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Dark Willow
Strength attribute symbol
Agility attribute symbol
Intelligence attribute symbol
20 + 2
18 + 1.3
21 + 2.6
Level 0 1 15 25 30
Health 120 560 1176 1880 2144
+0.75 +2.75 +5.55 +8.75 +9.95
Mana 75 327 759 1215 1395
+0 +1.05 +2.87 +4.77 +5.52
Armor 0 3 6.03 10.2 11.62
Magic Resist 25% 27.1% 30.74% 34.54% 36.04%
Damage Block -
Damage

5
13

46
54

104
112

170
178

195
203

Attack Rate 0.77/s 0.89/s 1.01/s 1.17/s 1.23/s
Attack Range Ranged 475 (800)
Attack Speed ▶️ 115 (1.5s BAT)
Attack Animation 0.3 + 1
Projectile Speed 1200
Move Speed ▶️ 290 (Nighttime 320)
Turn Rate Takes 0.15s to turn 180°. 0.7
Collision Size 27
Bound Radius 24
Vision Range (G) 1800 (Nighttime 800)
Gib Type Default
Internal npc_dota_hero_dark_willow
Has an arsenal of disables at her disposal.
A slight flutter from the shadows may be all an enemy sees of Dark Willow, as she eludes pursuit and controls her foe's movements with devious and cunning fae tricks. Her heritage lets her slip into the Shadow Realm, avoiding attacks while entrapping victims in thorny Brambles. She lays a Cursed Crown on her foes, stunning them no matter they run. The Dark Willow's companion wisp is no less to fear. Jex circles its mistress, creating sheer Bedlam before tapping into primal fears, Terrorizing enemies into submission.
Bramble Maze
Shadow Realm
Shadow Realm
Cursed Crown
Cursed Crown
Bedlam
Terrorize
Roles: Support Support Nuker Nuker Disabler Disabler Escape Escape
Complexity: Hero ComplexityHero Complexity
Adjectives: Cute, Female, Flying, Green, Wings, Nose
Legs ( 2 )


Bio[]

Dark Willow minimap iconMireska Sunbreeze, the Dark Willow
▶️ "Let's have some fun, shall we?"
Children love telling stories about the whimsical adventures of fairies... That's because children don't know that most fairies are spiteful jerks. And in the world of spiteful fairies there are few names spoken of with more contempt than Mireska Sunbreeze.

Born to a fae merchant king, Mireska grew up in Revtel; a cutthroat nation where manipulation and murder were the norm. But while she was quite adept at navigating the etiquette, unspoken laws, and social rituals that permeated every element of her life, she found the whole thing rather boring.

So, Mireska did what most rebellious children do: burn down her family estate and set off with her pet wisp Jex to live the life of a wandering grifter.
Aliases:
DW, Mireska

Abilities[]

Bramble Maze
Bramble Maze icon
Affects
Enemies
Damage
Magical
Dark Willow creates a maze of brambles that grow in the target area after 0.3 seconds. Enemies that walk into a bramble are rooted and take damage over time.
Cast Animation: 0.3+0.8
Cast Range: Affected by Cast Range bonuses. 1000/1100/1200/1300
Bramble Spawn Radius: 500
Root Search Radius: 90
Bramble Spawn Delay: 0.3
Bramble Spawn Interval: 0.075
Bramble Activation Delay: 0.1
Number of Brambles: 8
Damage per Tick: 50/55/60/65
Root Duration: 1/1.5/2/2.5
Bramble Duration: 15
Cooldown symbol
 22 (Talent 15)
Mana symbol
 100/120/140/160
Buff/Debuff
Modifiers [?]
modifier_dark_willow_bramble_maze_creation_thinker
Undispellable
modifier_dark_willow_bramble_maze_thinker
Undispellable
modifier_dark_willow_bramble_maze
The fae realm exists all around you, merely waiting to draw you in…
Bramble Maze formation

The brambles' formation.

Bramble Maze targeting indicator

Bramble Maze's custom targeting indicator.


  • The visual effects and the sound during the 0.3-second bramble spawn delay is only visible and audible to allies.
  • The projectile launched upon cast has only cosmetic purposes and does not affect the delay.
  • The brambles are always placed in the same formation.
    • 4 brambles are placed 200 range away from the center of the target area, towards north, east, south, and west.
    • 4 brambles are placed 500 range away from the center of the target area, towards northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest.
    • The brambles spawn in 0.075-second intervals, starting 0.3 seconds after cast, so it takes 0.825 seconds for all brambles to spawn.
    • The inner circle spawns first, starting with the east bramble, going counter-clockwise. The outer circle starts with the northeast bramble.
  • Brambles have to go through a 0.1-second activation delay after spawning.
  • A bramble roots the first enemy unit which comes within 90 range of it, after which it then disappears.
  • Deals 50/55/60/65 damage in 0.5-second intervals, starting 0.5 seconds after the buff is applied, resulting in 2/3/4/5 instances.
  • The brambles' duration starts after the initial creation delay. This means the last bramble disappears 15.825 seconds after cast.
  • Multiple instances of the debuff fully stack. Each bramble places its own independent debuff.
  • Leveling the ability up while there are other active brambles does not update the root duration.


Shadow Realm icon
Ability
No Target
Affects
Self / Enemies
Damage
Magical
Dark Willow recedes into the shadows, becoming untargetable. Her next attack has increased attack range and deals bonus magic damage, and will end Shadow Realm. Damage scales based on how long she remains under the effects of Shadow Realm, the maximum being reached after 3 seconds.
Effect Delay: 0.3
Attack Range Bonus: 600
Max Damage: 120/200/280/360
Max Damage Duration: 3
Duration: 5 (Talent 6.5)
Cooldown symbol
 22/20/18/16 (Talent 20/18/16/14)
Mana symbol
 70/80/90/100
Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter.
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:
Attacking no longer takes you out of Shadow Realm. Each attack still has bonus damage based on the duration of the buff.
Buff/Debuff
Modifiers [?]
modifier_dark_willow_shadow_realm_fade_time
Death
modifier_dark_willow_shadow_realm_buff
Unknown
modifier_dark_willow_shadow_realm_buff_attack_logic
Death
What you can't see will most definitely hurt you.

  • Does not interrupt Dark Willow's channeling abilities upon cast.
  • Shadow Realm's effect delay does not work like the fade time of invisibility.
    • The ability's buff is placed after the 0.3-second delay, so that all of the ability's effects are delayed.
    • Successive casts do not remove the buff from a previous cast but refresh its duration after the effect delay.
    • Disjoint projectiles after the effect delay.
  • Increases Dark Willow's total attack range to 1075.
    • The attack range bonus works for Ranged ranged heroes only.
  • When cast while attacking an enemy, Dark Willow is ordered to stop, so that the attack out of Shadow Realm is not wasted.
    • However, when she is given an attack order (A) while outside attack range, casting Shadow Realm while she moves does not stop her from attacking immediately.
  • Casting abilities or items during Shadow Realm does not end it, only attacking does.
  • The Shadow Realm buff is lost upon launching an attack. Upon launch, Dark Willow gets the attack logic buff, which is responsible for the damage.
    • This buff disappears upon hitting the target, or within 3 seconds, whichever is shorter. Therefore, if the projectile flies for more than 3 seconds before reaching its target, the spell damage is not applied.
    • The buff only works for the attack that created it. Any other projectiles launched afterward do not apply the spell damage bonus.
    • Attacking now no longer ends Shadow Realm, and each attack launched applies the Shadow Realm spell damage bonus based on its accumulated time.
  • The damage increases by 1.33/2.22/3.11/4 per server tick, reaching its maximum in 3 seconds.
  • The damage stops accumulating as soon as the attack is launched and does not continue to increase while flying toward the target.


Cursed Crown icon
Affects
Enemies
Damage
Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. Magical
Dark Willow casts an ancient fae curse on the target. After a delay, the target and nearby enemies are stunned.
Cast Animation: 0.2+0.83
Cast Range: Affected by Cast Range bonuses. 600/625/650/675
Stun Radius: Affected by AoE Radius bonuses. 360 (Talent 520)
Effect Delay: 4 (With Aghanim's Shard 3)
Stun Duration: 1.2/1.6/2/2.4 (Talent 1.7/2.1/2.5/2.9)
With Aghanim's Shard Bramble Spawn Radius: 175
With Aghanim's Shard Number of Brambles: 4
Cooldown symbol
 18/16/14/12
Mana symbol
 80/90/100/110
Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:
Cursed Crown creates 4 brambles in a 175 radius around the target after the counter ends. Triggers even upon dispel. Reduces stun delay by 1 second.
Buff/Debuff
Modifiers [?]
modifier_dark_willow_cursed_crown
modifier_stunned
Ability Draft Notes
Ability Draft Notes:
Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard.
Bramble Maze icon Bramble Maze must be drafted as well for them to be created.
Didn't anyone ever tell you? Never strike a deal with a fairy…

  • The sound and visual effect during the delay on the target is audible and visible to everyone.
    • The visual effect indicates the area to be affected each second.
  • Turning invulnerable or hidden does not prevent the debuff from affecting the area around the target.
  • Losing the initial debuff in any way now causes 4 Bramble Maze icon Brambles based on the current level to spawn around the target.
    • Bramble Maze's notes fully apply. If it is not leveled, no brambles spawn.
    • The brambles are always placed 175 range away from the target, towards north, east, south, and west.
    • Unlike the brambles from a regular cast, these brambles spawn simultaneously.


Bedlam icon
Affects
Allies / Enemies
Damage
Magical
Dark Willow sends her pet wisp to roam around an ally for the duration, rapidly attacking nearby enemies. Bedlam cannot be used while Terrorize is active.
Cast Range: Affected by Cast Range bonuses. 900
Max Wisp per Ally: 1
Roam Radius: Affected by AoE Radius bonuses. 200
Search Radius: Affected by AoE Radius bonuses. 300
Max Enemy Targets: 1 (Talent 3)
Strike Interval: 0.25
Damage per Strike: 70/120/170 (Talent 100/150/200)
Seconds per Revolution: 1.5
Duration: 5
Cooldown symbol
 30
Mana symbol
 100/150/200
Buff/Debuff
Modifiers [?]
modifier_dark_willow_bedlam
Death
modifier_dark_willow_creature_invulnerable
Death
Leveling up this ability levels another ability at the same time.
Both Bedlam and Terrorize are linked abilities.
You'll have to excuse my friend Jex. He's really into murder.

Jex
Dark Willow Jex model
Ward
100
+0
This unit has no mana.
Level 1
Armor Armor 0
Magic Resistance 0%
Status Resistance 0
Move Speed 0
Collision Size 18
Bound Radius 8
Vision Range (G) 600
Bounty Gold 150
Experience 0
Notes Uncontrollable.

  • Interrupts Dark Willow's channeling abilities upon cast.
  • Bedlam can be cast without having to face toward the targeted unit, as long as the targeted unit is within the cast range, regardless of Dark Willow's animations.
  • While active, Terrorize icon Terrorize is inactive and cannot be cast.
  • Bedlam is inactive during Terrorize's cast time and stays inactive until Dark Willow Jex icon Jex fully returns to Dark Willow after terrorizing enemies.
  • Upon cast, Jex travels at a speed of 1800 from Dark Willow to the west side of the targeted ally and rotates clockwise.
    • ↓↓ Double-tapping automatically targets self.
    • When cast on self, Jex does not travel and appears on the west side and rotates clockwise around Dark Willow.
  • While traveling to the target, Jex can attack valid enemy units.
  • Jex rotates around the affected ally at a speed of 837.76, taking 1.5 seconds to finish a revolution.
    • This results in 3.33 revolutions over the whole duration.
  • On each strike, Jex chooses a visible random enemy target within range. There are no priorities. Does not strike buildings or wards.
    • The strike radius is centered on Jex. A light pink glow surrounds it, indicating the strike area.
    • Jex continues striking even when the affected ally target or Dark Willow is disabled. It stops only when the affected ally or when she dies, or upon the ability duration expiring.
    • The projectiles travel at a speed of 1400, are applied as spell damage, and do not interact with any on-attack effects, it is affected by spell damage amplification and works with spell lifesteal.
    • Although visually Jex is striking its target, the damage is still sourced to Dark Willow.
  • With its 0.25-second strike interval, it can deal up to 20 damage instances.
    • Can deal up to 1400/2400/3400 (Talent 2000/3000/4000) damage to a single unit (before reductions).
  • Successive casts on the same targeted ally do not resummon Jex but refresh its duration independently.
  • The ability itself provides no vision, but Jex has 600 ground vision which it provides for the duration.
  • TALENT
    Both the damage increasing and max targets increasing Talent talents immediately update the current active instance.
  • Does not grant Terrorize icon Terrorize upon acquiring Bedlam icon Bedlam, and vice versa. Bedlam can be cast right away even when Dark Willow Jex icon Jex has not returned from the previous Terrorize cast. However, when both abilities are acquired via Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. Spell Steal icon Spell Steal, they get turned inactive as normal.


Terrorize icon
Affects
Enemies
Dark Willow releases her pet wisp to terrorize her enemies. After a short delay, all enemies in the target area become fearful and run toward their home fountain. Terrorize cannot be used while Bedlam is active.
Cast Range: Affected by Cast Range bonuses. 1200
Radius: Affected by AoE Radius bonuses. 400
Duration: 3.5/3.75/4
Cooldown symbol
 100/90/80
Mana symbol
 150
Does not pierce debuff immunity.
Exposure pierces debuff immunity.
Buff/Debuff
Modifiers [?]
modifier_dark_willow_terrorize_thinker
Death
modifier_dark_willow_creature_invulnerable
Death
modifier_dark_willow_debuff_fear
Ability Draft Notes
Ability Draft Notes:
Terrorize is granted to the player that drafted Bedlam icon Bedlam.
Leveling up this ability levels another ability at the same time.
Both Terrorize and Bedlam are linked abilities.
You think you know the first thing about fear? Jex'll show you what that word truly means…

  • Terrorize is inactive during Bedlam icon Bedlam.
  • Terrorize is also inactive during its cast time and stays inactive until Dark Willow Jex icon Jex fully returns to Dark Willow after terrorizing enemies.
    • This means Terrorize cannot be cast again until Jex returns from a previous cast.
  • During the cast time, Jex appears 300 range above Dark Willow and then travels to the target point at a speed of 2000, and returns at a speed of 600.
  • The visual effect at the target area during the cast time/effect delay is visible to allies only. The sound is audible to everyone.
  • Exposes all affected targets, but does not provide True Sight over them.
  • The ability itself provides no vision, but Jex has 600 ground vision which it provides during the duration.
  • This ability's cast point is not modified when acquired. Terrorize can still be cast while Bedlam icon Bedlam is active. However, when both abilities are acquired via Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter. Spell Steal icon Spell Steal, they get turned inactive as normal.


Talents[]

Hero Talents
2 Bedlam icon Bedlam Attack Targets25+100 Attack Speed
-7s Bramble Maze icon Bramble Maze CD20+1.5s Shadow Realm icon Shadow Realm Duration
+160 Cursed Crown icon Cursed Crown AoE15+30 Bedlam icon Bedlam Damage
-2s Shadow Realm icon Shadow Realm Cooldown10+0.5s Cursed Crown icon Cursed Crown Stun Duration

Recent Changes[]

Main Articles: Changelogs, Old Abilities and Hero Lore
Version
Description
  • Increased base armor from -1 to 0.
  • Increased Shadow Realm icon Shadow Realm cooldown from 20/18/16/14 to 22/20/18/16.


Recommended Items[]

Starting items:

  • Clarity icon Clarity helps Dark Willow play more aggressively in the early game with supply of mana.
  • Tango icon Tango supplements Dark Willow's low natural health with regeneration.
  • Iron Branch icon Iron Branch combines with Tango to heal more, or builds into Magic Wand.
  • Enchanted Mango icon Enchanted Mango restores mana for Dark Willow to use abilities in the early game.
  • Observer Ward icon Observer Ward provides vision on the enemies so Dark Willow and allies can gank.

Early game:

  • Wind Lace icon Wind Lace helps Dark Willow keep up with enemies during ganks, and builds into Eul's Scepter of Divinity.
  • Magic Stick icon Magic Stick can save Dark Willow in an emergency by restoring health and mana.

Mid game:

  • Magic Wand icon Magic Wand gives Dark Willow a quick mana and health restoration.
  • Arcane Boots icon Arcane Boots help Dark Willow use her magical nukes more often, as she has five active abilities with high mana costs.
  • Eul's Scepter of Divinity icon Eul's Scepter of Divinity works well with any of Dark Willow's abilities: setting up Bramble Maze's root and Terrorize's fear, buying time for Cursed Crown to stun and Shadow Realm to peak in damage, removing an enemy for Bedlam to concentrate on others, and combining with Shadow Realm for longer period of untargetability. It also provides intelligence and mana regeneration for her to use said abilities.
  • Blink Dagger icon Blink Dagger helps Dark Willow get close to enemies to land as many Bedlam hits as possible, and allows her to get behind enemies for Terrorize. If trying to escape from enemies, Shadow Realm may help Dark Willow survive the 3 second cooldown and blink to safety.

Late game:

  • Scythe of Vyse icon Scythe of Vyse provides a large damage boost and a strong single-target hex to complement her natural AoE disables.

Situational items:

  • Phase Boots icon Phase Boots allow Dark Willow to keep up with enemies while using Bedlam.
  • Bottle icon Bottle facilitates rune control, offsetting the high mana cost of Dark Willow's abilities.
  • Kaya icon Kaya increases Dark Willow's burst damage, and reduces some of her high mana costs.
  • Force Staff icon Force Staff helps Dark Willow escape, stay next to enemies during Bedlam, or push a fleeing enemy with Cursed Crown into their team.
  • Spirit Vessel icon Spirit Vessel sustains Dark Willow and teammates with heal, and it can also help in ganks by countering enemy healing and dealing some damage.
  • Linken's Sphere icon Linken's Sphere protects Dark Willow from single target disables, which can kill her in the late game.
  • Aeon Disk icon Aeon Disk protects Dark Willow from high damage nukes and initiations with strong dispel and damage reduction, giving her 2.5 seconds to use all of her abilities to help in teamfights or to disengage.

Dota Plus Progress[]

Main Article: Hero Challenges

Relics track a hero's actions and statistics, and display in-game notifications when a milestone is reached. They are only available to Dota Plus subscribers.

Relics Voice Lines
Relic Rare icon
Bramble Maze icon Bramble Maze Duration
Relic Rare icon
Cursed Crown icon Cursed Crown Triple Stuns
Relic Rare icon
Bedlam icon Bedlam Damage
Relic Rare icon
Three Hero Terrorize icon Terrorizes
Relic universal icon
Eul's Scepter of Divinity icon Eul's Leading To Kills
Relic universal icon
Stuns Leading To Kills
Relic universal icon
Roots Leading To Kills
Relic universal icon
Veil of Discord icon Veils Leading To Kills
Relic universal icon
Triple Kills
Relic universal icon
Mega Kill Streaks
Relic universal icon
Dust of Appearance icon Dusts Leading To Kills
Relic universal icon
Observer and Sentry Wards icon Wards Placed
Relic universal icon
Kill Assists
Relic universal icon
Kills
Plus Hero Badge 1
Bronze
Plus Hero Badge 2
Silver
Plus Hero Badge 3
Gold
  • ▶️ Never had a chance.
  • ▶️ Oh-ho. Don't mind me. Just a wee fairy going about her business.
Plus Hero Badge 4
Platinum
Plus Hero Badge 5
Master
Plus Hero Badge 6
Grandmaster

Equipment[]

Trivia[]

  • Dark Willow is sometimes labeled in the game files as Sylph and Fairy, her early working names.
  • Dark Willow's accent is heavily based on those found in Celtic and Gaelic countries, mostly Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

Gallery[]

External links[]

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