Hoodwink
A sharp-shooting squirrel from the Mistwood, Hoodwink combines natural agility with deadly precision to hunt down her enemies.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“In the forest, every shot counts. Master your tools, respect the trees, and become the hunter nature intended.”
Trees Are Your Lifeline
Always maintain proximity to trees for Mistwoods Wayfarer. Plan your positioning around tree clusters and create your own when needed.
Precision Over Power
Your strength lies in accurate skill shots and tactical positioning. One well-placed Bushwhack can win a fight more than raw damage.
Control the Space
Use Acorn Shot trees for vision, blocking, and setup. Every tree you place should serve multiple purposes - vision, escape, or disable potential.
Master the Recoil
Sharpshooter is both weapon and escape tool. Use the recoil to escape, reposition, or initiate from unexpected angles.
Resource Management
Balance your skill usage with resource bar regeneration. Don't run out of resources during crucial moments by managing ability frequency.
Adapt and Overcome
Be ready to adjust your playstyle based on enemy tree destruction capabilities. Have backup positioning plans and escape routes always ready.
Hero Overview
Hoodwink is a dynamic ranged agility hero who combines precise skill shots with tactical tree manipulation. Her innate ability Mistwoods Wayfarer provides enhanced survivability near trees, making her exceptionally mobile and difficult to pin down when played correctly.
Her gameplay revolves around strategic Acorn Shot usage for vision, damage, and tree creation, combined with Bushwhack setups using those trees. Sharpshooter serves as both an execution tool and an escape mechanism through its recoil. The complexity lies in managing her resource bar while maximizing tree positioning for innate bonuses and disables.
Pros
- Excellent mobility with Scurry and Sharpshooter recoil
- Versatile damage output with Acorn Shot bounces
- Reliable disable through Bushwhack and tree placement
- Strong innate survivability near trees
- Good vision control with tree creation
Cons
- Highly dependent on tree positioning
- Resource management can be challenging
- Vulnerable when away from trees
- Skill shots require precision and practice
- Weak against tree-destroying heroes
Ability Analysis
Acorn Shot
Target Unit/GroundHoodwink launches an acorn at target enemy or location, dealing damage and bouncing to nearby enemies. Can create a tree when targeting ground.
Notes: Primary damage and utility ability. Use alt-cast for ground targeting without hitting units. Trees created provide vision and collision. Bounces can apply attack modifiers and ignore disarms. Critical for setting up Bushwhack combos and maintaining Mistwoods Wayfarer innate.
Bushwhack
Target GroundHoodwink launches a net in a line that latches the first enemy hit to the nearest tree, stunning and damaging them.
Notes: Main disable ability. Requires tree proximity for maximum effectiveness. Can connect on fogged enemies but not invisible ones. Be careful with forced movement effects that can free targets. Use Acorn Shot trees to ensure reliable catches.
Scurry
ActiveHoodwink scurries away, gaining bonus movement speed and magic resistance. Can be toggled to automatically activate when near trees.
Notes: Essential mobility and survival tool. Active provides immediate escape or repositioning. Passive auto-cast helps maintain positioning. Works great with Go Nuts facet for increased cast range on items and spells.
Sharpshooter
Target DirectionHoodwink charges a powerful shot that deals massive damage and applies a strong slow to enemies in a line. Provides recoil for repositioning.
Notes: Game-changing ultimate for both damage and mobility. Ignore illusions entirely. Can be used to escape from disables or chase down enemies. Nothing can interrupt the charge except death or manual cancel. Fully charges before countdown ends.
Hunter's Boomerang (Aghanim's Shard)
Target Unit/GroundHoodwink throws a boomerang that damages and slows enemies in a line, returning for a second pass.
Notes: Shard upgrade provides additional AoE damage and control. Can be ground targeted to bypass Linken's Sphere. Provides vision during flight. Great for teamfight contribution and chasing.
Decoy (Aghanim's Scepter)
ActiveHoodwink creates an illusion of herself that attacks nearby enemies. Hoodwink becomes temporarily invisible while the decoy is active.
Notes: Scepter upgrade provides excellent escape and misdirection potential. Illusion attacks and draws aggro. Note that enemies briefly see the transition. Use for juking, farming safely, or teamfight confusion.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Hoodwink is a versatile ranged hero who excels at both damage output and control through her unique toolkit. Acorn Shot provides incredible flexibility with tree placement and bounce mechanics, while Bushwhack offers reliable disable opportunities when positioned near trees.
Key Insights:
- Always maintain proximity to trees for Mistwoods Wayfarer innate
- Master Acorn Shot tree placement for vision and positioning
- Use Sharpshooter recoil for tactical repositioning
Hoodwink rewards creative positioning and mechanical precision. Her ability to control space while dealing significant damage makes her a threat in all stages of the game.
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Establish lane dominance and secure farm Key: Use Acorn Shot for harassment and last hitting; Maintain proximity to trees for Mistwoods Wayfarer; Place strategic trees for vision and Bushwhack setups; Harass enemies with consistent Acorn Shot damage Items: Power Treads (Core mobility item); Witch Blade (Early fighting power); Dragon Lance (Range and damage) Tips: Always have an escape tree ready with Acorn Shot; Use alt-cast Acorn Shot to avoid breaking Smoke; Position near trees for innate evasion bonus; Harass with Acorn Shot bounces through creeps
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Control teamfights with precise positioning Key: Set up Bushwhack combos with pre-placed trees; Use Sharpshooter for key picks and escapes; Maintain vision control with strategic tree placement; Coordinate with team for effective initiation Items: Hurricane Pike (Positioning tool); Silver Edge (Tactical advantage); Dragon Lance to Hurricane Pike progression Tips: Master the Bushwhack + Acorn Shot tree combo; Use Sharpshooter recoil to escape dangerous situations; Place trees for vision before objectives; Coordinate ganks with pre-positioned trees
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Maximize damage output and teamfight impact Key: Use Aghanim's Scepter Decoy for misdirection; Execute precise Sharpshooter shots on key targets; Maintain vision control around objectives; Position to maximize Acorn Shot bounce damage Items: Butterfly (Evasion and damage); Daedalus (Critical damage); Aghanim's Scepter (Decoy utility) Tips: Use Decoy for juking and farming safely; Save Sharpshooter for critical moments; Maintain tree placement for consistent control; Position to avoid tree-destroying enemies
Tips & Strategies
Acorn Shot Mastery
- Use alt-cast for ground targeting to plant strategic trees without breaking Smoke of Deceit
- Acorn Shot trees give 200 ground vision and provide collision for blocking spells
- Bounces can proc attack modifiers and ignore disarms, making them great for sustained damage
- Initial cast range increases with both attack range and cast range bonuses
Bushwhack Combos
- Pre-place Acorn Shot trees for guaranteed Bushwhack stuns
- Bushwhack provides flying vision even if it doesn't latch to a target
- Be careful with allies applying forced movement to Bushwhacked targets - it will free them
- Can connect on fogged enemies but not invisible ones
Sharpshooter Techniques
- Use recoil to move up and down cliffs for escapes even while rooted or leashed
- Sharpshooter ignores illusions completely and passes through them
- Nothing can interrupt the charge except death or manual cancel
- Fully charges before the countdown reaches zero - listen for the 'notching' sound cue
Item Guide
Starting Items
Early damage and stats for effective laning and harassment with Acorn Shot.
Slippers of Agility, Tango, Circlet
Core Items
Essential damage and mobility. Treads for stats switching, Dragon for range, Witch Blade for early fighting power.
Power Treads, Dragon Lance, Witch Blade
Situational Items
Adapt to game needs. Pike for positioning, Silver Edge for break, Manta for dispels, Bloodthorn for lockdown.
Hurricane Pike, Silver Edge, Manta Style, Bloodthorn
Counter Guide
Good With
Hoodwink excels with heroes who can capitalize on her disables and positioning control. Earthshaker benefits from Hoodwink's ability to group enemies for perfect Echo Slams, while Magnus can follow up Hoodwink's Bushwhack with devastating Reverse Polarity combos. Enigma provides excellent follow-up to Hoodwink's setup, with Black Hole catching enemies stunned by Bushwhack. Witch Doctor and Crystal Maiden can safely channel their ultimates when Hoodwink disables key targets. Heroes who need time to set up or position benefit greatly from Hoodwink's control capabilities, making her an ideal partner for spellcasters and positioning-reliant carries.
Bad Against
Hoodwink struggles against heroes who can destroy her primary resource - trees. Timbersaw completely neutralizes her game plan by constantly destroying trees, removing her innate bonus and Bushwhack potential. Batrider can remove trees with Firefly and Lasso targets away from any tree cover. Axe can cut down her created trees instantly with Battle Hunger or by having allies carry Quelling Blade. Earthshaker and Phoenix can destroy trees with their abilities, denying Hoodwink her positioning. Heroes with strong magic damage who can burst through her magic resistance like Lina and Zeus also pose significant threats. Mobile heroes who can avoid her skill shots like Storm Spirit and Void Spirit make it difficult for Hoodwink to land crucial abilities.
Good Against
Hoodwink dominates immobile heroes and those reliant on positioning. Sniper, Drow Ranger, and Crystal Maiden are easy prey for Bushwhack combos as they lack reliable escape mechanisms. Channeling heroes like Witch Doctor (Death Ward), Enigma (Black Hole), and Shadow Shaman (Shackles) become vulnerable to disruption when Hoodwink forces positioning changes. Squishy supports without mobility get quickly picked off by Acorn Shot harass followed by Bushwhack. Heroes dependent on trees like Nature's Prophet find their own tools turned against them. Low mobility carries who need to stand still for effectiveness, such as Medusa and Luna, struggle against Hoodwink's ability to reposition with Sharpshooter while dealing consistent damage.