Hoodwink: A Guide to Playing the Newest Dota 2 Hero
Hoodwink, the newest hero in Dota 2, was an unexpected Christmas gift from developer IceFrog and Valve. After some necessary adjustments, her win rate and pick rate have decreased, making it a good time to analyze her performance at the highest level. Whether you want to improve your gameplay with Hoodwink or become familiar with her before she enters Captain’s Mode, here are some tips and tricks to help you master the hero.
Playing Style: Is Hoodwink Similar to Windranger?
While initial assessments compared Hoodwink to Windranger due to similar abilities involving trees, charging nukes, and movement, Hoodwink actually functions differently. In fact, she can be even more annoying to deal with if you lack the appropriate hero counters.
Choosing a Role for Hoodwink
Like most new heroes, Hoodwink is being played in all five positions. However, high-level players are primarily using her as a support. According to Dota 2 Pro Tracker, almost half of all Hoodwink games in professional-level pubs see her in the position-four role.
In addition to playing as a support, Hoodwink can also be a viable core. Her Acorn Shot’s scaling physical damage and burst potential make her suitable for a core role. While she has seen some time in the offlane and mid positions, she is rarely played as a hard carry.
Hoodwink’s role is typically that of an annoying space creator, using her Scurry ability to safely observe from the sidelines and push out creep waves. With her Bushwhack and magical nukes, she can provide tricky lockdown potential as well.
Recommended Items for Hoodwink
When playing as a core, items with on-hit proc effects are valuable, as Hoodwink’s Acorn Shot counts as an attack. Items like Maelstrom, Desolator, and Crystalys allow her to deal damage from a distance. Initially, it’s better to keep basic boots before upgrading to Boots of Travel later on, as Hoodwink relies more on spell-casting rather than right-click attacks and prefers to play as a glass cannon that can maneuver through trees.
For a support Hoodwink, Eul’s Scepter is a great choice, allowing her to function as a setup and initiating hero. Other useful items include Blink Dagger and Aether Lens, which extend her range. Standard support items such as Urn of Shadows, Ghost Scepter, and Aeon Disk are also commonly picked. Glimmer Cape is less popular due to Hoodwink’s built-in Scurry Camouflage talent at level 15.
If a support Hoodwink is having a good game, they can consider greedier options like a Maelstrom, which can later be built into the new item Gleipnir, adding more control to their kit.
Countering Hoodwink
Hoodwink is incredibly fragile and struggles against assassins and high-burst heroes that can quickly take her out of the fight, such as Tiny, Nyx Assassin, and Tinker. Heroes with vision-granting spells or the ability to destroy trees can also effectively counter her, including Weaver, Batrider, and Phantom Lancer. Mars, Bounty Hunter, and Phantom Lancer are among the best counters to Hoodwink, combining both high burst potential and control.
When it comes to items, Eul’s Scepter is a great way to avoid Hoodwink’s spells, especially her Sharpshooter animation if she holds it for too long. Gleipnir is an effective but costly item that can reveal Hoodwink hiding in trees if you manage to strike her.
Tips and Tricks for Playing Hoodwink
During the laning stage, if you’re Hoodwink or her lane partner, opt for more Tangoes for regeneration. Acorn Shot’s planted tree can be eaten for double the duration of a healing Tango. However, be cautious when using it to harass opponents, as they can also consume the tree.
Acorn Shot provides a small amount of vision around where it’s planted. Use it on cliffs or common ward spots for valuable dewarding.
Units bound by Bushwhack will be released if the affected tree is destroyed. Forced movement, such as a Force Staff or Snapfire’s Snapfire Cookie, will also release them.
Using the treeline strategically is crucial for Hoodwink. Trees can block vision and Acorn Shot can cut off potential paths for enemies. Scurry provides evasion and free pathing through trees. However, be careful not to get stuck in a compromising position while the skill is on cooldown.
Spell Combos for Hoodwink
The efficient spell combo for Hoodwink involves using Bushwhack before Acorn Shot, especially when you’re further away. Acorn Shot’s projectile travels twice as fast as Bushwhack. If you’re close to the target and there are no trees around, it’s safer to use Acorn Shot first.
Sharpshooter is not a channeling spell. It goes off after reaching its full countdown even while disabled. Exceptions include Faceless Void’s Chronosphere.
While Hoodwink is unable to move during her ultimate animation, she can still use items and cast spells. Items like Blink Dagger and Force Staff can be used to reposition yourself, ambushing enemies or catching up to fleeing opponents.
Unlike heroes with zero turn rate, Hoodwink still obeys directional rules during her ultimate animation and cannot target backward. Attempting to Blink backward will lock you in your position until you press the stop or hold key.
If nothing is done, the animation will act as a shift-queue action and take place immediately after Sharpshooter is complete.
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