The Reviled Captain
Hodgkin
- Faction: Graveborn
- Type: Strength
- Class: Tank
- Role: Tank
- Rarity: Ascended
- Union: Unknown
- Monikers: Unknown
- Race: Unknown
- Gender: Male
- Height: 183 cm
- Age: 50
- Affiliations:
- Silas
- Desira
- Nara
- Voice Actor: Takayuki Ishii
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Introduction
AFK Arena Hodgkin, known as the Reviled Captain, is a powerful and versatile hero within the Graveborn faction, excelling in both offensive and defensive roles. With a unique set of abilities focused on controlling enemies and disrupting their strategies, AFK Arena Hodgkin stands out as a tactical powerhouse on the battlefield. His dark origins align him perfectly with the Graveborn faction’s themes of life-draining powers and battlefield manipulation, enabling him to excel at absorbing damage and providing crowd control.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Skills
The Immortal
At Level 1: Hodgkin summons a ghost ship that crashes into the most concentrated area of enemies, dealing 330% AoE damage to enemies, simultaneously siphoning the souls of all enemies on the battlefield for 7 seconds. Enemies that have their souls siphoned also have their damage and healing efficiency reduced by 25%.
At Level 81: Enemies are additionally terrified for 3.5 seconds.
At Level 161: Damage is increased to 360%.
At Level 241: Enemies that have their souls siphoned now also lose 50% of their Energy recovery during the siphoning duration.
Soul Devourer
At Level 11: Hodgkin raises both of his Soul Devourer cannons and deals 240% damage to his target, also siphoning their soul in the process. The effects of the soul siphoning are the same as “The Immortal”. This ability has an additional 35% Life Leech effect when damage is dealt.
At Level 21: Damage is increased to 260%.
At Level 101: If an enemy has already had their soul siphoned, they will be additionally stunned for 3 seconds.
At Level 181: Damage is increased to 280%.
Jolly Roger
At Level 41: Hodgkin summons down a Jolly Roger flag that deals 230% AoE damage to nearby enemies. Allied heroes that are within range have their Defense Ratings increased by 20% and their Attack Ratings increased by 20% for the following 10 seconds.
If an enemy within range has had their soul siphoned, the flag shall be strengthened, with its duration being extended to 3 seconds. After the flag has been strengthened, any allied heroes within range shall have their Haste additionally increased by 35 points.
At Level 121: Damage is increased to 260%.
At Level 201: Allied heroes within range have their Defense Ratings increased by 30% and Attack Ratings increased by 30%.
Reviler’s Defiance
At Level 61: Hodgkin starts blocking frontal damage and is immune to control effects for up to 3 seconds, or until he blocks an amount of damage equal to 25% of his max health. After Hodgkin finishes blocking damage, he immediately retaliates against the attacker, dealing up to 15% of the attacker’s max health as damage.
The amount of damage dealt is determined by the duration of time Hodgkin blocks damage for, but shall not exceed 550% of Hodgkin’s own Attack Rating.
At Level 141: Damage equal to 35% of Hodgkin’s max health can be blocked.
At Level 221: Deals damage up to 20% of the target’s max health.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Signature Item
Reviler’s Defiance
With the help of the infamous scientist, Silas, bloodthirsty Hodgkin had both of his arms augmented with powerful hand-cannons that contain a lethal substance.
Not only can the Soul Devourers consume souls, they are also capable of letting loose a deadly barrage of firepower upon Hodgkin’s enemies.
Skill: Pirate’s Greed
Hodgkin immediately recovers 10% of his max health for every non-summoned target that has their soul siphoned. This effect can be triggered 3 times every 4.5 seconds.
+ 10 Unlocks : Hodgkin immediately recovers 15% of his max health for every non-summoned target that has their soul siphoned.
+ 20 Unlocks : Hodgkin’s 1 most injured allies shall also recover 15% of their max health values.
+ 30 Unlocks : Each time an enemy has their soul siphoned, the damage Hodgkin deals to that enemy is permanently increased by 20%. This effect can be stacked against every enemy a maximum of 3 times.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Furniture Set Bonuses
Pirate’s Curse
3/9 Mythic Pieces: When an enemy has their soul siphoned, the effect shall continue up until Hodgkin’s death.
9/9 Mythic Pieces: Enemies that have their souls siphoned shall have their healing efficiency and damage reduced by 35%. If the same enemy has their soul siphoned again, they will be dealt damage equal to 290% of Hodgkin’s Attack Rating.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Engraving Abilities
Jolly Roger
At Level 30: Enhance the ability Jolly Roger, Damage is increased to 280%.
Reach 2 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: MR +3.04.
Reach 3 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: MR +3.04.
Reviler’s Defiance
At Level 60: Enhance the ability Reviler’s Defiance, Blocking time is ignored, Hodgkin shall always deal damage equal to 20% of the target’s max health.
Reach 4 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: MR +3.04.
Reach 5 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: MR +3.04.
Endeavor
At Level 80: Arena of Heroes, Legends’ Challenger Tournament, Legends’ Championship, Heroes of Esperia: HP +13.7%, DEF +37.04%.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Synergistic Heroes
HeroRoleTeam Synergy InteractionSilasSupport/Healer★ Silas boosts survivability with healing and his buff that increases damage dealt. His ultimate can keep Hodgkin alive longer during frontline engagements.Ferael
Ranger/Disruptor★ Ferael’s constant fear effects stack well with Hodgkin’s crowd control. Both disrupt enemy backlines.Desira
Support/Healer★ Provides AoE healing, debuff removal, and additional control with charm. She helps Hodgkin survive and stall enemies longer.Oden
Mage/Control★ Oden’s energy drain and teleporting enemies complement Hodgkin’s AoE control.
Synergy: Together, they disrupt enemy ult generation and positioning.Grezhul
Tank/Summoner★ Grezhul summons skeletons and provides frontline durability with shields. Combined, both make the frontline hard to break.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Strong Crowd Control
His Ultimate skill, The Immortal, deals AoE damage and inflicts Fear on enemies, disrupting their formation and giving your team a momentum advantage.
Anti-Sustain and Life Leech
Soul Devourer deals damage and steals life from enemies, making him highly effective against healing-heavy compositions or sustain-based teams.
Team-Wide Buff
Jolly Roger increases allies’ damage when enemies die, providing Hodgkin’s team with scaling buffs as the battle goes on.
Tankiness and Sustain
This ability grants damage reduction and healing, giving Hodgkin excellent frontline durability, especially in extended fights.
Synergistic with Graveborn and Control-Based Teams
He pairs well with heroes like Ferael, Desira, and Silas, and fits into compositions that benefit from fear effects or debuff stacking.
Weaknesses
Slow Power Spike
AFK Arena Hodgkin scales with enemy deaths and time due to Jolly Roger and soul collection, making him less effective in fast-paced or early-game battles.
Weak in Solo or Boss Fights
His crowd control and buffs rely on multiple enemies dying, which limits his usefulness in boss battles like Twisted Realm or Cursed Realm.
Relies on Team Composition
He performs best in well-synergized teams, especially Graveborn or debuff-heavy lineups. Without proper synergy, his impact can feel lackluster.
Lacks High Damage Output
While durable and disruptive, Hodgkin’s personal DPS is relatively low, so he can’t carry battles on his own.
High Investment Required
To perform at his best, Hodgkin needs a +20 Signature Item, 3/9 or 9/9 Furniture, and ideally Engraving — making him resource-intensive to fully optimize.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Lore and Story
Once a fearsome pirate captain who struck terror across the seas of Esperia, Hodgkin’s name was whispered with dread in ports and coastal towns. Ruthless, cunning, and utterly remorseless, AFK Arena Hodgkin sailed under the black flag, leaving a trail of wrecked ships and plundered cities. His thirst for power and treasure knew no bounds, and he was willing to cross every line even making dark pacts with powers beyond the mortal realm.
AFK Arena Hodgkin’s fall began when he sought immortality. He entered a pact with ancient, malevolent forces in exchange for eternal life and dominance over the sea. But the deal came at a cost: his soul was forfeit, his humanity stripped away. Betrayed by his own crew and cast overboard, Hodgkin perished only to rise again from the depths as an undead abomination.
Reborn through necromantic energies, Hodgkin returned as a Graveborn, his body a bloated, spectral vessel of rage and undeath. With his ghostly ship and cursed crew, he now roams the seas not for gold, but to exact vengeance on the living especially those who betrayed him. The ocean trembles when his cursed galleon appears, for the Reviled Captain is driven by wrath, bound to the sea until all debts are paid in blood.
AFK Arena Hodgkin Guide: Conclusion
In conclusion, AFK Arena Hodgkin is a highly versatile Graveborn hero who excels as both a durable frontline tank and a powerful crowd control specialist. With abilities like Reviler’s Defiance for damage mitigation and Soul Devourer for life leech and sustain, he can effectively protect allies while weakening enemy teams. His synergy with other Graveborn heroes such as Ferael and Silas further enhances his utility, making him a strong addition to any lineup. With proper investment in his Signature Item, Furniture, and Engravings, Hodgkin proves to be a reliable and impactful hero in both PvE and PvP content.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
🔖Is Hodgkin a good tank in AFK Arena?
AFK Arena Hodgkin is an excellent frontline tank, especially in control-based or sustain-heavy teams. His Reviler’s Defiance gives him damage reduction and healing, while his Soul Devourer adds life leech, allowing him to survive long engagements and protect squishier allies.
🔖What game modes is Hodgkin best in?
AFK Arena Hodgkin excels in several key game modes, particularly in mid to late-game Campaign stages, where his durability and crowd control help manage tough enemy formations. He is also highly effective in PvP, especially in control-based team compositions that capitalize on fear and debuff synergy. In the Tower of Esperia, specifically the Graveborn Tower, Hodgkin shines thanks to his strong faction synergy and survivability. While not a primary damage dealer, he can still offer utility in Guild Hunt scenarios by disrupting enemy mechanics and supporting more damage-focused allies.
🔖What are the best investments for Hodgkin (SI, Furniture, Engraving)?
For optimal performance, invest in SI +30 for max damage reduction and healing, 9/9 Furniture to boost Soul Devourer and Jolly Roger, and E36–E61 Engraving for better tankiness, energy recovery, and stat scaling.
🔖Is Hodgkin viable without max investments?
AFK Arena Hodgkin can still function with SI +20 and 3/9 Furniture, but his full potential, especially in terms of self-sustain, team buffs, and fear duration, requires full investment. Without proper upgrades, his performance is noticeably limited, especially in competitive PvP and high-level PvE stages.
🔖Is Hodgkin good for early game progression?
AFK Arena Hodgkin’s strengths scale with enemy deaths and longer battles, making him more effective in mid to late-game content. In the early game, his slow ramp-up and reliance on team synergy mean he struggles to carry on his own compared to early-game powerhouses like Lucius, Rowan, or Daimon.
