Table of Contents:
*Hero Description
*Abilities
*Skill build
*Item build
*Special Strategies
*Mind Games
*How to Play
*Replays
*Credits
*Last Word





Alleria is one of the two new heroes introduced in version 6.55. She is a semi-DPS, anti-DPS, ganking, and supportive hero at the same time. I fell in love with this hero and she soon became my second favorite after Priestess of the Moon. She can be great mind gamer too.


Description:



In the valleys of Winterspring, deep within the verdant glades of the Forest of Trees, an elf with the power of the wind makes her home. She joined the Sentinel as a free agent shortly after the War of the Magi. Favored by the Goddess of Wind, Alleria received many blessings. Her arrows fly straight and true, piercing all enemies in a line. She can lace her arrow with wind and bind enemies together by creating ethereal shackles. Her footsteps are hastened by the currents of air. It is known that she can dispatch enemies at blinding speed by releasing a flurry of arrows. She is indeed a worthy enemy of the Scourge.


Strength - 15 + 2.5
Agility - 17 + 1.4
Intelligence - 22 + 2.6


Attack Range is 600
Movement speed is 295


Starting stats:
-Health: 435
-Mana: 286
-Damage: 44-56
-Armor: 1.4
-Attack Speed: 1.37 (+17%)


About stats: As you can see, her MS is below normal (300), but with Windrunner, her MS is lolhuge. She has a nice strength gain for an intelligence hero, decent intelligence gain, and retarded low agility gain. Her base damage is good and she has 600 range, which should be used well.


Pros:
-She is a good ganker early and late game
-Perfect chaser
-Good harasser
-Has nice lane control, even in a 1v2 situation
-Has a strong escape skill that can be used to avoid all physical attacks (not including spells that deal physical damage)
-Has long disable

Cons:
-Her disable is hard to aim
-Early game nukers own her
-Item dependent (in late game)
-Her ultimate reduces her own damage, but that can be easily fixed.




I have big sections on all skills so i will not comment skills here.



Alleria fires an enchanted arrow using wind magic that binds the target to an enemy unit or tree behind it.

Level 1 - 1.5 seconds shackle
Level 2 - 2.25 seconds shackle
Level 3 - 3 seconds shackle
Level 4 - 3.75 seconds shackle

Cooldown: 10
Manacost: 90/100/110/120

Level 1: 90 mana, 14 sec cooldown.
Level 2: 100 mana, 14 sec cooldown.
Level 3: 110 mana, 14 sec cooldown.
Level 4: 120 mana, 14 sec cooldown.




Windrunner winds up her bow for up to 1 second to perform a single powerful shot. The arrow travels 1700 distance, dealing damage and destroying trees in its path. The damaged dealt is greatest to the first target it hits and is reduced by 10% with each other it passes through.

Level 1 - 120 initial damage.
Level 2 - 200 initial damage.
Level 3 - 280 initial damage.
Level 4 - 360 initial damage.

Cooldown: 12
Manacost: 90/100/110/120

Level 1: 90 mana, 12 sec cooldown.
Level 2: 100 mana, 12 sec cooldown.
Level 3: 110 mana, 12 sec cooldown.
Level 4: 120 mana, 12 sec cooldown.




Imbues her body with the essence of wind, increasing her movement speed by 50% and giving her the ability to evade all physical attacks for a short period of time. Additionally, the gusts of wind around her impairs the movement of nearby enemies, slowing their movement speed in a 300 AoE around her.

Level 1 - 8% slow, lasts 2.75 seconds.
Level 2 - 16% slow, lasts 3.5 seconds.
Level 3 - 24% slow, lasts 4.25 seconds.
Level 4 - 30% slow, lasts 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 65/50/35/20
Manacost: 100

Level 1: 100 mana, 65 sec cooldown.
Level 2: 100 mana, 50 sec cooldown.
Level 3: 100 mana, 35 sec cooldown.
Level 4: 100 mana, 20 sec cooldown.




Alleria channels wind throughout her body to surge an excess of adrenaline, giving her maximum attack speed. Damage is reduced in this state.

Level 1 - 50% reduced damage.
Level 2 - 40% reduced damage.
Level 3 - 30% reduced damage.

Cooldown: 60
Manacost: 200/300/400

Level 1: 200 mana, 60 sec cooldown.
Level 2: 300 mana, 60 sec cooldown.
Level 3: 400 mana, 60 sec cooldown.





Skill Build:

lvl 1-Windrunner / Shackleshot
lvl 2-Powershot
lvl 3-Powershot
lvl 4-Shackleshot / Windrunner
lvl 5-Powershot
lvl 6-Shackleshot
lvl 7-Powershot
lvl 8-Shackleshot
lvl 9-Shackleshot
lvl 10-Focus Fire
lvl 11-Focus Fire
lvl 12-14-Windrunner
lvl 15-Stats
lvl 16-Focus Fire
lvl 17-25-Stats


Reason: Windrunner first to escape, you can take Shackleshot too for disable if you wanna go for FB, imagine you have juggo r pudge on you lane...FB for sure, than max Powershot in every lvl so you can harras and Shackleshot as your only disable.Focus Fire in 10 and 11 because in that time it becomes useful and is good for tower finishing after it max Windrunner.





Starting Items:







Reason: Magic Stick is used with branches to make Magic Want, they are very useful because of stats + regen, 6 tangos for more hp regen and one mana potion for more mana regen..you will need it.

Core:



or


Reason: Those are core items, get you Magic Wand fast after it get Power Treads (str) you will have same hp as you would with 2 Bracers + you will have regen from wand and high movement speed and Orchid for dmg and attack speed because Focus Fire will not always be there, this helps focus fire too in lvl 16 amplif dmg from Orchid will help DMG from Focus Fire i think it is rly good core item by the way it gives enough mana regen to spam Powershot and easy to build up but there is Guinsoo too that gives nice int just as agi (IAS) and str (HP) and hex. If some caster is owning take Orchid and shut him down but if DPS is owning take Guinsoo and own him with your team. Sure if you want you can get both Orchid and Guinsoo because you need MS and AS to not be dependable of FF.


Core 2:






Reason:This build is for people who prefer Deso as first item over Orchid or Guinsoo and it works fine. Get want first for regen and stats than Power Treads (str) so you have same hp as if you would have with bracers + high MS after it Deso which is best DPS item for Alleria and is very effective if you get it in time all have less then 10 armor and next item can be Orchid or Guinsoo just as items down there in after core.


Mind Games core:






Reason: This item build is made for Mind Games. Want first for regen and stats after it PT (str) so you have hp as you would have with Bracers + High MS and after that Oblivion staff so you have mana and enough DMG for next items which is HotD. HotD have life steal, gives armor and creep control, that is all you need for Mind Games because as soon as you use Focus Fire your hp will start going up and enemy hp down. This way of healing is good for Mind Games because it will surprise your enemy. Like in one sec you have low hp and enemy high and after your combo (shackleshot-Focus Fire) you have high hp and your enemy low.


Special item:



Void Stone

If you find yourself having mana problems with desolator or HotD build in that case skip Bracers and buy Void Stone.




Bottle

If you have to go solo mid get bottle.


After Core:


Alleria is a hero with many ways of playing so i will put here some items and why they are good and you will choose witch items you want to use:


-Buriza: Crits from Buriza will now be about 600 with FF and that makes it perfect choise-problem is it relies on chanse.


-Helm of Dominator: Perfect goes with Buriza and your fast attacks from FF.


-Euls: This gives you all you need disable, MS, DMG nice item.


-Dagger: If you cant still aim good Shackleshot use this to get in position.


-Monkey King Bar: Again a good item gives you AS and DMG just as mini stun (it's dmg is reduced by FF too)


-Shivas: This gives you armor, DMG and slow nice ganking item just as supporting item.


-Aghanim's Scepter: This item is nice but only in late game when you have some DPS, because it reduces your ulti cooldown to 15 sec you don't need any IAS items at all!


Maelstrom: if you can't live without chain lighting pick Maelstrom right after guinsoo or Orchid and than go for Agha.


Diffusal Blade: If you have warlock in other team and no one other to take this item or if game have 4/5 guys that really need mana to do anything, aim for this item because in that cases this item will be pure victory!


Necronomicon: If there is no one ot get it and you need mana burn and have invis enemies get it. It is good for Windrunner and will fit in her combos great!


Bad Items:





Mjollnir because 70 Attack Speed is too much for Alleria but Maelstrom still can do the job, Dagon gives you more burst DMG but less DPS for late game it is ok but only in EM and pubs, S&Y isn't good because you have slow with Windrunner (skill) bonus MS is nice just as HP but most of agi would be wasted so it is just too much for what it gives, Skadi is ok for EM but in non-EM it is big no because it is overpiced for what it gives in non EM, Butterfly because it is overpiced for what it gives you have 100% evasion from Windrunner it gives you too much attack speed you don't need so much and just 30 DMG so it is big no, i saw some people get this for duble FF and 40 more DMG it is ok for EM or if you are Extra Rich but if not this is just NO.





Using Shackleshot:


Shackleshot is one of best disables in game just as one of hardest disables to aim.It deals no DMG but can get 2 enemies to be stunned for 3.75 sec witch is long stun.There is some items that might help you to aim it (dagger-Lothars) but when you practice it enoght you will not need these items to aim it.
There are diffrent kinds of Shackleshot:Creep-Hero, Hero-Creep, Hero-Tree, Hero-Hero, Moving Shackleshot.
And this is max casting range of Shackleshot:


Long isn't it...


Creep-Hero:

This is shot when you hit creep and binds hero with the creep here is screenshot:



Here i trowed Shackleshot on creep i took Jaina in it too.


Hero-Creep:

This is shot when you shackleshot hero for creep the one you will use most often:







Here i shacklshot Jain and binded her with creep and even creep died she is still in shackleshot.Nearly same happens with Riki if you shackle him he will go in invis but still be stunned.


Hero-Tree:

This is shot when you bind hero to the tree:





Hero-Hero and Moving Shackleshot:

Hero-Hero is the most effective use of Shackleshot you bind 2 enemy heroes thogater, Moving shot is when you trow shackleshot on moving hero and it binds him for what you wanted him to and on this screenshot are show both and Moving and Hero-Hero Shackleshot:




Here Chaos Knight started moving to Jaina when i trowed Shackleshot and lucky this shot binded him and Jaina thogater.


Here is one more :







Here is trow Shackleshot and shackle PotM and destroyer. I killed PotM and left poor disabled destroyer to Lanaya.


Map:

Here is one Shackleshot map that might help you:





Using Powershot:


Powershot is one of best nukes in game it have 360 DMG 12 sec CD 1700 range and DMG everyone in row (10% DMG reduce per hit).There is 5 kinds of Powershot: Farming, Harrasing, Farm-Harras, Finishing and Treeshot.


Aiming on enemies that try to avoid:


- as Eozm said


Farming:

This kind of shot should be well aimed so it hits all creeps something like this:



Red is where i clicked to aim yellow where it moved.This shot hitted all creeps.


Harassing shot:

This of shot hits hero first so it gets full DMG on hero.



Please note this picture is not totally correct because every tree Powershot passes by takes away 1% dmg off Powershot.


Farm-Harras:

This shot don't have to hit all creeps it is important to it hit 2 creeps and hero if it hits more creeps good but it must hit hero too.




Finishing:

This shot is to finish low hp heroes (1-270 hp) that dare to stay on lane.



Venge was on lane with 200 hp.



Soon her 200 hp turned to 200 gold i picked up...

And here is when target is running away :








Treeshot:

This shot cuts trees and can be used for attack and defence:


Attack Treeshot:
This shot makes your way through trees to attack:







Here i used Powershot to make way through trees and attack QoP.She didnīt blink because she thought she could kill me but i used shackleshot and focus fire she starter running but i finished her.


Defend Treeshot:
This shot is for something like Hide and Seek in Screenshots i will show you what i mean.











Here i got chased by furion and his necro demons i used Windrunner (skill) and Powershot to clear way through trees got to place he can't see me and TPed away.


NOTE:Powershot doesn't destroy Furion's trees


Using Windrunner:
Windrunner is one powerful defencive and offencive skill most of people say it is just defencive skill but no it is not now i will explane how:


Defencive Windrunner:

Defencive Windrunner can be splited in Defencive while offencive Windrunner, Fleeing Windrunner and Ally saving windrunner and Avoid Windrunner.

Def while offen Windrunner:
This kind of Windrunner is used in battles while DPSes attack you.Cast it you will have 100% evasion for 5 sec while you attack.

Fleeing Windrunner:
This one is simple just cast Windrunner and run away...

Ally saving Windrunner:
When your ally start's running away use Windrunner and get close to enemy that is chasing your ally this will instantly drop enemies MS and maybe he will have low hp that you can kill him.

Avoid Windrunner:
Every aiming spell can be Dodged and if you have higher MS there is more chance you will dodge and aiming spells are:
-Elune's Arrow-one of easiest to avoid with Windrunner due to it's low speed.
-Hook (pudge)-little harder but avoidable.
-Hook (clockwerk)-if he attack you with this no chance to avoid but if he use this to chase you when you are out of him range of sight use Windrunner he might think you go normal speed and miss him chasing hook.
-Missle (clockwerk) just same as Hook.
-Axe BM-One of easiest if not easiest to avoid just Windrunner and go back.
-Dragon Slave-not so hard to avoid if you see Lina rise her hands in air like she is doing spell WR and run.
-LSA-When you see Lina have 1 sec casting time on attack WR and move away because she casted LSA.
-Eclipse-I know this skill isn't aim skill but it have 700 range AoE from that you can run away.
-Carrion swamp-same as dragon slave.(can't remember more aim skills at the moment)


Offencive Windrunner:

Offencive Windrunner can be splited in Chasing and Slowing Windrunner.

Chasing Windrunner:
As name says it is used to chase enemy and finish him off nothing more to say here.

Slowing Windrunner:
This one is as name says to slow it can be used in diffrent combos:
First you can slow enemy for your allyes to get him.
Secound you can use Powershot, Windrunner to slow Shackleshot and Focus Fire enemy-This combo is deadly.
Windrunner slow AoE range:


Here is slow range of Windrunner but i am not sure this screenshot can help you a lot count it as half of your attack range might be easier.

Using Focus Fire:


6.57b:

Focus Fire in eyes of many peoples sux and is one of weakest ultimates but what i think is that this skill is really strong from lvl 16 or even 11 i heard in 6.58 it will be buffed 40%/35%/25% and if it is good now it will be even better after buff.Focus Fire in 3 sec deals big burst DMG and disable of Shackleshot gives enoght time to cast full Focus Fire.There is not much to tell about it.It is usefull for destroying towers and killing half HP heroes.This skill in combination with Orchid becomes really powerful because of bonus DMG of Orchid.Cooldown is low so feel free to use it whenever you think it will help this nearly makes sure kill is yours if you use it in team fight.More on how to combinate it with other skills in Special Strategies.


6.58:

Now Focus Fire is buffed A LOT now it is great skill without cap of 10 arrows actually you can do more then 20 arrows but you need more time to do it so if you don't have ally with disable you must take guinsoo so you can fully cast it on hero with your 7 sec disable.


Combos:


--
You have high base DMG and DMG of Powershot is high this is strong harrasing strategy


-----
Slow enemy use strategy 1 for taking down HP, Shackleshot and again Powershot this is powerful strategy and it might kill your enemy.


------
Sure death for your enemy (if he is agi or int with low armor and HP)


-
There is two uses of this strategy:
-Windrunner to chase and than finish enemy with Powershot (this is finishing strategy)
-Windrunner to get out of sight of your enemy and then make your way through trees and TP to base.





Mind Games are the only counters to map hackers. They allow you to counter ganks, score kills, and escape certain death with a sliver of hp left. Basically, the idea is to make yourself seem alone, or use your low hp to lure the enemy into a false sense of security in enaging you. Once they get tempted, you can either lure them to your teammate, or finish them off yourself.


Windrunner unlike Lanaya can't play mind games on all heroes but she can play them on heroes that do not use spells but just high speed strong normal attack (Cinklz, Mortred, ect.). Actually there is way to play them on casters but they must be or agi gankers with high normal attack (NA, PotM) or Battle Mages (Lina) and now i will tell you how.


Windrunner is your main mind games skill as it makes you untouchable to normal attacks for 2-5 sec. That means you can put down all this low hp high DMG heroes in 3 sec max without loosing any hp no matter if they have life steal or not. You can take down agi gankers too because of Bracers you will have hp to survive their main combo but after that they will start attacking you and that is time mind games begin. Active Windrunner so they miss and use Focus Fire. Most of time thay will keep attacking in hope to kill you but if they try to escape they will not be able to as you will be able to slow them with Windrunner and as they have low hp you should usually be able to kill them fast.


Generally, counters for Mind Games include Necrolyte, Axe, Zeus and perhaps Spectre. So don't do mind games on them.






Early Game:
On the start of game you have to take lane, a lot of people prefer mid but i don't think it is best choice i would take any of side lanes.Why? Well there is more trees so more chance to Shackleshot and more place for cheasing this is what you don't have on mid.I prefer solo too Alleria with Powershot have a lot of early game power and with your 600 range you can solo without any problems.
When you come to your lane start last hitting and deny and start harassing your enemies with normal attack and use Powershot as finisher (this is for low hp heroes) but if you get str with a lot of hp from lvl 3 start harassing him with your Powershot.No much to say just care if you want enemy to take full dmg make sure your Powershot hit him first but i prefer to you with Powershot get some creep kills too, you are item dependable and need to farm.Try to look for someone to gank too but make sure you brought Teleport Scroll from shop in lane so you can fast back to your lane and save tower (you took solo lane) but before you go to gank make sure you can gank that enemy or you will loose and monay and exp.


Mid Game:
Now you should make combination of ganking and farming.When ganking you should gank with allys because you don't have enoght power to take enemy down on your own yet.Don't be one that always start and first go in fight let your allys start and you get there after Shackleshot (if possible) and try to save Powershot as finisher.
When you don't gank you should farm i prefer farm in lanes for your Orchid to lvl 14 you should have it don't roam too much because you will loose a lot of exp and money so for late game you will be underleveled and outfarmed and that's not really good for hero like you.


Late Game:
Here you are supporter/ganker you should have 2 items and here team fights starts to happen so here are your roles in team battles depending of your item build:
Orchid+Guinsooisable tank or carry silence and kill caster.
Buriza+Orchid:Orchid and FF tank for max DMG on him.
Deso+Orchid:Orchid and FF tank for max DMG on him.
Euls:Wait for someone start running away than disable him and kill him (don't take if have Dagger or Guinsoo or lothars).
Dagger:Get someone with low hp when he start running or aim good SS (don't take if have Guinsoo, Lothars or Euls usually it will be enoght to set up Shackleshot).
Lothars:Same as dagger (don't take if have Dagger, Guinsoo or Euls).
MKB+Orchid:Orchid and FF someone who can channel spells (ect. Rylai, Enigma).
Guinsoo+Buriza/Deso/MKBisable tank and kill carry.
Shivas: when their team have about half or red hp slow them so thay can't escape.
Always remember you are not one that should start team battle because you don't have a lot of hp and you can die easy let others do it and keep distance.
Even in late game don't try to gank alone because most of times you will fail.


Replays:

I had a lot of replays but now outdated i will give you guys replays as soon as i can.





UTDC.Justin for Shackleshot map
Banjkan3 for Desolator build
Eozm for how to aim section in Powershot
Ingolf for lay-out
Icefrog for making Windrunner
All who read this guide


Last Words:
Hope this guide helped you to learn how to play Alleria and how to use her skills to full power that's all, have nice time playing Alleria.

All who wanna see old lay-out it is posted on planet dota PLANET DOTA: Strategy Guide for Alleria the Wind Runner by MiranaPotM