Dark Willow vs Hoodwink

How this matchup plays

Fighting near trees often favors Hoodwink in this matchup. Dark Willow relies on landing spells like Bramble Maze to control a fight, but Hoodwink’s Scurry provides the mobility to easily sidestep them. The more crucial interaction is with Shadow Realm. While Dark Willow can become untargetable, she can't dodge a well-placed Bushwhack, since it's an area-of-effect stun that triggers near trees, not a targeted spell. This gives Hoodwink a reliable way to lock down Dark Willow even when she tries to use her main defensive ability, which can be enough to turn a skirmish.

Across the game, this means Hoodwink can often dictate the terms of engagement. She can play from the safety of the trees, looking for a pickoff with her long-range abilities. For Dark Willow to succeed, she needs to get the jump on Hoodwink, often closing the distance instantly to land a Cursed Crown before Hoodwink can Scurry away or break line of sight. It's a fragile standoff where both heroes can kill each other quickly, but Hoodwink’s ability to use the terrain for both safety and aggression gives her a small, consistent advantage.