Medusa stats, abilities and strategy [7.41a]
Immobilizes her enemies with her stone gaze
Constant attack is the key to Medusa's success. Using her mana shield to stave off assault, she employs split shots to mow down waves of enemies. Once she gathers her full strength, she becomes a force powerful enough to stop anyone in their tracks.
Win Rate 51.3%
Pick Rate 4.5%
Attributes
120 +0.0/lvl
375 +43.2/lvl
0 +0.0/lvl
22 +3.6/lvl
25 +3.6/lvl
Stats
Damage:
48 - 54 + 3.6/level (166 - 172 at level 30)
Range:
600
Armor:
2.7 + 0.6/level (22.4 at level 30)
Movement:
275
Roles
Carry
Durable
Nuker
Pusher
Support
Escape
Disabler
Initiator
Facets
Abilities
ABILITY: Passive
Creates a shield that absorbs 98% of incoming damage in exchange for Medusa's mana. Illusions absorb 60% less damage per point of mana.
Absorbs damage before any damage reduction takes place, meaning that armor will not reduce the amount of mana needed to absorb damage.
DAMAGE PER MANA: 2
While Medusa was not gifted with eternal life upon birth, her curse bestowed her with impressive defensive powers.
Split Shot
PIERCES DEBUFF IMMUNITY: Yes
PASSIVE: No
Medusa 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).
Secondary targets will be the closest enemy units excluding the primary target.
If illusions of Medusa are created while Split Shot is active, they will also have this ability.
OUTGOING DAMAGE: 50% / 60% / 70% / 80%
EXTRA TARGETS: 4
LEVEL 20 TALENT: +12% Split Shot Outgoing Damage
All who encounter the cursed Gorgon will feel her rage.
Mystic Snake
AFFECTS: Unit
DAMAGE TYPE: Magical
PIERCES DEBUFF IMMUNITY: No
PASSIVE: No
A 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.
Mystic Snake cannot be disjointed.
JUMP RADIUS: 450
JUMPS: 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
BASE DAMAGE: 90 / 140 / 190 / 240
MANA GAIN: 15%
DAMAGE/SPEED INCREASE PER JUMP: 25%
15 / 14 / 13 / 12
750
LEVEL 20 TALENT: +40% Mystic Snake Damage / Mana Gain
LEVEL 15 TALENT: -4s Mystic Snake Cooldown
The Gorgon's curse is her greatest strength.
Gorgon's Grasp
AFFECTS: Area
DAMAGE TYPE: Physical
PIERCES DEBUFF IMMUNITY: No
PASSIVE: No
DISPELLABLE: Yes
Medusa 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
30 / 26 / 22 / 18
65 / 85 / 105 / 125
625
LEVEL 15 TALENT: +1 Gorgon's Grasp Volley
LEVEL 10 TALENT: +20% Gorgon's Grasp Radius
Patch 7.41
- Cooldown decreased from 30/27/24/21s to 30/26/22/18s
- Now always centers the cast cursor around the second grouping, even if the number of volleys is increased
The best predators don't even need to pounce.
Stone Gaze
PIERCES DEBUFF IMMUNITY: Yes
PASSIVE: No
Any 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.
Regardless of when a unit receives the Stone Gaze buff while the ability is active on Medusa, it will still receive the full debuff duration.
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%
90
1200
LEVEL 25 TALENT: +2.5s Stone Gaze Duration
LEVEL 10 TALENT: +12% Stone Gaze Bonus Physical Damage
The beauty of Medusa is legendary.
Cold Blooded
Shard grants new ability
ABILITY: Passive
DAMAGE TYPE: Magical
PIERCES DEBUFF IMMUNITY: No
PASSIVE: Breakable
When Medusa is targeted with a spell, a single-target Mystic Snake is sent back towards the enemy that turns them into stone for 1s.
12
Point your gaze at her if you dare.
Talents
+40 Intelligence
+ 4.3%
+2.5s Stone Gaze Duration
+12% Split Shot Outgoing Damage
+ 3.4%
+40% Mystic Snake Damage / Mana Gain
-4s Mystic Snake Cooldown
+ 0.4%
+1 Gorgon's Grasp Volley
+12% Stone Gaze Bonus Physical Damage
+ 1.1%
+20% Gorgon's Grasp Radius
Win Rate
Pick Rate
Patch 7.41
- Level 10 Talent Stone Gaze Bonus Physical Damage increased from +10% to +12%
- Level 15 Talent Mystic Snake Cooldown Reduction increased from 3s to 4s
- Level 15 Talent +8% Split Shot Outgoing Damage replaced with +1 Gorgon's Grasp Volley
- Level 20 Talent +1 Gorgon's Grasp Volley replaced with +12% Split Shot Outgoing Damage
- Level 20 Talent +3 Mystic Snake Bounces replaced with +40% Mystic Snake Damage / Mana Gain
- Level 25 Talent Stone Gaze Duration increased from +2s to +2.5s
Strategy
Secure ranged creep with Mystic Snake if contested.
In order to get most of the mana back, Mystic snake needs to hit heroes and ranged creeps.
Ask your teammates to stack for you as you can clear them early.
From level 5, you can start clearing lane creeps quickly and farming camps nearby to accelerate your farm.
If possible, farm two neutral camps at the same time with Split Shot and Mystic Snake.
You don't have to skill Stone Gaze at level 6 unless you feel like you might be in danger or looking to enter a big teamfight.
If a neutral camp consists of multiple creeps with mana pools, Mystic Snake can regain you a lot of mana.
Use 
Manta Style with Split Shot on to farm extra creepwaves that you can't with your hero.
You need not rush Stone Gaze usage in the fights. Make sure opponents are committed to the fight before you pop it.
Position yourself in the center of the fight to Split Shot multiple heros. Medusa does mediocre single-target damage.
Mana burn is a big problem for Medusa. You can itemize against it or adapt the playstyle.
If things are going rough, consider purchasing 
Divine Rapier. Works well with Split Shot upgraded with 
Aghanim's Scepter.
Your mana pool also acts as your HP pool. So remain aware of your current mana and keep it high with 
Enchanted Mango, 
Clarity, and 
Healing Lotus.
Counter Strategy
Play on the side of the creepwave to avoid being hit by Mystic Snake - Medusa's main laning spell.
Look to kill Medusa before she activates her ultimate. If Stone Gaze is up, turn or run away from Medusa.
Medusa farms quickly due to Split Shot. Place deep 
Observer Ward, gank her with 
Smoke of Deceit and block off camps with 
Sentry Ward.
Mana burning spells and items are great against Medusa.
Crimson Guard, armor items and 
Heaven's Halberd are great against Medusa.
Medusa is extremely squishy once her mana pool is gone as she has a very small HP pool.