Medusa · Carry (pos. 1)
Medusa Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Medusa is a ranged Agility hero that Valve tags as Carry, Disabler and Durable. It is played mainly as Carry (pos. 1): 85% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Carry (pos. 1): your job is to farm efficiently, hit your item timings and win the late game. The kit brings crowd control (root) with Gorgon's Grasp and mobility with Mystic Snake. Its ultimate is Stone Gaze. This patch, Medusa wins 49.0% of the 108,740 public matches we measured (B tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable root: Gorgon's Grasp sets up kills.
- Mobility: Mystic Snake gets Medusa in and out of fights.
- Sustain from Mana Shield to stay in lane and in fights.
- Long attack range (600) to harass and last hit safely.
Weaknesses
- Low base armor (-1): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- Item-dependent: weak until Manta Style is done.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Medusa players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Manta Style and Aghanim's Scepter. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Medusa players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Falcon Blade and Disperser. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Medusa players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Medusa players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
185%- Safe laneMain85% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Manta Style
- 2Butterfly
- 3Diffusal Blade
- 4Crystalys
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Mystic Snake›Split Shot›Gorgon's Grasp
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
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Talents by level
- +2.5s Stone Gaze Duration+40 Intelligence25
- +40% Mystic Snake Damage / Mana Gain+12% Split Shot Outgoing Damage20
- +1 Gorgon's Grasp Volley-4s Mystic Snake Cooldown15
- +20% Gorgon's Grasp Radius+12% Stone Gaze Bonus Physical Damage10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Manta Style and Aghanim's Scepter. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Medusa players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
185%- Safe laneMain85% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Manta Style+10 Strength, +26 Agility, +10 Intelligence. Active: Mirror Image.
- 2Aghanim's Scepter+10 All Attributes, +175 Health, +175 Mana.
- 3Falcon Blade+200 Health, +1.8 Mana Regeneration, +14 Damage.
- 4Disperser+40 Agility, +10 Intelligence. Active: Suppress.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Mystic Snake›Split Shot›Gorgon's Grasp
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
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Talents by level
- +2.5s Stone Gaze Duration+40 Intelligence25
- +40% Mystic Snake Damage / Mana Gain+12% Split Shot Outgoing Damage20
- +1 Gorgon's Grasp Volley-4s Mystic Snake Cooldown15
- +20% Gorgon's Grasp Radius+12% Stone Gaze Bonus Physical Damage10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Falcon Blade and Disperser. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Medusa players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
185%- Safe laneMain85% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Falcon Blade+200 Health, +1.8 Mana Regeneration, +14 Damage.
- 2Disperser+40 Agility, +10 Intelligence. Active: Suppress.
- 3Hurricane Pike+15 Intelligence, +200 Health, +20 Agility. Active: Hurricane Thrust.
- 4Divine Rapier+100 Damage.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Mystic Snake›Split Shot›Gorgon's Grasp
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● |
| · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · |
Talents by level
- +2.5s Stone Gaze Duration+40 Intelligence25
- +40% Mystic Snake Damage / Mana Gain+12% Split Shot Outgoing Damage20
- +1 Gorgon's Grasp Volley-4s Mystic Snake Cooldown15
- +20% Gorgon's Grasp Radius+12% Stone Gaze Bonus Physical Damage10
Abilities
- Split ShotMedusa 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).
- Outgoing damage
- 50%·60%·70%·80%
- Extra targets
- 4
- Mystic Snake15 / 14 / 13 / 12s80 / 100 / 120 / 140 mpA mystic snake made of energy jumps from target to target dealing damage. Damage and speed increases with each jump. After it reaches its last target, it returns to Medusa to replenish her with mana. The snake returns a percentage of the targets' total mana.
- Jump radius
- 450
- Jumps
- 3·4·5·6
- Base damage
- 90·140·190·240
- Mana gain
- 15%
- Damage/speed increase per jump
- 25%
- Gorgon's Grasp30 / 26 / 22 / 18s65 / 85 / 105 / 125 mpMedusa fires arrows in a line that land in 3 groups, with each grouping larger than the previous. Enemies struck by a volley of arrows take an initial burst of damage and then are rooted, cannot turn, are revealed to the enemy, and take damage per second.
- Initial radius
- 150
- Radius growth
- 50
- Delay
- 1
- Duration
- 0.8·1.2·1.6·2
- Damage
- 30·70·110·150
- Damage per second
- 100
Cold BloodedPassive12sWhen Medusa is targeted with a spell, a single-target Mystic Snake is sent back towards the enemy that turns them into stone for 1s.
Mana ShieldPassiveCreates a shield that absorbs 98% of incoming damage in exchange for Medusa's mana. Illusions absorb 60% less damage per point of mana.- Damage per mana
- 2
- Stone Gaze90s250 mpAny 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 attack damage.
- Radius
- 1200
- Duration
- 5·5.5·6
- Slow
- 35%
- Stone duration
- 2·2.2·2.4
- Bonus physical attack damage
- 35%·45%·55%
- Speed boost
- 50%
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 35 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Mystic Snake›Split Shot›Gorgon's Grasp
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● |
| · | · | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · |
Strategy
1Early game
The first ten minutes are about last hits. Stay close to your supports, deny when you can and only trade when the enemy offlaner overextends: a death now costs more than any kill is worth. Trade right-clicks only when the enemy walks up to last hit, and step back as soon as their support shows up.
- Early items: Null Talisman and Yasha.
2Mid game
With Manta Style done, farm the lanes the map lets you farm safely and join the fights that happen near you. Your team is making space; your job is to turn that space into items like Butterfly. Your spikes are level 6, when Stone Gaze comes online, and your core items: Manta Style and then Butterfly.
- Core items: Manta Style, Butterfly and Diffusal Blade.
3Late game
Late, you are the win condition. Farm dangerous areas only with vision, group for Roshan and high ground, and keep gold for buyback: dying before the fight loses the game.
- Late items: Eye of Skadi and Daedalus.
4Team fights
Walk in after the enemy has used their key disables, hit whatever you can reach safely and keep Mystic Snake for getting out. Use Stone Gaze where it hits the most enemies or catches the key target.
Tips
- Last-hit every creep you can in the first ten minutes: Medusa needs Manta Style before taking real fights.
- If you can't see the enemy supports on the map, assume they are coming for you and farm closer to your towers.
- Once Butterfly is done, stop farming alone: move with your team to take towers and Roshan.
- From the mid game on, keep enough gold for buyback before buying your next big item.
- Plan fights around Stone Gaze: without it, Medusa is far less threatening.
- Keep Mystic Snake for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
- Beastmaster59.0%win rate in the matchup
Medusa wins 59.0% of the 78 games measured against Beastmaster this patch.
78 matches
- Warlock56.9%win rate in the matchup
Medusa wins 56.9% of the 65 games measured against Warlock this patch.
65 matches
- Nature's Prophet54.5%win rate in the matchup
Medusa wins 54.5% of the 55 games measured against Nature's Prophet this patch.
55 matches
- Slardar53.6%win rate in the matchup
Medusa wins 53.6% of the 69 games measured against Slardar this patch.
69 matches
- Templar Assassin53.3%win rate in the matchup
Medusa wins 53.3% of the 75 games measured against Templar Assassin this patch.
75 matches
Weak against
- Ogre Magi36.3%win rate in the matchup
Medusa only wins 36.3% of the 113 games measured against Ogre Magi this patch.
113 matches
- Shadow Fiend40.6%win rate in the matchup
Medusa only wins 40.6% of the 138 games measured against Shadow Fiend this patch.
138 matches
- Rubick41.7%win rate in the matchup
Medusa only wins 41.7% of the 115 games measured against Rubick this patch.
115 matches
- Snapfire42.3%win rate in the matchup
Medusa only wins 42.3% of the 142 games measured against Snapfire this patch.
142 matches
- Tusk42.9%win rate in the matchup
Medusa only wins 42.9% of the 105 games measured against Tusk this patch.
105 matches
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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