distance: 525
- Damage: 50/75/100/125 bonus damage and 75% of Hoodwink’s attack damage
- Number of Bounces: 2/3/4/5
- Slow Duration: 0.3 seconds with 100% movement slow
Pro Tip: Use the alt-cast feature strategically to plant a tree in barren areas, enabling your combos with Bushwhack.
Bushwhack
- Effect: Hoodwink tosses a trap that latches enemies to the nearest tree, stunning them, reducing their vision, and dealing damage.
- Cast Range: 1000
- Radius: 265 (stun area is 400)
- Total Damage: 75/150/225/300
- Stun Duration: 1.5/1.8/2.1/2.4 seconds
Pro Tip: Positioning near trees is key to ensure this ability hits enemies. In heavily wooded areas, it can completely turn the tide of battle.
Scurry
- Effect: Hoodwink gains the ability to move unhindered around trees, gains evasion when standing near them, and activates additional movement speed temporarily when triggered.
- Evasion: 15%/20%/25%/30%
- Active Move Speed Bonus: 20%/25%/30%/35%
- Duration: 4 seconds (active)
- Evasion Tree Search Radius: 275
Pro Tip: Master tree-walking paths to outmaneuver chasers. Combine this ability with terrain knowledge to stay just out of enemy reach.
Decoy
- Effect: Hoodwink creates a decoy illusion and turns invisible while gaining movement speed. The decoy fires a weaker version of Sharpshooter at the nearest opponent.
- Fade Time: 0 seconds
- Trigger Distance: 1000
- Stun Radius: 250
- Sharpshooter Damage Percentage: 60%
- Move Speed Bonus: 15%
Pro Tip: Use Decoy to confuse enemies and safely reposition yourself for follow-up spells or escapes.
Hunter’s Boomerang
- Effect: Hoodwink throws a boomerang in an arc, dealing damage and applying Hunter’s Mark, which slows targets and amplifies their incoming spell damage.
- Boomerang Radius: 150
- Arc Distance: 400
- Damage: 250
- Move Speed Slow: 20%
- Spell Damage Amplification: 20%
Sharpshooter
- Effect: Hoodwink charges up and fires a powerful projectile, which deals massive damage, slows the enemy, and applies the Break status.
- Max Range: 3000
- Collision Radius: 125
- Turn Rate: 60° per second
Pro Tip: Use the knockback from Sharpshooter to reposition yourself after firing and to maintain safe distance from retaliation.
Hoodwink – Roles and Playstyle
Support
Thanks to her ability to stun and secure kills with Bushwhack, Hoodwink works wonderfully as a soft support. Her Acorn Shot helps secure lasthits or harass enemies in the lane phase, making her indispensable in early game skirmishes.
Nuker
With Sharpshooter and Acorn Shot, Hoodwink can deal devastating damage against squishy opponents. These synergize effectively with items that amplify burst damage.
Escape Artist
Scurry and Decoy make Hoodwink one of the hardest heroes to pin down. These abilities allow her to dart in and out of combat effortlessly.
Item Build – Core Items for Hoodwink
- Eul’s Scepter: For crowd control and setup with Bushwhack.
- Aghanim’s Shard: Enhances abilities like Decoy, increasing survivability.
- Gleipnir: Provides lockdown and synergy with Bushwhack.
- Desolator: Increases physical damage burst potential with Acorn Shot.
How-To Guide – Mastering Hoodwink
- Early Game: Focus on harassing, securing creeps, and creating openings with Bushwhack.
- Mid Game: Roam lanes utilizing Sharpshooter and surprise plays to secure pickoffs.
- Late Game: Prioritize long-range setups and playing around environmental advantages with trees.
FAQs About Hoodwink
What roles can Hoodwink play?
Hoodwink can play support, nuker, disabler, and even core roles depending on the matchup and draft.
What makes Hoodwink unique?
Her reliance on trees for mobility and abilities makes her gameplay intricate and rewarding.
How do I maximize Bushwhack?
Always position near trees and use it in combination with other spells like Acorn Shot.
What counters Hoodwink?
Heroes with area denial like Timbersaw or Phoenix can neutralize her tree-reliant mechanics.
What are Hoodwink’s weaknesses?
Low strength gain and reliance on trees can make her vulnerable in certain areas of the map.
Is Hoodwink item-dependent?
She can function without core items but scales extremely well with damage and utility gear.
How should I level Hoodwink’s abilities?
Maximize Acorn Shot and Bushwhack first to maximize her damage output and utility.
When should I pick Hoodwink?
When your lineup needs a versatile hero that can adapt between roles and provide high map control.
Does Hoodwink work as a mid-laner?
Yes, her burst damage and nuking potential make her viable in the mid lane in the right matchups.
How do I escape tough situations with Hoodwink?
Utilize Scurry and Decoy to outmaneuver enemies and create opportunities to disengage.
Source : DotaCinema
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