Medusa

Hero

 

Strategy

 

Equipment

 

Gear

 

Talents

 

Relics

 

Responses

 

Sounds

 

Animations

 

Lore

 

Old Abilities

 

Changelogs

 

Known Bugs

 

Medusa 17 + 1.5 22 + 3.6 23 + 4
Level 0 1 15 25 30 Health 120 494 956 1550 1748 +0 +1.7 +3.8 +6.5 +7.45 Mana 75 351 1023 1647 1911 +0 +1.15 +3.95 +6.55 +7.65 Armor -1 2.67 11.07 19.07 22.4 Magic Resist 25% % % % % Damage Block - Damage 26 32 48 54 98 104 146 152 166 172 Attack Rate 0.59/s 0.72/s 1.01/s 1.3/s 1.41/s Attack Range 600 (800) Attack Speed ▶️ 100 (1.7s BAT) Attack Animation 0.5 + 0.6 Projectile Speed 1200 Move Speed ▶️ 275 ( 305) Turn Rate 0.5 Collision Size 24 Bound Radius 24 Vision Range (G) 1800 ( 800) Gib Type Default Internal Not Provided

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.

Bio

Medusa, the Gorgon

▶️ "The only real beauty is power."

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

Split Shot

▶️QT

Ability
Toggle

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Instant Attack

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).

Cast Animation: 0+0

Secondary Arrows Range Bonus: 150

Bonus Attack Targets: 4

Outgoing Damage: 50%/60%/70%/80%

 0

Modifiers [?]

modifier_medusa_split_shot

Undispellable

All who encounter the cursed Gorgon will feel her rage.

• Split Shot does not interrupt Medusa's channeling spells upon toggling.

• Causes Medusa to perform instant attacks on the closest 4 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 extra arrows travel at the same speed as the primary arrow.

• The search radius is based on Medusa's attack range + 150, resulting in a search radius of 750, considering her default attack range.

• The instant attacks of Split Shot may not proc any attack modifiers or on-hit effects, unless the talent which allows them to do so is chosen.
  • 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, attack immune units, or units inside the Fog of War, but does target couriers.
  • However, attacking wards or buildings still causes secondary arrows to hit valid targets within the radius.
  • Secondary arrows are not released upon attacking allies.

• 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

▶️▶️▶️WC

Ability
Target Unit

Affects
Enemies / Self

Damage
Magical

A mystic snake made of energy jumps from target to target dealing damage. After it reaches its last target, it returns to Medusa to replenish her with mana. The snake deals more damage per jump and returns 11%/14%/17%/20% mana based on the targets' total mana.

Cast Animation: 0.2+0.67

Cast Range: 700

Bounce Radius: 475

Number of Bounces: 3/4/5/6

Base Damage: 80/120/160/200

Damage Increase per Bounce: 35%

Max Mana as Mana Restored: 11%/14%/17%/20% ( 14%/17%/20%/23%)

Movement Speed Slow: 30%

Turn Rate Slow: 50%

Slow Duration: 3

Base Stone Duration: 0 ( 1)

Stone Duration Increase per Bounce: 0 ( 0.3)

 10 ( 7)

 140/150/160/170

Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:

Causes Mystic Snake to turn enemies hit into stone. Stone duration increases with each bounce of the Mystic Snake.

Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:

Grants a new ability: Cold Blooded.

Modifiers [?]

modifier_projectile_vision

Undispellable

modifier_medusa_mystic_snake_slow

Any

modifier_medusa_stone_gaze_stone

Strong

The Gorgon's curse is her greatest strength.

• Mystic Snake travels at a speed of 800.

• Applies the damage first, then the slow debuff ( and then the Stone Gaze debuff).

• The snake always bounces to the closest valid target around its current target. Cannot hit the same unit more than once per cast.

• Medusa's mana is restored when the snake returns to her. The restored amount is based on all hit enemies' maximum mana.

• Hit illusions are not counted towards the mana restore.

• Mystic Snake needs to hit units with a combined total mana pool of 1273/1072/942/851 ( 1000/883/800/740) 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 grows linearly, not exponentially, 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 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 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.
  • In Ability Draft, Stone Gaze must be drafted as well for this upgrade to work.

Cold Blooded

▶️▶️▶️

Ability
Passive

Affects
Enemies

Damage
Magical

When Medusa is targeted with a spell, a single-target Mystic Snake is sent back towards the enemy. Cooldown: 12.

Number of Bounces: 1

 12

Modifiers [?]

modifier_medusa_cold_blooded

Undispellable

modifier_projectile_vision

Undispellable

modifier_medusa_mystic_snake_slow

Any

modifier_medusa_stone_gaze_stone

Strong

• Requires Aghanim's Shard to be unlocked.

• Follows the same rules as Spell Block.

• The snake's values are based on the current level of Mystic Snake.

• Mystic Snake's notes fully apply.
  • This includes the fact that the snake does not count bounces on targets that died, turned invulnerable, spell immune, or hidden before impact.
  • This means the snake may bounce onto another target in these cases.

• The snake is sent out even if the triggering target is spell immune, invulnerable, hidden.

• Has no range limit. The snake can be send out globally if targeted by global spells.

Mana Shield

▶️▶️▶️EE

Ability
Toggle

Affects
Self

Creates a shield that absorbs 70% of incoming damage in exchange for Medusa's mana.

Cast Animation: 0+0

Damage Absorption: 70%

Damage Absorbed per Mana: 1.6/1.9/2.2/2.5

 0

Modifiers [?]

modifier_medusa_mana_shield

Undispellable

While Medusa was not gifted with eternal life upon birth, her curse bestowed her with impressive defensive powers.

• 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).

• Increases Medusa's effective health by 233.33% 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's angle visualised

Stone Gaze

▶️▶️RG

Ability
No Target

Affects
Enemies / Self

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, and take bonus physical damage.

Cast Animation: 0.4+0.5

Radius: 1200

Facing Angle: 85°

Self Movement Speed Bonus: 50%

Enemy Move Speed Slow: 35%

Enemy Attack Speed Slow: 35

Enemy Turn Rate Slow: 35%

Physical Attack Damage Amplification: 40%/45%/50%

Gaze Duration: 5/5.5/6 ( 6.5/7/7.5)

Stone Duration: 3

 90

 100

Modifiers [?]

modifier_medusa_stone_gaze

Death

modifier_medusa_stone_gaze_tracker

Death

modifier_medusa_stone_gaze_facing

Death

modifier_medusa_stone_gaze_slow

Death

modifier_medusa_stone_gaze_stone

Strong

The beauty of Medusa is legendary.

• The enemy team must gain vision over Medusa (while she is using Stone Gaze) for at least 1 server tick before it will begin to affect any enemies.
  • Stone Gaze will affect no enemies at all until this is achieved.
  • Once this is achieved, enemies that break vision of Medusa can still be affected by Stone Gaze, even through the fog of war.

• Every enemy unit that faces Medusa within 85° in front of them within a 1200 radius around Medusa gets the facing and the slow debuff applied.

• The facing 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 getting petrified.
  • Looking away from Medusa does not reset the the 2 second facing counter.
  • Facing Medusa while invulnerable or hidden still counts towards the 2 second counter.
  • This means the petrifying can be avoided by being invulnerable as the spell attempts to petrify.

• The slow debuff only slows affected enemies while facing Medusa. Units that turn away are not slowed, but keep the debuff.
  • The slow debuff lasts for either as long as Stone Gaze does (ending whenever Stone Gaze ends in any way), or until getting petrified.

• Once the petrify debuff expires, the unit can be affected by Stone Gaze again, repeating until Stone Gaze ends, so long the unit faces Medusa.

• The petrification is a simple stun, which also freezes animations, and amplifies incoming physical attack damage.
  • Does not amplify magical or pure attack damage, and does not amplify physical spell damage.

• Stone Gaze does not affect neutral creeps.

• Stone Gaze ends when Medusa dies, but already petrified enemies stay petrified for the duration.

Talents

Hero Talents
Split Shot Uses Modifiers	25	+1.7 Mana Shield Damage per Mana
+1.5s Stone Gaze Duration	20	+3 Mystic Snake Bounces
-3s Mystic Snake Cooldown	15	-10% Split Shot Damage Penalty
+8% Stone Gaze Bonus Physical Damage	10	+15% Mystic Snake Turn and Movement Speed Slow

Recent Changes

Main Article: Medusa/Changelogs

Version

Description

7.35

• Increased agility gain from 3.4 to 3.6.
• Increased Split Shot self attack damage from 35%/50%/65%/80% to 40%/55%/70%/85%.

• Talents:
• LVL 10

   

  +5% Stone Gaze physical attack damage amplification increased to +8%.

  LVL 20

   

  +2 Mystic Snake bounces increased to +3.

7.34

• Talents:
• LVL 25

   

  +1.3/+0.7 Mana Shield damage to mana for Medusa/illusions increased to +1.7/+0.9.

7.33e

• Reduced base intelligence and gain from 27 + 3.7 to 25 + 3.4.
• Reduced Split Shot self attack damage from 55%/65%/75%/85% to 35%/50%/65%/80%.
• Reduced Mystic Snake max mana as mana restored from 14%/16%/18%/20% to 14%/15%/16%/17%.

Gameplay

The youngest Gorgon was also the most beautiful, but looks alone could not rescue her kidnapped sisters. Therefore, Medusa traded her beauty for terrible new powers, and has never regretted it since. Each arrow she fires divides into multiple Split Shots, striking several targets at once. Foes bitten by Mystic Snake are sapped of energy, a resource that returns to Medusa for her defensive use. Encased in a Mana Shield, she survives against even the most unfavorable odds. Heroes who lay eyes on her may find it hard to turn away. Petrified, none could hope to approach Medusa before the Gorgon's legendary Stone Gaze turns their bodies to statues.
Roles:	Carry Disabler Durable
Complexity:
Adjectives:	Legs ( 2 )

Strategy & Tips

Counters &
Matchups

Audio

Responses

Sounds

History

Lore

Old Abilities

Changelogs

Equipment

Medusa Equipment (expand sets) Sets Convalescing Empress Death Adder Eye of the Beholder Forsaken Beauty Set Jewels of Anamnessa Memories of the Vow Eternal Piercing Grace Serpent of the Emerald Sea Weapon Bow of the Serpent Twin Serpent Bow Armor Daughters of Hydrophiinae Tail Fate of Hydrophiinae Fate of Hydrophiinae of the Crimson Witness Taunt Taunt: Creep Creations

Trivia

• 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 ▶️ "Snakes on a plane", refers to the movie of the same name.

Gallery

• 

  Model

• 

  Early alpha model, based on the leaked concept art

• 

  Early minimap icon

• 

  Leaked concept artwork

• 

  Splash artwork

• 

  Hero icon progress