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Medusa
From Dota 2 Wiki
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Medusa the Gorgon is a ranged agility Hero. Highly item-dependent, she acts as a carry who can potentially strike down entire teams at once while protected by tank-like survivability. Split Shot allows her attacks to hit multiple targets, greatly increasing the potency of damage-granting items. Mystic Snake grants Medusa some presence in the lane and skirmishes, and its mana stealing refunds part of the cost to boot, making it an excellent farming and harassing tool. Mana Shield protects her from the opening damage of teamfights, and if supplemented with items makes killing Medusa a fatally time-consuming process. Stone Gaze acts as a fantastic defensive mechanism against ganks and initiations alike, with crippling effects on all who dare face the Gorgon.
Contents
Bio[edit]
 Medusa, the Gorgon
| |
|---|---|
| Play "The only real beauty is power." | |
| Role: |  Carry /  Disabler /  Durable
|
| Lore: | Beauty is power. This thought comforted Medusa--the youngest and loveliest of three beautiful Gorgon sisters, born to a sea goddess--because she alone of the sisters was mortal. It comforted her, that is, until the day masked assailants invaded the Gorgon realm and tore the two immortal sisters from their home, unmoved by their beauty or by their tears. One of the invaders seized Medusa as well, but then cast her aside with a disgusted look: 'This one has the mortal stink upon her. We have no use for that which dies.' Humiliated, enraged, Medusa fled to the temple of her mother and cast herself before the goddess, crying, 'You denied me eternal life--therefore I beg you, give me power! Power, so I can dedicate what life I have to rescuing my sisters and avenging this injustice!' After long thought, the goddess granted her daughter's request, allowing Medusa to trade her legendary beauty for a face and form of terrifying strength. Never for a moment has Medusa regretted her choice. She understands that power is the only beauty worth possessing--for only power can change the world. |
| Voice: | Jen Taylor (Responses) |
Abilities[edit]
Split Shot
Ability
Toggle
Toggle
Affects
Enemies
Enemies
Medusa magically splits her shot into several arrows. These arrows deal a lower percent of her normal damage.
The extra targets will not receive other attack effects (such as critical strike) and Unique Attack Modifiers.
The extra targets will not receive other attack effects (such as critical strike) and Unique Attack Modifiers.
Cast Animation: 0+0
Search Radius: 700
Bonus Attack Targets: 1/2/3/4 (
2/3/4/5)
2/3/4/5)Attack Damage Reduction: 20%
0
Illusions created while Split Shot is toggled on have permanently Split Shot active.Modifiers
Split Shot: Undispellable.All who encounter the cursed Gorgon will feel her rage.
Notes:
- Split Shot does not interrupt Medusa's channeling spells upon toggling.
- Causes Medusa to perform instant attacks on a certain number of enemies whenever she launches an attack projectile.
- This means all projectiles are released at the same time together with the main attack.
- Therefore, it does not matter whether the primary attack misses or not, the extra arrows are still released.
- The primary attack target is not affected by Split Shot. It is only hit by the primary attack.
- The extra arrows travel at the same speed as the primary arrow, and can be disjointed like regular attacks.
- Unlike most other instant attacks, the ones from Split Shot may not proc any attack modifiers or on-hit effects.
- However, they still count as regular attacks. Damage done by Split Shot does not count as spell damage.
- They are also affected by armor type, and blocked by damage block like regular attacks.
- If Medusa is blinded, Split Shots can miss, unless she has True Strike. They can also miss to evasion.
- Does not target wards, buildings, invisible units, or units inside the Fog of War in range, but does target couriers.
- However, attacking wards or buildings still causes secondary arrows to hit valid targets within the radius.
- When toggled on, Medusa's main attack damage and bonus attack damage are reduced.
- Other sources of damage added to the primary attack are not reduced (e.g. bash from items).
- The reduction displayed in the HUD is inaccurate, as it is based on the main attack damage, instead of main and bonus damage.
- Split Shot persists through Medusa's death. If Split Shot was active upon death, she respawns with it active.
Mystic Snake
A mystic snake made of energy jumps from target to target dealing damage and stealing mana. After it reaches its last target, it returns to Medusa to replenish her with mana. The snake deals more damage per jump. Deals Pure damage to units petrified by Stone Gaze.
Cast Animation: 0.4+0.57
Cast Range: 800
Bounce Radius: 475
Number of Bounces: 3/4/5/6
Base Damage: 80/120/160/200
Damage Increase per Bounce: 35%
Max Mana Stolen: 11%/14%/17%/20%
Base Stone Duration: 0 (
1)
1)Stone Duration Increase per Bounce: 0 ( 0.3)
0.3) 11
140/
Causes Mystic Snake to turn enemies into stone for 1 second, increases by 0.3 seconds per bounce.
Cannot be cast on spell immune enemies. Can bounce on, steals mana from and attempts to damage spell immune enemies.
Blocked fully when primary or secondary target. Blocked upon impact. When blocked, stops bouncing and returns to Medusa to restore her mana if stolen.Modifiers
Stone Gaze Stone: Dispellable with strong dispels.The Gorgon's curse is her greatest strength.
Notes:
- Mystic Snake travels at a speed of 800 and cannot be disjointed.
- Deals pure damage to units petrified by
Stone Gaze.
- When upgraded, the snake first applies the damage, and then petrifies the enemy, so it does not deal pure damage, unless the target already is petrified.
- Applies the mana loss first, and then the damage.
- The snake always bounces to the closest valid target around its current target. Cannot hit the same unit more than once per cast.
- Upon returning to Medusa, she receives exactly the amount of mana all targets lost to Mystic Snake.
- The snake does not steal any mana from illusions it jumps on.
- Assuming all targets have sufficient mana to have the full amount possible stolen, Mystic Snake needs to hit units with a combined total mana pool of 1273/1072/942/850 in order to fully reclaim its mana cost.
- Each successful hit on an enemy increases the damage of the next bounce by 35% of the ability's base damage.
- This means its damage does not grow exponentially, but statically, dealing 28/42/56/70 damage more per bounce.
- This is how much damage Mystic Snake deals ( and for how long it petrifies) per bounce when all bounces successfully hit (before reductions):
- Level 1: 80/108/136 damage, 324 total damage (1/1.3/1.6 seconds petrified)
- Level 2: 120/162/204/246 damage, 732 total damage (1/1.3/1.6/1.9 seconds petrified)
- Level 3: 160/216/272/328/384 damage, 1360 total damage (1/1.3/1.6/1.9/2.2 seconds petrified)
- Level 4: 200/270/340/410/480/550 damage, 2250 total damage (1/1.3/1.6/1.9/2.2/2.5 seconds petrified)
- The snake can bounce on units in the Fog of War, but not on invisible, invulnerable or hidden units.
- If the snake's current target dies or turns invulnerable, hidden or invisible, the bounce neither counts, nor increases the damage.
- The snake continues bouncing to nearby valid targets in these cases.
- The snake provides 100 radius flying vision around itself. The vision does not last.
- The snake blocks neutral creep camps.
- The
Aghanim's Scepter upgrade requires Stone Gaze to be learned.
- It applies the same modifier as Stone Gaze does, so their effects do not stack. The debuff also always uses Stone Gaze's icon.
- The Stone Gaze stun duration increasing talent does not affect Mystic Snake's stun duration.
- This also means that it instantly kills illusions, since this effect is bound to the modifier.
Ability
Toggle
Toggle
Affects
Self
Self
Creates a shield that absorbs 60% of the incoming damage in exchange for Medusa's mana.
Cast Animation: 0+0
Damage Absorption: 60%
Damage Absorbed per Mana: 1.6/1.9/2.2/2.5
0
While spell immune, Mana Shield does not react on magical damage.Modifiers
Mana Shield: Undispellable.While Medusa was not gifted with eternal life upon birth, her curse bestowed her with impressive defensive powers.
Notes:
- Mana Shield does not interrupt Medusa's channeling spells upon cast.
- Absorbs damage before any damage reduction takes place, including damage block or reduction from spells (e.g.
Aphotic Shield).
- This also affects everything which works directly with damage dealt after reductions (e.g.
Orchid Malevolence).
- This also affects everything which works directly with damage dealt after reductions (e.g.
- Increases Medusa's effective health by 150% when toggled on, assuming she has enough mana.
- Mana Shield persists through Medusa's death. If Mana Shield was active upon death, she respawns with it active.
Stone Gaze
Any enemy units looking at Medusa will have their movement and attack speed slowed. If 2 seconds of total time is accumulated looking at Medusa while Stone Gaze is active, that unit will turn to stone. Petrified units are stunned, have 100% magic damage resistance, and take bonus physical damage. If the petrified unit is an illusion, it is immediately killed.
Cast Animation: 0.4+0.5
Radius: 1000
Move Speed Slow: 35%
Attack Speed Slow: 35
Turn Rate Slow: 35%
Attack Damage Amplification: 50%
Gaze Duration: 5/6/7
Stone Duration: 3 ( 5)
5) 90 200
Modifiers
Stone Gaze: Undispellable. Stone Gaze Facing: Undispellable. Stone Gaze Slow: Undispellable. Stone Gaze Stone: Dispellable with strong dispels.The beauty of Medusa is legendary.
Notes:
- Every enemy unit that faces Medusa within 85 degrees in front of them within a 1000 radius around Medusa gets the facing and the slow debuff applied.
- A unit can only receive the facing debuff once per cast. The debuff counts for how long the unit faces Medusa. If it accumulates 2 seconds of facing time, it petrifies the unit.
- The facing debuff lasts for either as long as Stone Gaze does (ending whenever Stone Gaze ends in any way), or until accumulating 2 seconds of facing time.
- The 2 second facing counter does not reset when looking away once.
- Facing Medusa while invulnerable or hidden still counts towards the 2 second counter.
- This means a unit can only be petrified once per cast and can freely face Medusa afterwards without getting petrified again.
- Therefore it can be avoided by being invulnerable as the spell attempts to petrify.
- The slow debuff is also applied only once per cast. Its base duration is equal to Stone Gaze's base duration (5/6/7 seconds).
- If a unit faces Medusa the first time a few seconds after cast, but avoids getting petrified, the slow debuff does not exceed Stone Gaze's duration and disappears when the gaze ends.
- However, if the unit does get petrified, the slow lasts its full duration, exceeding the gaze's own duration.
- The petrification is a simple stun, which also freezes their animations, grants 100% magic resistance and amplifies incoming physical attack damage.
- Illusions are destroyed instead of petrified.
- Only increases physical damage dealt by attacks. Physical damage from spells is not increased.
- Stone Gaze does not affect neutral creeps.
- Stone Gaze ends when Medusa dies.
Talents[edit]
| Hero Talents | ||
|---|---|---|
| +2s Stone Gaze Stun
|
25 | 25% Lifesteal |
| +600 Mana | 20 | +1  Split Shot Target
|
| 15% Evasion | 15 | +20 Attack Speed |
| +15 Damage | 10 | +12  Intelligence
|
Notes:
- The attack damage is added as bonus attack damage, and therefore does not benefit illusions.
- The evasion stacks multiplicatively with other sources of evasion.
- Upgrading mana increases maximum mana capacity and keeps the current mana percentage.
- The lifesteal is not a unique attack modifier and fully stacks with other sources of lifesteal.
Recommended items[edit]
Starting items:
-
Tango for a bit of regeneration in lane. -
Healing Salve's flat heal will go a long way to keep Medusa healthy, considering her abysmal starting health. -
Iron Branches provides early stats needed for last-hitting creeps and a small boost in your hit points and mana. On top of that, planted Iron Branches increase the total healing from Tangoes. -
Circlet gives you plenty of stats and lets you pick up a 
Magic Wand at the side shop.
Early-game:
-
Magic Wand is one of the most cost effective survivability items on Medusa early on. The instantly restored health and mana you get from charges is doubly effective on her thanks to Mana Shield. -
Ring of Basilius provides mana regeneration, armor bonus and a small damage boost for last-hitting.
Core items:
-
Phase Boots give movement speed, even boosted with the Phase ability for escaping ambushes early game. The additional damage also contributes to her Split Shot skill. It also helps her position herself better for a successful Stone Gaze, as her otherwise low mobility can make this difficult. -
Ring of Aquila is the upgraded version of 
Ring of Basilius which gives stats and further damage boost. -
Eye of Skadi gives both killing power via slowing enemies and survivability because of stats and mana for Mana Shield. -
Town Portal Scroll is crucial to escape early game ganks, which can be devastating against Medusa due to her high item dependence.
Situational items:
-
Hurricane Pike gives attack range, damage and overall stats - very effective item for Medusa. -
Aghanim's Scepter allows Mystic Snake to petrify any enemies it hits, giving the ability a hard-disable utility that allows for more strategic employment. It also provides stats in all departments, as well as adding a respectable amount of health and mana to Medusa. -
Linken's Sphere can be purchased before or after Eye of Skadi. If fights are not in your favor early on, you're farming rather slowly, or enemies have stuns to keep you down fights, consider a Linken's Sphere. -
Butterfly offers bonus damage, attack speed and armor, and its evasion gives you even more survivability. -
Monkey King Bar can be needed if the enemies have evasion items or heroes. -
Divine Rapier is the best damage item on Medusa. She's tanky enough that, even with 
Mask of Madness, the odds of her dropping this are extremely slim, and it'll help you massacre a whole team with Split Shot. That being said, if against heroes that can burn through your Mana Shield like no tomorrow, it may be too risky to consider this unless absolutely necessary. -
Manta Style's bonus directly increases Medusa's movement speed, and the illusions hit for a total of 56% of your base damage. In addition, the illusions can be used to farm multiple places at once, and benefit from Split Shot. -
Drum of Endurance is a great cost effective stat item on Medusa. It gives her both Intelligence and Strength which is needed on her, and the slight movement and attack speed it gives are great for farming or pushing. -
Maelstrom into 
Mjollnir can be bought to deal with summons or illusions. -
Scythe of Vyse for an extra disable, stats and mana regeneration which may help Mana Shield. -
Black King Bar is considered if the enemies are keeping you locked down before you can get Stone Gaze off. -
Bloodthorn, while expensive, is a great luxury item on Medusa. The intelligence and mana regeneration it gives will make you even tankier, and it effectively gives you a 
Crystalys and 
Monkey King Bar in one slot. -
Mask of Madness is good for increasing your farming speed and being slightly active in the mid game. Her Mana Shield pretty much negates the increase in damage taken from it, it gives her the movement speed and attack speed she needs for both farming and team fights, and it lets her be active early on. However, be careful with the active as the silence will hinder your ability to toggle Split Shot and Mana Shield. -
Moon Shard boosts attack speed further, a handy item in the late game as you can consume it to save a slot for reduced bonuses. -
Satanic should be picked up when building 
Divine Rapier. Due to the extremely high damage provided by Divine Rapier, Satanic's passive lifesteal and its active skill become effective in terms of healing yourself, decreasing the chances of dropping the Rapier.
Gameplay[edit]
Audio[edit]
History[edit]
Equipment[edit]
Trivia[edit]
- While the lore of Medusa is heavily inspired by its ancient Greek counterpart it should be noted that in the early versions of the myth, Medusa was born hideous to primordial sea deities Phorcys and Ceto who are described as cthonic monsters from an archaic world.
- The mythology that describes Medusa as having incomprehensible beauty was introduced later by the Roman poet Ovid and in that version Medusa did not exchange her beauty for power. Rather after being attacked by Poseidon in the temple of Athena the enraged goddess twisted Medusa's beautiful visage to the point that merely looking at her would turn the onlookers to stone.
- Medusa's response upon killing Gyrocopter Play "Snakes on a plane.", refers to the movie of the same name.
- Medusa's line upon meeting zeus as an ally, "Zeus on the loose!" is a reference to a card game of the same name.
Gallery[edit]
Model
Early alpha model, based on the leaked concept art
Early minimap icon
Leaked concept artwork
Splash artwork
Hero icon progress
References[edit]
