Hero Discussion of the Day: Windrunner (February 14, 2012)
Windrunner was last discussed on October 26.
Lyralei, the Windrunner
Windrunner is a Ranged Hero that uses her powerful skills in conjunction with her physical attack to take down enemies. Despite being an Intelligence Hero, Windrunner's playstyle resembles an Agility Hero, however, she has one of the lowest Agility in the game. She uses her physical attack often, and uses her skills to ensure a kill. She also has a pretty high Strength for an Intelligence hero. Windrunner starts off as a Support and as the game progresses, she can be played as a Semi-Carry if equipped with powerful items. Windrunner's skills require good positioning and reflexes, and her item dependence makes dying an even greater threat than usual. Windrunner is recommended for intermediate to advanced players.
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.
"Here, have an arrow. No, in fact, have two."
| Strength | Agility | Intelligence |
|---|---|---|
| 15 + 2.5 | 17 + 1.4 | 22 + 2.6 |
| Damage | Armor | Movespeed |
| 44-56 | 1.38 | 295 |
| Attack Range | Base Attack Time | Missile Speed |
| 600 | 1.5 | 1250 |
| Soundset | Icon | Fan Art |
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.
| Level | Mana Cost | Cooldown | Casting range | Area of Effect | Duration | Allowed Targets | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90 | 12 | 600 | N/A | 1.5 seconds | Enemy units | Stun for 0.75 seconds, or 1.5 if close to enemy unit or tree |
| 2 | 100 | 12 | 600 | N/A | 2.25 seconds | Enemy units | Stun for 0.75 seconds, or 2.25 if close to enemy unit or tree |
| 3 | 110 | 12 | 600 | N/A | 3 seconds | Enemy units | Stun for 0.75 seconds, or 3 if close to enemy unit or tree |
| 4 | 120 | 12 | 600 | N/A | 3.75 seconds | Enemy units | Stun for 0.75 seconds, or 3.75 if close to enemy unit or tree |
- If the target isn't shackled to anything, the stun only lasts 0.75 seconds.
- This spell can shackle two enemies together, stunning them both.
- Trees created by Furion's Sprout spell are valid targets for shackling.
- Can shackle the target to an enemy unit or tree at most 525/500 units behind it.
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 | Mana Cost | Cooldown | Casting range | Area of Effect | Duration | Allowed Targets | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 90 | 9 | 1825 | 125 | N/A | Enemy Units/Trees | 120 initial damage |
| 2 | 100 | 9 | 1825 | 125 | N/A | Enemy Units/Trees | 200 initial damage |
| 3 | 110 | 9 | 1825 | 125 | N/A | Enemy Units/Trees | 280 initial damage |
| 4 | 120 | 9 | 1825 | 125 | N/A | Enemy Units/Trees | 360 initial damage |
- Damage type: magical
- The arrow initially moves at a rate of 3000 units per second.
- The arrow is slowed a little each time it hits an enemy or a tree.
- This spell destroys trees.
- This ability has a short channeling time. If canceled before Lyralei finishes channeling, the arrow will deal less damage.
Windrun
Increases movement speed and adds evasion from all physical attacks, while slowing movement of nearby enemies.
| Level | Mana Cost | Cooldown | Casting range | Area of Effect | Duration | Allowed Targets | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 | 2.75 seconds | Self | Gives complete physical evasion, 50% increased MS, and slows nearby enemies by 8% |
| 2 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 | 3.5 seconds | Self | Gives complete physical evasion, 50% increased MS, and slows nearby enemies by 16% |
| 3 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 | 4.25 seconds | Self | Gives complete physical evasion, 50% increased MS, and slows nearby enemies by 24% |
| 4 | 100 | 15 | N/A | 300 | 5 seconds | Self | Gives complete physical evasion, 50% increased MS, and slows nearby enemies by 30% |
- The slow will affect enemies with magic immunity.
- Incoming projectiles before this ability is activated will not be evaded.
Focus Fire
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.
SCEPTER UPGRADABLE: Reduces cooldown, and removes penalty from unique attack modifiers and item effects.
| Level | Mana Cost | Cooldown | Casting range | Area of Effect | Duration | Allowed Targets | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 200 | 60 (15*) | 600 | N/A | 20 seconds | Enemy Units / Buildings | Constantly attacks with 50% reduced damage and maximum attack speed at the target |
| 2 | 300 | 60 (15*) | 600 | N/A | 20 seconds | Enemy Units / Buildings | Constantly attacks with 40% reduced damage and maximum attack speed at the target |
| 3 | 400 | 60 (15*) | 600 | N/A | 20 seconds | Enemy Units / Buildings | Constantly attacks with 30% reduced damage and maximum attack speed at the target |
- The damage reduction affects all damage from Lyralei while the spell is active, including alternate damage such as unique attack modifiers.
- Can target buildings and magic immune units.
- Can be improved by Aghanim's Scepter (* shows the improved values).
- With Aghanim's Scepter it no longer reduces damage from secondary item effects (Like bonus damage from Bash, Chain Lightning, etc.).
Wilco- has done a daily tl;dr on Windrunner.
Be sure to take a look at Dota Cinema's video overview of Windrunner.
Wolfos has posted a very highly rated guide to Windrunner on playdota.
As always, check out yesterday's discussion of Lifestealer or the complete HDotD archives.
Posted Feb 14, 2012, 1:07 PM UTC · edited