The sound of a horn from the sea always strikes fear into the hearts of local residents, as it signals the approach of an angular ship cutting through the mist. They hide away, praying silently that the gaze of the Dead Tide Fleet's captain will not fall upon them. This formidable plunderer is Hodgkin, and his arrival is akin to a nightmare that can't be escaped or challenged. Today, we will delve into the story of this menacing Graveborn captain and discover how he rules the treacherous sea with the Void Relic and his relentless power.
Hodgkin, once a notorious pirate leader, was infamous for raiding ships across the sea and despised by many for his wicked deeds. One day, he encountered a righteous seeker in a fierce confrontation and was defeated. This loss made him realize his limitations and fueled his desire for even greater power.
Refusing to be seen as a weakling, Hodgkin set out on a quest for an ancient, legendary relic. He infiltrated the Bantus Empire and stole the powerful Void Relic. By harnessing the relic's power, Hodgkin resurrected the dead from the ocean depths, forming a formidable Graveborn fleet named the "Dead Tide Fleet." He then returned to where he was once defeated, determined to make a comeback and reclaim his dominance over the region with the terrifying fleet at his command.
As the first Graveborn Hodgkin created with the Void Relic, Bonnie possessed exceptional combat abilities, yet she still retained some humanity and warmth within her. This deeply irked Hodgkin, who believed that only the merciless and cold-hearted were fit to survive in this world. After Bonnie, Hodgkin went on to resurrect many more Graveborn, and among them, Nara stood out with her deep-seated hatred. Hodgkin appointed Nara as the new leader of the Water Wights, but to him, she was merely a useful tool, much like a hawk he had once trained. That hawk had been his companion for years, helping him hunt for targets on the sea. When age dulled its agility, Hodgkin fed it to a sea monster without a second thought. In his world, only those who serve a purpose are worthy of existence; those who don't suffer the same fate as the hawk. He never pities the weak, as he always preaches, "In the struggle for survival, weakness is a sin."
As a powerful Graveborn warrior, Hodgkin not only displays unparalleled attacking abilities but also excels in defending and crowd control. With every strike, he tilts the odds increasingly in his favor.
Cannon Fire
Hodgkin's Ultimate, Cannon Fire, allows him to fire a cannon at each enemy hero in sequence, dealing damage to the hit enemy and their adjacent enemies. While damage decreases with multiple hits on the same target, his attacks remain difficult for enemies to withstand. Hodgkin is brutal when casting this skill, viewing everyone as a sacrifice, including his own subordinates.
Phantom Respite
Phantom Respite is Hodgkin's core defensive skill. It allows him to enter an ethereal state that renders him immunity to physical damage and the ability to recover a certain amount of HP per second. Every time he casts Cannon Fire, he immediately enters the ethereal state or extends the duration of the state. Hodgkin enjoys being a Graveborn, as he needs no food, fights tirelessly, and feels no pain.
Rending Cleave
Upon casting Rending Cleave, Hodgkin deals damage to enemies within an arc and weakens them by stealing their Energy.
Ardent Believers
The Graveborn that form the Dead Tide Fleet are created, summoned, or converted from living humans by Hodgkin. These Graveborn harbor inherent fear toward Hodgkin and are completely submissive to him. Yet, they are nothing more than expendable tools to Hodgkin. After unlocking Hodgkin's exclusive skill, Ardent Believers, his combat power will be significantly boosted, as he can summon two Dead Tide Warriors when a battle begins. The warriors will explode when defeated, dealing damage to surrounding enemies and making them lose Energy.
Hodgkin's callousness and intelligence make him a dreadful presence on the battlefield. Not only can he summon Graveborn to assist him in combat, but he can also evade attacks by entering an ethereal form, ensuring his survival even in the harshest conditions. For those looking to take down the Dead Tide Fleet, Hodgkin is definitely a tough opponent to face. Are you ready to confront him?