Bounty Hunter
Gondar is a master of stealth and subterfuge, a mercenary who tracks his prey with relentless precision, turning information into gold.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“In shadows we trust, with gold we reward. Information is power, and I am its master.”
Track First, Attack Later
Always cast Track before engaging. The vision and slow are more valuable than surprise. Smart enemies expect your invis approach but not your global tracking.
Master the Bounce
Shuriken Toss bouncing makes you a threat at range. Use creeps, allies, even terrain to reach tracked targets safely and unexpectedly.
Economic Warfare
Track gold wins games. Track farmers, track gankers, track anyone trying to get ahead. Your job isn't kills, it's economic disruption through information.
Patience is Profit
Don't be eager. Let enemies overextend let them think they're safe, then reveal and destroy. Invisible observation is your greatest strength.
Team Utility > Personal KDA
Track assists win games. A successful assist from track gold is better than a risky kill attempt. You're an information provider first, assassin second.
Adapt Counter-Play
Watch enemy detection patterns, track their sentry placement timing. Adjust gank routes based on their vision strategy. Play smarter than their detection.
Hero Overview
Bounty Hunter is a stealth-based agility hero who excels at information warfare and economic disruption. As a mobile assassin, he roams the map ganking isolated targets while providing his team with crucial vision and gold through his Track ability.
Bounty Hunter's gameplay centers on tracking targets, setting up kills with burst damage from Shadow Strike and Shuriken Toss, then disappearing into the shadows. His greatest strength comes from Track's passive gold generation, which accelerates his team's economy tremendously. Bounty Hunter thrives in the mid-game when heroes are still squishy and often caught out of position.
Pros
- Excellent lane presence with passive Jinada crits
- Track provides team-wide vision and gold income
- Shadow Walk allows safe positioning and escapes
- Strong burst damage from ability combos
- Natural counter to passive farming strategies
Cons
- Vulnerable to detection items and abilities
- Relatively low mobility without Shadow Walk
- Struggles against heroes with true sight
- Can be mana-dependent early game
- Weak in direct 5v5 teamfights
Ability Analysis
Shuriken Toss
ActiveBounty Hunter hurls a shuriken at an enemy, dealing damage and bouncing to nearby Tracked targets.
Notes: Your primary nuke and setup tool. The bounce mechanic to tracked targets is crucial - you can bounce over obstacles to reach fleeing enemies. Use it to secure kills after Track, or initiate by bouncing from creep to hero.
Jinada
PassiveBounty Hunter's next attack has a chance to deal bonus critical damage and slow the target.
Notes: Your main damage ampifier in ganks. Manual cast to ensure it's ready for the right moment. The slow helps secure kills and prevents escapes. Essential for trading in lane and bursting down targets.
Shadow Walk
ActiveBounty Hunter becomes invisible, gaining movement speed bonus and passing through units. His next attack breaks invisibility with bonus damage.
Notes: Your escape and initiation tool. Movement speed bonus is crucial. Save it for escaping after ganks rather than approaching initially. The bonus damage on first hit synergizes perfectly with Jinada.
Track
ActiveTracks an enemy hero, revealing them and their surroundings while providing bonus gold on death to all allies.
Notes: Your signature ability. Always cast first in ganks. The vision and gold generation are game-changing. Keep Track on important targets during teamfights for maximum value. Alt-click to share track information with team.
Shadow Strike
ActiveDeals initial damage and poison damage over time to a target, slowing their movement speed.
Notes: Former damaging ability now replaced by Shadow Walk. The synergy with his inbuilt Shadow Strike during Shadow Walk initiation provides excellent setup for kills.
Friendly Shadow (Aghanim's Shard)
ActiveApplies Shadow Walk's invisibility and effects to an allied hero.
Notes: Game-changing support ability. Can turn engages or save crucial allies. Doesn't break your own invisibility when cast, making it safe to use during escapes.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Bounty Hunter is the ultimate information-gathering assassin in Dota 2. His Track ability is his signature - providing vision, movement speed slow, and crucial passive gold income for the entire team.
Key Insights:
- Track is your primary ganking tool - cast first, then engage
- Shuriken Toss bounces to tracked targets, allowing creative engagements
- Shadow Walk timing is crucial - save it for escapes, not just approach
Bounty Hunter rewards patient, calculated play. Your job isn't just to get kills - it's to control the map through information and economic pressure!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Establish lane presence and prepare for roaming Key: Harass with Jinada-crit attacks from fog of war; Use Shadow Strike to aggressive trade; Start building towards tranq and wand base items; Watch for ganking opportunities after level 3 Items: Ring of Tranquility (early priority); Basic magic resistance/health items; Observer wards for vision advantage Tips: Position behind lane trees for surprise Jinada attacks; Deny creep waves to control lane equilibrium; Save Shadow Walk for escapes during early trades; Coordinate with courier to ensure quick finish of base items
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Roam and track key targets for team advantage Key: Maintain track on key enemy carries; Gank isolated targets with Shuriken + Track combos; Plant sentry wards to counter enemy invis; Coordinate with team for Bounty Hunter-initiated engagements Items: Silver Edge for crucial invis reveal; Dragon Lance for damage; Situational Orchid vs strong escape heroes Tips: Track before committing to any gank; Use Shuriken bounces to walls or allies for range; Wait in shadows during teamfights, strike late; Keep track of enemy gank patterns and jungling
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Information warfare and team coordination through tracking Key: Maintain constant track on enemy positions; Use Dragon Lance synergy for extended range damage; Be aggressive with Shuriken bounces in teamfights; Coordinate camouflage for team fights Items: Silver Edge to disable key enemy passives; Black King Bar for survivability in close-quarters combat; Utility items like blink for positioning Tips: Track the enemy's ر关键 carries throughout late-teamfights; Use Shuriken bounces for both damage and vision; Position behind team to capitalize on Shadow Walk damage; Carefully manage mana for late-game presence
Tips & Strategies
Shuriken Toss Mastery
- Aim at creeps or allies to bounce Shuriken to tracked targets around walls
- The bounce houses its targeting after initial impact - Track during flight
- Manual cast Jinada before Shuriken for maximum burst damage combo
Shadow Walk Positioning
- Use Shadow Walk's movement boost to get behind enemy during teamfights
- Maintain Fade_strike bonus for surprise critical hits
- The movement speed boost helps cross terrain for better angles
- Re-cast Shadow Walk just before invis expires in fog of war
Track Economics
- Always track after first hit to prevent death
- Hover enemy track debuff to check their current gold count
- Coordinate with courier purchases based on gained track gold
- Track gold can be accumulated from Aegis and reincarnation deaths
Item Guide
Starting Items
Basic sustain for lane harassment and vision to support your roaming potential.
Tangos, Circlet, Observer Ward
Core Items
Mobility and utility for ganking. Masks allow effective reveals, while Tranqs provide map speed and sustain.
Tranquil Boots, Magic Wand, Medallion of Courage
Situational Items
Silver Edge for break and invis, Orchid for silence, BKB for teamfight survival, MKB against evasion.
Silver Edge, Orchid, Black King Bar, Monkey King Bar
Counter Guide
Good With
Bounty Hunter excels with heroes who can capitalize on his tracking and setup abilities. Riki and Nyx Assassin form deadly invis gank squads, overwhelming even well-warded enemies. Templar Assassin benefits from Bounty's vision control and track slow to land perfect Refraction and Meld combos. Slark synergizes perfectly - Track provides vision for Dark Pact Purge and Shadow Dance, while Slark's mobility helps chase down tracked targets. Storm Spirit can zip in immediately after Bounty Track for instant bursts. Nature's Prophet can teleport to tracked targets globally, while Tusk provides lockdown through Snowball initiation. The combination of vision, slows, and setup damage makes Bounty Hunter a nightmare when paired with heroes who need enemy information or have strong burst damage.
Bad Against
Bounty Hunter struggles against heroes who can detect invisibility or neutralize his core strengths. Slardar and Earthshaker provide cheap area-of-effect true sight through abilities, nullifying Shadow Walk immediately. Zeus offers global vision through Lightning Bolt and Nimbus, making invisibility nearly useless. Bloodseeker tracks Bounty through Thirst and prevents Shadow Walk with Blood Rite. Nyx Assassin can detect Bounty during ganks with Spiked Carapace and Vendetta. Techies mines make invisibility particularly dangerous. Spectre haunts globally, making escape difficult regardless of invisibility. Heroes with strong area damage like Crystal Maiden or Jakiro can force Bounty out of shadows. Silencer and Anti-Mage can drain mana, preventing Shadow Walk usage and track application. Detection, global abilities, and mana drain are Bounty Hunter's worst enemies.
Good Against
Bounty Hunter dominates enemies who rely on farming alone, lack detection, or have poor escape mechanisms. Hard carries like Anti-Mage and Spectre get tracked and constantly revealed, making farming impossible. Junglers struggle with Bounty's roaming potential and vision control. Position-critical heroes like Sniper or Drow Ranger become easy prey when tracked and slowed. 被动英雄 who can't reveal Bounty or lack mobility - think Ursa without detection items or Lifestealer without a setup hero. Illusion heroes like Phantom Lancer suffer from tracking the real target while Bounty evades illusions through invisibility. No-mobility supports like Crystal Maiden or Witch Doctor are prime targets for Shuriken + Track combos. Mana-dependent heroes get tracked and can never farm safely. Bounty excels at countering the 'farm and win' playstyle through constant economic harassment and vision denial.