Hero Discussion of this Day: Medusa, Gorgon (30 July 2013)

Medusa, the Gorgon

I am never alone. My pets hiss around my head, comfort and reminder of my cold and vengeful road.

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

• Only the primary target will recieve attack effects like bash and orb effects

• Secondary targets will be the four closest enemy units excluding the primary target

• 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

• Magical Damage

• Mana steal is only incremented by 25% if the affected unit has a mana pool (unlike melee creeps and certain neutral creeps)

• The damage and mana steal amounts increase independently

• The mystic snake moves at a speed of 633 until it is returning, at which point it moves at a speed of 833

• 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.

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Stone Gaze

Ultimate

Any enemy units looking at Medusa will have their movement and attack speed slowed. If 2 seconds of total time is accumulated looking at Medusa while Stone Gaze is active, that unit will turn to stone. Petrified units are stunned, have 100% magic resistance, and take bonus physical damage. If the petrified unit is an illusion, it is immediately killed.

Level	Manacost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	200	90	N/A	1000	6	Causes all enemies in the radius to have their attack speed slowed by 50%, if enemies stare/face Medusa for 2 seconds they will be stoned for 3 seconds and take 30% bonus physical damage. Also kills illusions if they are petrified
2	200	90	N/A	1000	6	Causes all enemies in the radius to have their attack speed slowed by 50%, if enemies stare/face Medusa for 2 seconds they will be stoned for 3 seconds and take 40% bonus physical damage. Also kills illusions if they are petrified
3	200	90	N/A	1000	6	Causes all enemies in the radius to have their attack speed slowed by 50%, if enemies stare/face Medusa for 2 seconds they will be stoned for 3 seconds and take 50% bonus physical damage. Also kills illusions if they are petrified

• Affects any units that have line of sight with Medusa at any period for 6 seconds after cast

• Stoned effect can be Purged, but initial movement and attack speed slow cannot

• Turn rate slow is 50%

The beauty of Medusa is legendary.

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Recent Changes from 6.78/6.78b/6.78c

• Stone Gaze Reworked

• Removed from Captain's Mode

Recent Changes from 6.77/6.77b/6.77c

• Stone Gaze cooldown reduced from 140/110/80 to 140/100/60

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Tips:

Be careful when using your ultimate in team fights, using it just as your team is about to deal massive amounts of magic damage will mitigate their damage entirely (eg. using Stone Gaze when a Sand King is using Epicentre).

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ShinCoal talks about a midgame-centric Medusa

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If you guys want a specific hero to be discussed next, please feel free to post or message me. Request list

Valve Artwork | Voice Responses | In-game Icon | Dota Cinema Video Overview Outdated | Dota2Wiki Hero Page

Posts are every two days now, again.

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Important Shadow Fiend tip/s of last thread by OutlawJoseyWales:

"[If you're Radiant], because if your wave pushes or you get zoned out, you can stack the easy camp and then double raze it for a lot of souls. If you get the double Kobold camp with 5 creeps you will probably get an erection. This is normal. "