Atwood, The Captivated Investigator: Chaos, Insanity, and Priority Dispel

Overview

Atwood is one of the elusive "Secret Heroes" from the Shadow Summon, a rare breed that appears unannounced and leaves confusion in his wake. As a Legendary Nature (Green) hero from the Investigator family, he brings a mechanic that was, at the time of his release in early 2024, entirely novel: Insanity.

Playing with Atwood is like playing Russian Roulette with a fully loaded glock, except the gun also dispels buffs and reduces incoming damage. He represents a chaotic neutral playstyle where the outcome of a battle can hinge on a coin flip. He doesn't have a costume, so what you see is what you get: a gentleman scientist who perhaps stared a bit too long into the abyss.

Hero Art & Visuals

Atwood presents a striking figure of a Victorian-era gentleman scholar, complete with a monocle, cravat, and a wonderfully groomed mustache that screams "I know things you cannot comprehend." He holds a syringe-like device, hinting at his role as an investigator of the arcane and biological. The background features ominous, tentacled shadows rising from the sea, a direct nod to Lovecraftian horror and the "Old Ones" mentioned in his passive. It's a classy yet unsettling design that perfectly captures the "mad scientist" vibe without looking like he just rolled out of a dumpster. He looks like he'd offer you a cup of tea, then casually mention it's laced with a serum that lets you see the fourth dimension.

General Info

Hero Stats

Atwood enters the fray with stats that were impressive in early 2024 but now show their age against the juggernauts of late 2025.

Stat Distribution Overview: Atwood has a balanced stat spread with a slight lean towards health.

• Attack: 1122
• Defense: 1110
• Health: 1979

Modern Benchmark Comparison: Compared to the latest heroes released in December 2025 (who boast 1300+ Attack/Defense and 2200+ Health), Atwood's base stats are considered average to low. He has fallen behind the power creep curve significantly. While his Limit Break 2 stats (1384 Attack / 1369 Defense) bring him closer to modern viability, he relies more on his disruptive mechanics than raw stat dominance to stay relevant.

Special Skill: Jewel of the Deep

Analysis: "Jewel of the Deep" is a skill that requires a PhD to understand and a gambling addiction to enjoy.

1. Priority Dispel: This is the crown jewel. Dispelling before hitting is an incredibly potent ability (seen on heroes like Evelyn or costumed Seshat). It ensures his damage isn't mitigated by defensive buffs or counterattacks.
2. The Hit: 380% to three targets is respectable, though not earth-shattering by 2025 standards.
3. Insanity (The Gimmick):
   • Offensive Insanity: He inflicts 45 Insanity on enemies. This means they have a 45% chance to cast their special skill on their own team (healing you, attacking themselves).
   • Self-Inflicted Insanity: He inflicts 55 Insanity on himself. This means the next time Atwood charges, there is a 55% chance he will dispel your team and hit your allies.
4. Immunity: The damage immunity from status ailments (burn, poison, etc.) is a nice cherry on top, countering DOT-heavy teams effectively.

The risk is palpable. You are essentially betting that his disruption of the enemy team outweighs the risk of him turning on you later.

By the Numbers

• Mana Speed: Average. He requires 10 tiles to charge (9 with a level 23 Mana troop or level 11/17 Magic/Styx/Cyclops troop + class nodes).
• Damage Potential:
  • Base Attack: 1122
  • Skill Multiplier: 380%
  • Rough Raw Damage: ~4,263 per target (before defense reduction).
  • Context: Modern hitters often exceed 5,000-6,000 raw damage per target. Atwood hits moderately hard but won't one-shot modern tanks without defense down support.
• Insanity Mechanics:
  • Enemy Debuff: 45% chance to misfire. Effectively a 45% "silence/mindless attack" hybrid on three targets.
  • Self Debuff: 55% chance to misfire. This is a coin flip weighted against you.
• Passive Mitigation:
  • With 55 Insanity, Atwood gains (55 / 10) * 5% = 25% damage reduction from his passive. This makes him surprisingly tanky after he fires once.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

Family Bonus

The Investigator Family bonus provides a boost to Attack and Health for 1/2/3 heroes.

• Analysis: This is a solid stat stick. Even running him solo gives a 20% boost to two key stats, helping patch up his older base numbers. It is effectively a permanent buff that can't be dispelled, making him stat-wise stronger than he appears on paper.

Passives

• Marked by the Old Ones: Reduces damage received by 5% per 10 Insanity.
• Analysis: This is the safety net for his self-inflicted madness. When he has 55 Insanity (after firing), he takes 25% less damage from all sources. If he gets hit by another Insanity provider and reaches 100 Insanity, he takes 50% less damage. This makes him an absolute sponge, difficult to kill even if he is acting like a lunatic.

Aether Power

• Defense Up: +20% Defense for 6 turns.
• Analysis: A standard defensive aether power. It helps him survive the initial onslaught to fire his first special. Given his average speed, this extra durability is welcome, though it is less exciting than "Ailment Immunity" or "Rage".

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Atwood was a "Secret Hero," a concept that frustrated many due to the abysmal 0.1% drop rate. He was a status symbol. The Insanity mechanic was widely debated—some saw it as broken, others as trash due to the RNG.
• Power Creep Analysis: In late 2025, Atwood's stats are undeniably dated. Heroes like Titan Hunter Adelitza or Lin Chong eclipse him in raw numbers. However, Priority Dispel never goes out of style. The ability to strip buffs before dealing damage keeps him mechanically relevant even if his numbers aren't top-tier.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Atwood is Niche / Situational. He is no longer a top-tier defense hero because the stats are too low to hold up against modern snipers. However, in War Attacks (especially Rush) or against buff-heavy teams (taunters, riposters), his priority dispel is invaluable. He is a "high skill, high risk" hero for players who enjoy chaos.

Emblem Path Analysis

The Survivalist (The Recommended Path)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Maximizes his survivability. Since his main utility is the dispel and the insanity debuff, keeping him alive to fire (or to tank hits with his passive damage reduction) is priority one.
• Cons: His hit will feel even softer against modern defense teams.

The Mad Scientist (Attack Path)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Capitalizes on the 380% hit to 3 targets. With the Investigator family bonus giving free Attack %, this can make him hit reasonably hard.
• Cons: He might die before charging at Average speed against Fast/Very Fast meta defenses.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Survivalist (Defense/Health) path is recommended. You bring Atwood to ruin the enemy's plans with Dispel and Insanity, not to be your primary nuker. Let him live long enough to drive everyone crazy.

Strengths

• Priority Dispel: Clears taunts, defense buffs, and counterattacks before dealing damage. One of the best utility mechanics in the game.
• Disruption: Insanity can turn an enemy's powerful special skill against them. A healer might heal your team; a sniper might shoot their own ally.
• Durability: The passive damage reduction combined with the Monk class (resist ailments) makes him surprisingly sturdy.
• Status Damage Immunity: nullifies burn, poison, and water damage for the whole team.

Weaknesses

• RNG Dependent: You cannot rely on Insanity. Sometimes the enemy will fire normally 3 times in a row despite having 45 Insanity.
• Self-Harm: There is a >50% chance Atwood will dispel your own team and hit your allies on his second cast. This makes him a liability in long fights.
• Outdated Stats: Low stats compared to the 2025 meta make him squishy without Limit Breaks.
• Average Speed: Too slow to counter the Very Fast rush of modern defenses without mana support.

Best Game Modes

• Rush Attack: With mana speed set to Very Fast, Atwood shines. He can fire early, strip buffs, and spread insanity before the enemy can set up.
• War Offense: Specifically against buff-heavy tanks or flanks (e.g., Phorcys, Ludwig, Hathor). The priority dispel is key here.
• Bloody Battle: Dispel is king here, and his hit-3 is solid.
• PvE: Insanity is fun against bosses, potentially making them nuke their own minions or heal your team.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Sample Team Ideas

1. The "Cleanse the Madness" Team:
   • Members: Atwood + Direct Healers (e.g., Hathor, Ariel, etc.)
   • Why: Insanity is reduced by 10 for every direct heal received. Pairing Atwood with active healers helps mitigate the 55 Insanity he inflicts on himself, allowing you to potentially use him safely a second time. Note: HoT and Minion heals do not reduce Insanity.
2. The "Buff Buster" Trio:
   • Members: Atwood + fast sniper + clean-up hitter.
   • Why: Atwood fires first to strip defensive buffs (Priority Dispel), opening the door for your snipers to delete key targets without worrying about defensive buffs or riposte.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Counters:
  • Toons / Monks / Clerics: While Insanity supposedly ignores some resistances, modern passives (like Toon passives) often resist "all ailments," making it harder to land the debuff.
  • Softskin: Heroes with Softskin (Gargoyles) can block the application of Insanity.
  • Garten: Specifically blocks the application of Insanity.
• Anti-Synergies:
  • Other Insanity Heroes (without care): Stacking too much insanity can lead to your whole team hitting themselves.
  • Passive Healers: Heroes who rely solely on regeneration or minions for healing won't help cleanse Atwood's self-insanity.

Advice for New Players

If you were lucky enough to pull Atwood from a random portal (or the specific Secret Summon window), he is a game-changer for early to mid-game. His dispel alone will solve many map stages and raid puzzles for you. Don't worry too much about the self-insanity early on; usually, one fire is enough to cripple the enemy team. Level him up immediately.

Advice for Veterans

Atwood is a luxury tool. In the era of 2025, you likely have faster, harder-hitting options. However, do not sleep on the Priority Dispel. If you are facing a meta dominated by heavy buffers, Atwood is a skeleton key. Is he worth Alpha Aethers? Probably not, unless you use him in your main War Attack team daily. Save those aethers for heroes with 1300+ base power.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

• "What is Insanity?" The community spent weeks confused about the mechanic. "It's like Mindless Attack but worse... or better?" The consensus settled on "Chaotic."
• The "Gary Oldman" Theory: Players immediately noted his resemblance to a certain legendary actor, dubbing him the "Commissioner Gordon" or "Dracula" of E&P.
• The Nerf/Buff Rollercoaster: Initially, there was confusion about whether HoT (Heal over Time) cleansed Insanity. It was clarified that only direct heals work, which disappointed those hoping to pair him simply with regeneration heroes.
• Secret Summon Frustration: The 0.1% drop rate and 24-hour availability windows caused significant salt in the forums. Atwood became a symbol of "whale territory" for a brief period.

Final Thoughts

Atwood is a hero who refuses to be boring. In a game often dominated by pure math and stat checks, he brings a narrative arc to every battle: Will he save the day, or will he succumb to the madness and destroy his own team? While his stats have gathered a bit of dust, his Priority Dispel remains a platinum-tier ability. Use him when you need to strip buffs and sow chaos, but maybe don't rely on him to hold the line alone.

Verdict: A distinguished, dangerous gentleman who has aged gracefully into a niche utility role. Keep him for the dispel, stay for the madness.