Mid guide

Find the angle, land the shackle and let Focus Fire do the rest.

516 HP291 manaLevel 1

WindrangerDota 2 hero

Windranger is a mobile ranged hero with a long stun, a charged arrow and an ultimate that melts one target with rapid attacks.

UniversalRanged

#12of 127 heroes
by pick rate

Pick rate: 16.4%
Hero win rate: 48.4%

Our game-phase read Editorial · impact 1–5

Source & our read · Sep 12, 2026

OpenDota · retrieved Sep 12, 2026. 620,440 Windranger picks and 300,367 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 · 3/5	Powershot secures creeps and harasses, but she depends on levels before her kill combo works.
Mid · 5/5	Maelstrom and Black King Bar make Shackleshot into Focus Fire a reliable kill on most heroes.
Late · 4/5	Carry items keep her relevant, though she needs setup against heroes who can escape Focus Fire.

The Dota2Freaks take Editorial

Why pick Windranger?

Pick Windranger when your team needs a long ranged stun, a strong split-pusher and a way to remove one hero quickly.

When to think twice

Avoid Windranger against lineups full of magic burst and silences, where Windrun does not protect her and Focus Fire gets interrupted.

The usual mistake

Do not throw Shackleshot from the front. Walk to the side so a tree or creep sits behind the target first.

Our picks · Mid

Windranger item builds

Choose for the game in front of you.

Standard

Default mid or offlane path that turns farm into a single-target killer with Maelstrom and Black King Bar.

01Starting
Empty inventory slot
Lane with cheap stats
02Lane
Empty inventory slotEmpty inventory slot
Sustain Powershot casts
03First core
Empty inventory slot
Farm faster and add on-hit damage
04Mid game
Attack through control from range
05Late game
Scale Focus Fire damage
06Luxury
Finish the carry build

MaelstromChain lightning farms waves fast and adds damage that Focus Fire triggers often.Guide ↗

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

Lion

Earth Spike and Hex hold a target still so Shackleshot latches and Focus Fire finishes.

Slardar

Slithereen Crush sets up the shackle and Corrosive Haze removes armor from the Focus Fire target.

Dazzle

Shallow Grave keeps Windranger alive while she channels Focus Fire in the middle of a fight.

Vengeful Spirit

Magic Missile and Wave of Terror give Windranger a stunned, low-armor target.

Juggernaut

A full-duration Shackleshot gives Juggernaut a free Blade Fury or Omnislash target.

5 counter picks to watch

Axe

Berserker's Call forces Windranger to attack through Windrun and Culling Blade finishes her low health pool.

Lina

Magic burst ignores Windrun entirely and Laguna Blade removes Windranger before Focus Fire matters.

Lion

Hex and Earth Spike interrupt Focus Fire and Mana Drain punishes her mana costs.

Queen of Pain

Blink and Sonic Wave reach Windranger instantly with magic damage she cannot evade.

Zeus

Lightning Bolt and Thundergod's Wrath hit Windranger anywhere, and none of it can be dodged.

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: Lion · Slardar · Dazzle · Vengeful Spirit · Juggernaut · Axe · Lina · Lion · Queen of Pain · Zeus. Checked 2026-10-09.

The buttons

QWER + D · open for spell values

ShackleshotUnit targetFires a shackle that stuns the target for a long duration when a tree or unit is behind it, and briefly otherwise.

Mana: 70 / 80 / 90 / 100
Cooldown: 16 / 14 / 12 / 10s
Latched stun: 1.75 / 2.25 / 2.75 / 3.25s

PowershotPoint targetCharges and fires a long-range arrow that damages and slows enemies in a line and destroys trees.

Mana: 90 / 100 / 110 / 120
Cooldown: 12 / 11 / 10 / 9s
Full-charge damage: 170 / 270 / 370 / 470

WindrunNo targetGrants movement speed and evasion against physical attacks for a short time.

Mana: 50
Cooldown: 14 / 13 / 12 / 11s
Movement speed bonus: 50%

Focus FireUltimateWindranger attacks one target with greatly increased attack speed at reduced damage per hit.

Mana: 75 / 100 / 125
Cooldown: 50 / 40 / 30s
Bonus attack speed: 350 / 425 / 500

Gale ForcePoint targetRequires Aghanim's Shard. Creates a strong wind that pushes enemies in a direction for a few seconds.

Mana: 125
Cooldown: 25s
Duration: 3s

Base stats & innate Level 1 · no items

Strength18+2.6 / lvl

Agility20+2.1 / lvl

Intelligence18+3.2 / lvl

Attack damage: 24–36
Armor: 3.3
Move speed: 285
Magic resist: 25%
Attack range: 600
Base attack time: 1.5s
Health regen: +2.5500002/s
Mana regen: +1.1500001/s

Skinport partner picks

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DOTA2FREAKS GUIDE · REVIEWED Oct 9, 2026

Dota 2 Windranger guide: mid builds, abilities and tips

Windranger is a mobile ranged hero with a long stun, a charged arrow and an ultimate that melts one target with rapid attacks.

What role does Windranger play in Dota 2?

Windranger is a ranged Universal hero. Our recommended role is mid; she also fits the offlane and position 4.

Windranger is a flexible pickoff hero. Shackleshot can stun for several seconds when it ties a target to a tree or another unit, Powershot clears waves and finishes fleeing heroes, and Focus Fire deletes one target once she has attack damage. Windrun keeps her alive against physical attackers. Pick her when your team needs a long stun from range and a hero who can split-push and still join fights quickly.

How to play Windranger in Dota 2

Windranger laning and early decisions
Use Powershot to secure ranged creeps and punish enemies who stand in the line of fire; release it early for less damage when the full channel would cost you last hits. Harass with attacks while Windrun is available, and look for Shackleshot when the enemy stands near a tree or creep. Bottle and early stats keep you casting without leaving the lane.
Windranger positioning and teamfights
Start fights from the side so a Shackleshot has a tree or unit behind the target. Once the stun lands, use Focus Fire on the shackled hero and stay in Windrun if melee enemies turn toward you. Avoid shackling into open ground: a failed latch gives only a very short stun and wastes the cooldown.
Dota 2 Windranger item build decisions
Power Treads and Magic Wand carry the lane, then Maelstrom gives farming speed and damage that scales with Focus Fire. Black King Bar protects the channel against stuns and silences. Monkey King Bar, Daedalus and Mjollnir finish the carry version, while Gleipnir, Blink Dagger and Force Staff suit a utility build that plays around the stun.

Dota 2 Windranger tips and ability interactions

D2F ADVICE

Windranger: Shackle to a tree, then Focus Fire

Shackleshot searches behind the target for a tree or unit within a narrow angle. Approach so the tree line sits behind the enemy before you cast. A full-duration shackle is long enough for Focus Fire to kill most supports and many cores, so treat the stun as the start of the combo, not a reaction.

Windranger: Windrun answers physical damage, not spells

Windrun grants movement speed and lets Windranger evade physical attacks for its duration, but it does nothing against magic damage or stuns. Use it against right-click carries and to chase or escape, and keep Black King Bar or Eul's for casters. Casting it early also helps you reach a better Shackleshot angle.

Windranger: Gale Force rearranges a fight

With Aghanim's Shard, Gale Force pushes enemies in a chosen direction for a few seconds. Use it to blow a target toward a tree for Shackleshot, to separate a carry from their supports, or to push divers away from your backline. It also interrupts channeled abilities in its area.

Dota 2 Windranger ability mechanics

Key Windranger mechanics · Valve snapshot Oct 9, 2026
Detail	What it means in your game
Shackleshot	Fires a shackle that stuns the target for a long duration when a tree or unit is behind it, and briefly otherwise.
Powershot	Charges and fires a long-range arrow that damages and slows enemies in a line and destroys trees.
Windrun	Grants movement speed and evasion against physical attacks for a short time.
Gale Force	Requires Aghanim's Shard. Creates a strong wind that pushes enemies in a direction for a few seconds.
Focus Fire	Windranger attacks one target with greatly increased attack speed at reduced damage per hit.

Dota 2 Windranger FAQ

Which role should Windranger play in Dota 2?

Windranger is strongest as a mid or offlane core who farms with Powershot and kills with Shackleshot into Focus Fire. She can also play position 4, where the long stun and Windrun mobility make her a good roamer. Choose the core roles when your team lacks a reliable pickoff and the support role when it needs a ranged stun.

Which items should Windranger buy in Dota 2?

Power Treads, Magic Wand and Bottle cover the laning stage. Maelstrom is the common first core, followed by Black King Bar so Focus Fire is not interrupted. Monkey King Bar, Daedalus and Mjollnir complete a carry build, while Gleipnir or Blink Dagger strengthen the stun-first playstyle. Dragon Lance and Hurricane Pike add range and safety.

Is Windranger suitable for Dota 2 beginners?

Windranger rewards practice more than most ranged heroes. Shackleshot depends on angles, Powershot is a skillshot, and Focus Fire needs good target choice. Beginners can still enjoy her in the offlane, where the long stun and Windrun forgive mistakes, but expect to spend time learning where the shackle latches.

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

Focus Fire greatly increases attack speed against one target while reducing the damage of each hit, so it works best with items that add flat damage or on-hit effects like Maelstrom. Cast it on a stunned or slowed hero and attack until they die or escape, and pick targets that cannot easily become spell immune or untargetable.

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