Hero Discussion of this Day: Medusa, Gorgon (28 January 2013)
Medusa, the Gorgon
Medusa is a tank, both in durability and AOE damage, once she is fully leveled. Her early game consists of spamming Mystic Snake for gold and harass. Split Shot will become truly formidable after you've acquired damage item. You need to be in the center of team fights, as you can effectively output 400% damage with Split Arrow. Focus fire on you is mitigated by your Mana Shield for tanking and Stone Gaze which slows movement and attack speed, dispels status buffs and damage summon units.
Lore
Beauty is power. This thought comforted Medusa--the youngest and loveliest of three beautiful Gorgon sisters, born to a sea goddess--because she alone of the sisters was mortal. It comforted her, that is, until the day masked assailants invaded the Gorgon realm and tore the two immortal sisters from their home, unmoved by their beauty or by their tears. One of the invaders seized Medusa as well, but then cast her aside with a disgusted look: 'This one has the mortal stink upon her. We have no use for that which dies.' Humiliated, enraged, Medusa fled to the temple of her mother and cast herself before the goddess, crying, 'You denied me eternal life--therefore I beg you, give me power! Power, so I can dedicate what life I have to rescuing my sisters and avenging this injustice!' After long thought, the goddess granted her daughter's request, allowing Medusa to trade her legendary beauty for a face and form of terrifying strength. Never for a moment has Medusa regretted her choice. She understands that power is the only beauty worth possessing--for only power can change the world.
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Roles: Carry, Durable, Disabler, Initiator
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Strength: 14 + 1.65
Agility: 20 + 2.5
Intelligence: 19 + 1.85
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Damage: 44-50
Armour: 1.8
Movement Speed: 290
Attack Range: 600
Missile Speed: 1200
Base Attack Time: 1.7
Sight Range: 1800 (Day) / 800 (Night)
Turn Rate: 0.5
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Spells
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Split Shot
Medusa magically splits her shot into five arrows. These arrows deal a lower percent of her normal damage. The extra targets will not receive other attack effects (such as critical strike) and Unique Attack Modifiers.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 700 | N/A | When toggled on, allows Medusa to hit 5 enemies at once but only dealing 50% damage per arrow |
| 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 700 | N/A | When toggled on, allows Medusa to hit 5 enemies at once but only dealing 60% damage per arrow |
| 3 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 700 | N/A | When toggled on, allows Medusa to hit 5 enemies at once but only dealing 70% damage per arrow |
| 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 700 | N/A | When toggled on, allows Medusa to hit 5 enemies at once but only dealing 80% damage per arrow |
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Only the primary target will recieve attack effects like bash and orb effects
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Secondary targets will be the four closest enemy units excluding the primary target
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Has a 0.1 seconds transformation time
All who encounter the cursed Gorgon will feel her rage.
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Mystic Snake
A mystic snake made of energy jumps from target to target dealing damage and stealing some mana. After it reaches its last target, it jumps back to Medusa to replenish her with mana. The snake deals more damage and steals more mana per jump.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 140 | 11 | 800 | 475 (jump radius) | N/A | Deals 80 damage and steals 20 mana, jumps around increasing damage dealt and mana stolen by 25% per jump. Maximum jumps: 3 |
| 2 | 150 | 11 | 800 | 475 (jump radius) | N/A | Deals 120 damage and steals 30 mana, jumps around increasing damage dealt and mana stolen by 25% per jump. Maximum jumps: 4 |
| 3 | 160 | 11 | 800 | 475 (jump radius) | N/A | Deals 160 damage and steals 40 mana, jumps around increasing damage dealt and mana stolen by 25% per jump. Maximum jumps: 5 |
| 4 | 170 | 11 | 800 | 475 (jump radius) | N/A | Deals 200 damage and steals 50 mana, jumps around increasing damage dealt and mana stolen by 25% per jump. Maximum jumps: 6 |
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Magical Damage
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Mana steal is only incremented by 25% if the affected unit has a mana pool (unlike melee creeps and certain neutral creeps)
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The damage and mana steal amounts increase independently
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The mystic snake moves at a speed of 633 until it is returning, at which point it moves at a speed of 833
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If the snake hits all 6 jumps and the targets have remaining mana, Medusa will steal 564 total mana
The Gorgon's curse is her greatest strength.
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Mana Shield
While Medusa was not gifted with eternal life upon birth, her curse bestowed her with impressive defensive powers.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | When toggled, activates a shield that absorbs 50% of incoming damage via mana. Aborsbs 0.75 damage per point of mana |
| 2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | When toggled, activates a shield that absorbs 50% of incoming damage via mana. Aborsbs 1.25 damage per point of mana |
| 3 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | When toggled, activates a shield that absorbs 50% of incoming damage via mana. Aborsbs 1.75 damage per point of mana |
| 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | When toggled, activates a shield that absorbs 50% of incoming damage via mana. Aborsbs 2.25 damage per point of mana |
- Absorbs damage before any damage reduction takes place, meaning that armor will not reduce the amount of mana needed to absorb damage
While Medusa was not gifted with eternal life upon birth, her curse bestowed her with impressive defensive powers.
==
Stone Gaze
Ultimate
Any enemy units staring at the Gorgon will slowly turn to stone, removing status buffs and slowing all speed properties. Deals damage to summoned units and illusions.
| Level | Manacost | Cooldown | Casting Range | Area | Duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 | 140 | N/A | 800 | 5 | Causes all enemies in the radius to have their attack speed slowed by 100%, movement speed greatly slowed (enemies will have as low as 100 movespeed) and be purged of all their positive status buffs. Also deals 500 damage to illusions and summoned units |
| 2 | 100 | 100 | N/A | 800 | 5 | Causes all enemies in the radius to have their attack speed slowed by 100%, movement speed greatly slowed (enemies will have as low as 100 movespeed) and be purged of all their positive status buffs. Also deals 1000 damage to illusions and summoned units |
| 3 | 0 | 60 | N/A | 800 | 5 | Causes all enemies in the radius to have their attack speed slowed by 100%, movement speed greatly slowed (enemies will have as low as 100 movespeed) and be purged of all their positive status buffs. Also deals 1500 damage to illusions and summoned units |
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Affects any units that have line of sight with Medusa at any period for 5 seconds after cast
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Units affected by the Stone Gaze cannot get reaffected during the application period
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Affected units recover their speed over a 5 seconds duration
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Stone Gaze's slowing effects can be purged in turn (Items: BKB, Manta Style, Diffusal Blade; Spells: Blade Fury (Juggernaut), Repel (Omniknight), Dark Pact (Slark), Time Lapse (Weaver)
The beauty of Medusa is legendary.
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Recent Changes from 6.77
- Stone Gaze cooldown reduced from 140/110/80 to 140/100/60
Recent Changes from 6.76/6.76b/6.76c
- None
Recent Changes from 6.75/6.75b
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Mana Shield absorption rate increased from 0.75/1.25/1.5/2 to 0.75/1.25/1.75/2.25
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Mystic Snake damage bonus per jump increased from 20% to 25%
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Split Shot damage per arrow increased from 45/55/65/75% to 50/60/70/80%
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Findings (not-factual information as above):
I find Medusa to be one of the best carries later in the game. Make sure your damage output is relevant to be using split shot (e.g. levelling Split Shot and using it at level 1 at the start of the game will effectively be useless). Put your mana shield up when you think you're about to be ganked or there's enemy heroes around, don't waste mana on tanking creeps. Don't be afraid to use Stone Gaze to escape or save an ally, but always use it in teamfights. When using Stone Gaze in teamfights, make sure the enemy have just used all their buffs (MoM, Repel, Guardian Angel) and then use it to remove those buffs.
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Pheownix lists some of the utility of Medusa's Gaze
The mindset of making the tough decisions of a carry, comment by c0pyright. You have to use your personal judgement to choose from farming and contributing to fights, it's extremely stupid to say that a carry must farm no matter what and never contribute always, because it's situational and not a rite set in stone
Hunkyy explains why Mystic Snake is a good skill and shouldn't be skipped
How to Jungle Medusa, level 6 in 7 minutes and Hand of Midas, by uw_NB. manicx782 also has an addendum
uw_NB ALSO has a jungling guide for the Dire side too
denunciator summarises Medusa
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If you guys want a specific hero to be discussed next, please feel free to post (or message as people have for Meepo, Lina, Krobelus, Sylla, Puck, Brood, Omni, Disruptor. Viper, Shadow Demon, Prophet, Rhasta, Rubick and Medusa).
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Posts are every 2 days except patch days, next post will be on the 30th.
Important Rubick tip of last thread by FillowPight: "Don't be afraid to use spell steal. This may sound conflicting with my second point, but it really isn't. Don't spend the entire time in a fight waiting for a skill like Sonic Wave or Echoslam to appear. If a reliable stun is made available for you to steal, just go for it. Being overly ambitious and trying to steal something tough at the cost of not stealing other decent abilities is.. just bad."
Posted Jan 28, 2013, 9:53 PM UTC · edited