Ability
Bramble Maze
Dark Willow creates a 500 AoE maze of 8 brambles that grow in the target area after 0.3 seconds. Enemies that walk into a bramble are rooted and take damage over time. Lasts 12 seconds.
↻ 22 sec.Mana 100 / 120 / 140 / 160
Dark Willow
Abilities, roles and builds with an explanation for every purchase.
HERO GAME PLANWhat I want to do in the game
I use disables from behind the frontline; in mid, a separate game plan can strengthen attacks through Aghanim.
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 cunning fae tricks. Calling upon powers far more ancient than any scholarly magic, she binds enemies in place before unleashing the full wrath and terror of the fae realm upon them.
Abilities at hand
01 / ROLE IN THE TEAM
A pick is not a plan yet.
My recommendation is a starting point. We choose another position together with the team and for its needs.
04
Support · position 4
Initial recommendationI contribute through laning, control and movement. I adapt the expensive core route to my budget.
02
Mid · position 2
Levels, lane control and joining the team at the right moment matter.
02 / ITEMS FOR A PURPOSE
What I buy and why.
This is an editorial starting plan based on hero mechanics. It is not presented as a match I have already tested or a popularity ranking.
Support · position 4
My starting plan
Here is my initial plan: I do my role's job first, then choose the items the team needs. I adapt the order and expensive purchases to the opponent.
01 / First stepTranquil BootsProvide speed and regeneration between engagements, fitting a support’s budget.
02 / FoundationEul's Scepter of DivinityProvides a separate tool for disabling an enemy or protecting yourself; I prepare the follow-up combo before landing.
03 / FoundationBlink DaggerChanges the entry angle and lets me reach a target quickly. Damage taken can prevent its use.
04 / Next choiceGlimmer CapeAdds a protective tool and hides the chosen ally; invisibility does not replace escaping detection.
05 / Next choiceAghanim's ScepterUnlocks or upgrades Shadow Realm. The exact effects are shown below in the abilities section.
What I change for the situation 3 options
Force Staff ↗Moves me or an ally out of danger; direction depends on the target's facing.
Black King Bar ↗Provides a window for my actions against eligible magical damage and disables. I check effects that pierce the protection.
Mask of Madness ↗Speeds up attacks and farming, but needs a safe window: its active mode imposes restrictions on the hero.
I see the minute on the clock. And the situation too.
I do not assign one ‘correct’ minute to every purchase. I look at my gold, the next fight and the problem: am I missing mana, target access, control or protection? If an expensive slot will arrive too late, I get a useful answer earlier.
03 / HERO ABILITIES
Abilities. As in the game.
Original Valve icons and descriptions. Cooldowns and mana are shown by level from the data snapshot; talents and upgrades can change the values.
Ability
Shadow Realm
The hero hides in the shadow realm, becoming untargetable. Attacking ends the ability.
↻ 21 / 19 / 17 / 15 sec.Mana 80 / 90 / 100 / 110
Details and upgrades
Dark Willow recedes into the shadows, becoming untargetable. Her next attack has 600 bonus 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.
Aghanim’s Scepter
Attacking no longer takes Dark Willow out of Shadow Realm. Each attack still has bonus damage based on the duration of the buff.
Ability
Cursed Crown
Dark Willow casts an ancient fae curse on the target. After a delay, the target and nearby enemies are stunned.
↻ 17 / 15 / 13 / 11 sec.Mana 80 / 90 / 100 / 110
Details and upgrades
Dark Willow casts an ancient fae curse on the target. After a delay, the target and nearby enemies are stunned.
Aghanim’s Shard
When the countdown ends or this ability’s effect is dispelled, the target is surrounded by 4 thorny brambles within a radius of 175. The ability’s cooldown is reduced by 1,5 seconds.
Ability
Bedlam
Dark Willow sends her pet wisp to roam around herself for the duration, rapidly attacking nearby enemies. Bedlam cannot be used while Terrorize is active.
↻ 30 sec.Mana 100 / 150 / 200
Ability
Terrorize
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.
↻ 100 / 90 / 80 sec.Mana 150
Innates, upgrades and other forms1 ability +
These abilities are not necessarily available at the same time. I check the condition beside the name: innate ability, another form or an Aghanim purchase.
Innate
Pixie Dust
Dark Willow gains 20% bonus Health and Mana Regeneration, increased to 100% while she is untargetable or invulnerable.
Full description
Dark Willow gains 20% bonus Health and Mana Regeneration, increased to 100% while she is untargetable or invulnerable.
Valve base stats +
- Health · base
- 560
- Mana · base
- 339
- Damage · Valve field
- 49–57
- Armour · Valve field
- 3
- Movement speed
- 290
- Attack range
- 475
- Strength · base / gain
- 20 / 2
- Agility · base / gain
- 18 / 1.6
- Intelligence · base / gain
- 22 / 3.5
These are fields from the official source. The hero's final values in the client account for attributes and other active mechanics.
KEEP EXPLORING
One hero. Many decisions.
Items, slang and real episodes help connect abilities with what happens in a match.