DOTA Hero Tips: Windrunner

In the valleys of Winterspring, deep within the verdant glades of the Forrest of Trees, and elf with the power of the wind makes her home. She joined the Sentinel as a free agent shortly after the War of the Magi. Favored by the Goddess of Wind, Alleria received many blessings. Her arrows fly straight and true, piercing all enemies in a line. She can lace her arrow with wind and bind enemies together by creating ethereal shackles. Her footsteps are hastened by the currents of air. It is known that she can dispatch enemies at blinding speed by releasing a flurry of arrows. She is indeed a worthy enemy of the Scourge.

Shackle Shot

Alleria Fires an enchanted arrow using wind magic that binds the target to an enemy unit or tree behind it.

Level 1 – 1.5 seconds shackle

Level 2 – 2.26 seconds shackle

Level 3 – 3 seconds shackle

Level 4 – 3.75 seconds shackle

Cooldown: 12

Manacost: 90/100/110/120

Powershot

Windrunner winds up her bow for up to 1 second to perform a single powerful shot. The arrow travels 1700 distance, dealing damage and destroying trees in its path. The damage dealt is greatest to the first target it hits and is reduced by 10% with each other it passes through.

Level 1 – 120 initial damage

Level 2 – 200 initial damage.

Level 3 – 280 initial damage.

Level 4 – 360 initial damage

Cooldown: 9

Manacost: 90/100/110/120

Windrunner

Imbues her body with essence of wind, increasing her movement speed by 50% and giving her the ability to evade all physical attacks for a short period of time. Additionally, the gusts of wind around her impair the movement of nearby enemies, slowing their movement speed in a 300 AOE around her.

Level 1 – 8% slow, lasts 2.75 seconds.

Level 2 – 16% slow, lasts 3.5 seconds.

Level 3 – 24% slow, lasts 4.25 seconds.

Level 4 – 30% slow, lasts 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15

Manacost: 100

Focus Fire

Alleria channels wind throughout her body to surge and excess of adrenaline, giving her maximum attack speed on one target. Damage is reduced in this state.

Level 1- 50% reduced damage.

Level 2- 40% reduced damage.

Level 3- 30% reduced damage.

Cooldown: 60

Manacost: 200/300/400

Scepter Upgradable: Does not reduce secondary item effects. Improves cooldown.

Early Game:

Windrunner is one of the few intelligence type heroes who can be an effective carry. Her second skill can help her farm while her first and third skills are good at either chasing or escaping. Windrunner’s ultimate skill on the other hand grants her with maximum attack speed in a brief period of time. I know what most of you are thinking. Having a maelstrom or basher in your inventory may seem to be a great tide yet we should take not that secondary item effects are lessened if her last skill is activated unless you purchase an Aghanim’s Scepter. Alleria’s role during the early part of the game is to harass enemy heroes and farm at the same time. Spamming your second skill is a must. If an enemy hero is not careful enough about his hit points, grab the opportunity by disabling him with your first skill to grab a kill. One good thing about Windrunner is that you don’t need to worry so much about ganks since your third skill can help you literally leave any chasing hero in the dust. Farming must be your main priority as Alleria is an item dependent hero. If the enemy ranks include numerous disablers, you can jungle by simply spamming your second skill. A bottle and crow combination is advised regardless what lane you are assigned. In most cases, it is enough to let you cast your second skill at succession.

Mid Game:

Alleria can gank as well but such kind of role must only be considered if no natural ganker is present in the team. Her first skill is not a reliable disable as it can only be effective if a tree or an ally is behind the target. Alleria’s third skill can be used aggressively but I highly recommend that you refrain from doing so. As an intelligence type hero, Alleria lacks hit points. She can’t survive a powerful skill combo or a few hits from an enemy carry with decent items. If possible, purchase Mekansm and Force Staff to serve as your life savers. With these items at hand, enemy heroes will find it almost impossible to kill Windrunner. A Linkin Sphere will complete your defensive items and will also grant Alleria a considerable amount of damage and attack speed which is greatly beneficial for her ultimate skill. Your main role on this stage of the game is still to farm. Let gankers in your team do their part and do your best to land the killing shot on every creep you encounter. One of the main reasons why they are ganking is to open more farming opportunities for you so don’t let them down.

Late Game:

If you managed to farm well, you’ll shine during the late game. With Alleria’s ultimate skill and some items that can considerably increase your damage, you can eliminate even the toughest heroes in a split second. A Buriza Do Kyanon is highly preferred as you’ll eventually gain numerous critical hits while your ultimate skill is activated. Buying a Monkey King Bar is also advised especially if the enemy carry has good evasion rate. Remember to focus your attack on the most vulnerable target during team clashes. Eliminate him as fast as possible so you can immediately help your teammates vanquish the remaining enemy heroes. Always be ready to cast your Mekansm or Force Staff. These items will help you last in a battle longer especially if casted at the right moment. Alleria may look weak yet her power hitting power can’t be matched by any hero if used accordingly.