Hero Discussion of this Day: Windrunner (28 October 2012)
Lyrelei, the Windrunner
Although she is an intelligence hero, Alleria's gameplay style resembles an agility hero in many ways. She relies on her physical attack most of the time, and she has a powerful attack speed increasing ability which lets her fire very quickly. She can launch deadly Power Shots, which strike the first target with massive damage, then lose a little the more units they pass through. Power Shot is very good at picking off injured heroes who are trying to flee, due to its long range, fast projectile, and good initial damage. To stop enemies from fleeing in the first place, Alleria has Shackleshot. Although it doesn't deal any damage by itself, Shackleshot is one of the best single-target stuns around. This ability allows the Windrunner to shackle a target either to a tree or to another enemy unit, potentially stunning two heroes for a lengthy period of time. Windrunner, Alleria's third skill, allows her to escape dangerous situations, position herself for good Shackleshots, and catch up to fleeing enemies. If Powershot isn't enough to take down a target, Alleria can use Focus Fire. This powerful ability makes her attack at the fastest possible rate at a single enemy unit for a long duration, but reduces her total damage. This skill is often used in conjunction with Shackleshot, but it is also effective against buildings and other stationary targets.
Lore
The western forests guard their secrets well. One of these is Lyralei, master archer of the wood, and favored godchild of the wind. Known now as Windrunner, Lyralei's family was killed in a storm on the night of her birth—-their house blown down by the gale, contents scattered to the winds. Only the newborn survived among the debris field of death and destruction. In the quiet after the storm, the wind itself took notice of the lucky infant crying in the grass. The wind pitied the child and so lifted her into the sky and deposited her on a doorstep in a neighboring village. In the years that followed, the wind returned occasionally to the child’s life, watching from a distance while she honed her skills. Now, after many years of training, Windrunner fires her arrows true to their targets. She moves with blinding speed, as if hastened by a wind ever at her back. With a flurry of arrows, she slaughters her enemies, having become, nearly, a force of nature herself.
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Roles: Disabler, Nuker, Support, Escape, Carry
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Strength: 15 + 2.5
Agility: 17 + 1.4
Intelligence: 22 + 2.6
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Damage: 44-56
Armour: 1.38
Movement Speed: 295
Attack Range: 600
Base Attack Time: 1.5
Missile Speed: 1250
Sight Range: 1800 (Day) / 800 (Night)
Turn Rate: 0.6
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Spells
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Shackleshot
Shackles the target to an enemy unit or tree in a line directly behind it. If no unit or tree is present, the stun duration is reduced to 0.75.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 1.5 | If another unit or tree is behind the shackled unit, they will also be shackled for the full duration. If the shackle doesn't connect to anything the unit is only ministunned for 0.75 seconds |
| 2 | 100 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 2.25 | If another unit or tree is behind the shackled unit, they will also be shackled for the full duration. If the shackle doesn't connect to anything the unit is only ministunned for 0.75 seconds |
| 3 | 110 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 3 | If another unit or tree is behind the shackled unit, they will also be shackled for the full duration. If the shackle doesn't connect to anything the unit is only ministunned for 0.75 seconds |
| 4 | 120 | 12 | 800 | N/A | 3.75 | If another unit or tree is behind the shackled unit, they will also be shackled for the full duration. If the shackle doesn't connect to anything the unit is only ministunned for 0.75 seconds |
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This spell works on angles, this is the best picture I could find concerning who it's calculated
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This spell can shackle two enemies together, stunning them both
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Trees created by Nature's Prophet's Sprout spell are valid targets for shackling
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Can shackle the target to an enemy or tree up to 525 (enemy)/500 (tree) units behind it
Windrunner's variety of bow skills includes an arrow with thick ropes attached to encumber any escaping target.
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Powershot
Windrunner charges her bow for up to 1 second for a single powerful shot. The arrow deals damage to enemy units and destroys trees in its path. Damage is greatest on first target, and reduces by 10% for each target it pierces thereafter. If the channeling is cancelled early, the shot will still occur but deal less damage.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90 | 9 | 1825 | 1825 (line) | N/A | Fires an arrow in a line dealing 120 damage to units it hits |
| 2 | 100 | 9 | 1825 | 1825 (line) | N/A | Fires an arrow in a line dealing 200 damage to units it hits |
| 3 | 110 | 9 | 1825 | 1825 (line) | N/A | Fires an arrow in a line dealing 280 damage to units it hits |
| 4 | 120 | 9 | 1825 | 1825 (line) | N/A | Fires an arrow in a line dealing 360 damage to units it hits |
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Magical Damage
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The arrow initially moves at a rate of 3000 units per second
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Damage is greatest on first target, and reduces by 10% for each target it pierces thereafter
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The arrow is slowed a little each time it hits an enemy or a tree
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This spell destroys trees
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This ability has a short channeling time. If canceled before Lyralei finishes channeling, the arrow will deal less damage
During her early years of training, Lyralei learned to fire powerful arrows that cleaved even trees to reach their targets on the other side.
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Windrun
Increases movement speed and adds evasion from all physical attacks, while slowing movement of nearby enemies.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 (slow) | 2.75 | Gives Windrunner 50% movement speed increase and 100% evasion, also slowing enemies in a 300 aoe around her by 8% |
| 2 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 (slow) | 3.5 | Gives Windrunner 50% movement speed increase and 100% evasion, also slowing enemies in a 300 aoe around her by 16% |
| 3 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 (slow) | 4.25 | Gives Windrunner 50% movement speed increase and 100% evasion, also slowing enemies in a 300 aoe around her by 24% |
| 4 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 (slow) | 5 | Gives Windrunner 50% movement speed increase and 100% evasion, also slowing enemies in a 300 aoe around her by 30% |
- Projectiles that began tracking Windrunner before this ability was activated will not be evaded
True to her namesake, Lyralei enchants gusts of winds to flight incoming attacks.
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Focus Fire
Ultimate
Windrunner channels the wind, gaining maximum attack speed on the enemy unit or structure, although with reduced damage, including damage from unique attack modifiers and item effects. Once Windrunner switches targets, the speed is lost. Lasts 20 seconds.
| Level | Mana Cost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 | 60 (15*) | 600 | N/A | 20 | Allows Windrunner to attack at maximum attack speed on a single target but at a 50% damage reduction |
| 2 | 300 | 60 (15*) | 600 | N/A | 20 | Allows Windrunner to attack at maximum attack speed on a single target but at a 40% damage reduction |
| 3 | 400 | 60 (15*) | 600 | N/A | 20 | Allows Windrunner to attack at maximum attack speed on a single target but at a 30% damage reduction |
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This ultimate can be improved by a Sceptre, * shows the Sceptre improvements
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With Aghanim's Scepter it no longer reduces damage from secondary item effects (Like bonus damage from Bash, Chain Lightning)*
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The damage reduction affects all damage from Lyralei while the spell is active, including alternate damage such as unique attack modifiers
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Can target buildings and magic immune units
Lyralei's ability to bombard opponents with a flurry of arrows is unparalleled - even at the expense of accuracy.
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Recent Changes from 6.76/6.76b/6.76c
- None
Recent Changes from 6.75/6.75b
- None
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Findings (not-factual information as above):
I find Windrunner to be an extremely versatile hero. You can play her as a support and babysit a carry. You can long lane/suicide lane with her. If needs be, she can also carry (due to her ultimate). When using shackleshot, make sure you use angles to try and predict where it will land and if there's a unit or tree it can latch on to, if you want to be really risky or you just can't reach who you want to shackle, you can try and shackle a creep in hopes it'll latch onto the enemy hero. Powershot can be used to snipe escaping opponents, scout fogged areas or just push a lane. Windrun is an awesome escape due to the 100% evasion, so you'll just be going "kbye" alot. Focus Fire should be used on a building (tower or rax) if you're pushing and want it down fast, but you can also use it on someone in a fight to focus them down. She's a really fun hero to play, her voice just makes it even better.
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"Windrunner is a Jack of all trades, really fucking good at all of them" - Shred Kid
Wilco- has a tl;dr on Windrunner which still applies although 9 months ago.
vvav has the most insightful post you'll ever read about WR "SHE HAS NO CORE", the thread is worth reading aswell.
DotaCinema has a guide on playing Windrunner .
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Posted Oct 29, 2012, 8:00 AM UTC · edited