Support guide

Plant a tree, net them to it and charge the big arrow.

472 HP327 manaLevel 1

HoodwinkDota 2 hero

Hoodwink is an Agility support who bounces attacks with Acorn Shot, traps enemies in trees with Bushwhack, darts through the woods with Scurry and charges a huge Sharpshooter arrow.

AgilityRanged

#24of 127 heroes
by pick rate

Pick rate: 12.8%
Hero win rate: 47.6%

Our game-phase read Editorial · impact 1–5

Source & our read · Sep 12, 2026

OpenDota · retrieved Sep 12, 2026. 485,447 Hoodwink picks and 230,951 wins in approximately 3,780,175 rank-classified public matches. Excludes Turbo and pro stats. This is a sample, not all players.

Pick rate = hero picks ÷ estimated matches; win rate = hero wins ÷ hero picks. Estimated matches = all hero picks ÷ 10, following OpenDota’s calculation. Tied pick counts share a rank. The API does not provide observation timestamps.

Our impact scores · 1 low, 5 high
Early · 5/5	Acorn Shot and Bushwhack kill in lane from level two.
Mid · 4/5	Aether Lens and Gleipnir turn every fight into a group stun and a big arrow.
Late · 3/5	Sharpshooter still hurts, but she dies fast once the enemy reaches her.

The Dota2Freaks take Editorial

Why pick Hoodwink?

Pick Hoodwink when your team wants a support who wins the lane, kills early and finishes fights from long range.

When to think twice

Avoid her against tree cutters, gap closers and lineups with dispels for her slow.

The usual mistake

Do not throw Bushwhack without a tree. Plant one with Acorn Shot first.

Our picks · Support

Hoodwink item builds

Choose for the game in front of you.

Standard

Default support path built around cast range, Gleipnir and Aghanim's Scepter.

01Starting
Empty inventory slot
Lane with wards and sustain
02Lane
Empty inventory slot
Cheap stats and mana
03First core
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slot
Range on every spell
04Mid game
Empty inventory slot
Root groups for the net
05Late game
Add the boomerang
06Luxury
Cooldowns and control

Aether LensMore cast range for Acorn Shot, Bushwhack and the Sharpshooter charge.

How to use these builds

These are our editorial build paths. Labels describe their purpose, not measured popularity or win rate. Click an item for its use. Each stage is an inventory snapshot: keep earlier items, use consumables, upgrade components, and replace small items as space runs out. Boots, defenses, and late slots can change with the draft.

More match and build examples: Dota 2 Pro Tracker. Item names and images: Valve.

The draft check

Friends & counters

Our picks, based on how the spells work together.

5 friends to play with

Nature's Prophet

Sprout creates the trees Bushwhack needs and traps targets for the arrow.

Treant Protector

Trees everywhere and Overgrowth hold enemies for Sharpshooter.

Crystal Maiden

Frostbite holds a target near a tree and Arcane Aura covers her mana.

Magnus

Reverse Polarity groups enemies for Bushwhack and the arrow.

Lion

Hex and Earth Spike hold the target while the arrow charges.

5 counter picks to watch

Timbersaw

Cuts every tree she relies on and chases her through the forest.

Storm Spirit

Jumps on her through trees before the arrow is charged.

Batrider

Burns trees with Firefly and drags her out of the forest with Flaming Lasso.

Spirit Breaker

Charges across the map onto a support who stands apart from her team.

Legion Commander

Duel locks a fragile support who has no instant escape.

About these picks

These are useful ability interactions, not a statistical ranking or guaranteed matchups. Positioning, items, and cooldowns change the result. Hero links open a full guide when available, otherwise the directory.

Ability references from Valve: Nature's Prophet · Treant Protector · Crystal Maiden · Magnus · Lion · Timbersaw · Storm Spirit · Batrider · Spirit Breaker · Legion Commander. Checked 2026-10-14.

The buttons

QWER + D / F · open for spell values

Acorn ShotUnit targetFires an acorn that bounces between enemies, slows them and can plant a tree where it lands.

Mana: 70 / 80 / 90 / 100
Cooldown: 19 / 16 / 13 / 10s
Bonus damage: 45 / 90 / 135 / 180

BushwhackPoint targetThrows a net that stuns and damages enemies standing near a tree.

Mana: 90 / 100 / 110 / 120
Cooldown: 15 / 14 / 13 / 12s
Total damage: 90 / 180 / 270 / 360

ScurryNo targetGrants movement speed, evasion and free movement through trees for a short time.

Mana: 35
Charge restore: 30 / 24 / 18 / 12s
Movement speed: 15 / 20 / 25 / 30%

SharpshooterUltimateCharges a long-range arrow that deals damage and slows based on the charge time.

Mana: 150 / 200 / 250
Cooldown: 45s
Maximum damage: 600 / 975 / 1350

DecoyNo targetRequires Aghanim's Shard. Sends an illusion forward and turns Hoodwink invisible; the illusion casts Bushwhack when it is attacked.

Mana: 60
Cooldown: 30s
Duration: 6s

Hunter's BoomerangUnit targetRequires Aghanim's Scepter. Throws a boomerang that damages, slows and marks enemies to take extra spell damage.

Mana: 125
Cooldown: 20s
Damage: 200

Base stats & innate Level 1 · no items

Strength16+2 / lvl

Agility22+3.6 / lvl

Intelligence21+2.9 / lvl

Attack damage: 47–54
Armor: 3.7
Move speed: 315
Magic resist: 25%
Attack range: 575
Base attack time: 2s
Health regen: +1.85/s
Mana regen: +1.0500001/s

DOTA2FREAKS GUIDE · REVIEWED Oct 14, 2026

Dota 2 Hoodwink guide: support builds, abilities and tips

Hoodwink is an Agility support who bounces attacks with Acorn Shot, traps enemies in trees with Bushwhack, darts through the woods with Scurry and charges a huge Sharpshooter arrow.

What role does Hoodwink play in Dota 2?

Hoodwink is a ranged Agility hero. Our recommended role is support.

Hoodwink plays around trees. Acorn Shot fires a bouncing attack that can plant a tree, Bushwhack throws a net that stuns every enemy near a tree, Scurry gives her speed, evasion and the ability to walk through trees, and Sharpshooter charges a long-range arrow that deals huge damage and slows. Pick Hoodwink when your team needs a support with early kill potential, ranged harassment and a long-range finisher. She is weak against heroes who cut trees, against gap closers that catch her mid-charge and when the enemy carries a dispel for the slow.

How to play Hoodwink in Dota 2

Hoodwink laning and early decisions
Hoodwink harasses from the moment the lane starts. Acorn Shot hits the enemy and bounces to nearby targets, and it plants a tree where it lands, which gives Bushwhack a tree to stun around. Combine the two for a lane kill as early as level two. Buy Tangos, a Healing Salve, wards and cheap stats, and keep mana for one Acorn Shot and Bushwhack combo.
Hoodwink positioning and teamfights
Stay near trees and at the edge of the fight. Open with Bushwhack on a group near a tree, add Acorn Shot to bounce damage and slow, and keep Scurry for the moment an enemy jumps on you, because the evasion and the tree walking take you out of reach. Charge Sharpshooter from a safe distance and release it on the carry or on a hero who tries to escape. The arrow travels far, so you do not need to be close.
Dota 2 Hoodwink item build decisions
Boots, Magic Wand and a Null Talisman or Wraith Band start the game. Aether Lens or Force Staff is the usual first core because her spells work from range, and Gleipnir is the big item that roots groups for Bushwhack. Aghanim's Scepter adds Hunter's Boomerang, and Blink Dagger, Hurricane Pike, Scythe of Vyse, Octarine Core or Bloodthorn finish the build depending on whether the game needs control or damage.

Dota 2 Hoodwink tips and ability interactions

D2F ADVICE

Hoodwink: make your own tree

Acorn Shot can be cast on the ground to plant a tree at the landing point, and Bushwhack only stuns enemies who stand next to a tree. Shoot the acorn at the ground behind the enemy, then throw Bushwhack on the new tree for a stun anywhere on the map, even in the open lane.

Hoodwink: Sharpshooter rewards patience

Sharpshooter deals more damage the longer you charge it, up to the maximum charge time, and the slow lasts longer as well. The arrow knocks Hoodwink back when it fires, so charge it behind trees or near a cliff where the recoil moves you to safety. Release early if the target is about to leave the line.

Hoodwink: Scurry is an escape with charges

Scurry has two charges and gives movement speed, evasion and free movement through trees. Use one charge to dodge a gap closer and walk into the forest, and keep the second one for the moment the enemy finds you again. The evasion is doubled while you stand next to trees.

Dota 2 Hoodwink ability mechanics

Key Hoodwink mechanics · Valve snapshot Oct 14, 2026
Detail	What it means in your game
Acorn Shot	Fires an acorn that bounces between enemies, slows them and can plant a tree where it lands.
Bushwhack	Throws a net that stuns and damages enemies standing near a tree.
Scurry	Grants movement speed, evasion and free movement through trees for a short time.
Decoy	Requires Aghanim's Shard. Sends an illusion forward and turns Hoodwink invisible; the illusion casts Bushwhack when it is attacked.
Hunter's Boomerang	Requires Aghanim's Scepter. Throws a boomerang that damages, slows and marks enemies to take extra spell damage.
Sharpshooter	Charges a long-range arrow that deals damage and slows based on the charge time.

Dota 2 Hoodwink FAQ

Which role should Hoodwink play in Dota 2?

Hoodwink is a support, usually position four, because Acorn Shot and Bushwhack win lanes and she needs few items to kill. She also works as a position five, and some players run her in the offlane with farm items, where Gleipnir and Sharpshooter still carry the fight.

Which items should Hoodwink buy in Dota 2?

Tangos, Healing Salve, wards and Magic Wand cover the lane, with a Null Talisman or Wraith Band for stats. Aether Lens or Force Staff comes next, then Gleipnir as the big fight item. Aghanim's Scepter, Blink Dagger, Hurricane Pike, Scythe of Vyse, Octarine Core and Bloodthorn finish the build.

Is Hoodwink suitable for Dota 2 beginners?

Hoodwink is medium difficulty. The lane combo is easy to learn, but Bushwhack needs trees, Sharpshooter needs timing and Scurry needs good escape routes. Beginners should practise the Acorn Shot into Bushwhack combo in lane and charge Sharpshooter only from safe positions.

How should you use Hoodwink's ultimate in Dota 2?

Sharpshooter charges an arrow that deals more damage and slows longer the longer you hold it. Charge it from behind trees or near a cliff, aim at a hero who is stunned by Bushwhack or rooted by Gleipnir, and release before the target moves out of the line. The recoil pushes you back, which can double as an escape.

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