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Bristleback

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Select Role

Ability Build

1
Quill Spray
2
Bristleback
3
Quill Spray
4
Viscous Nasal Goo
5
Quill Spray
6
Warpath
7
Quill Spray
8
Bristleback
9
Bristleback
10
Bristleback
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
11
+1.5 Mana Regen
12
Warpath
13
Viscous Nasal Goo
14
Viscous Nasal Goo
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
15
+8%/4% Bristleback Back/Side Damage Reduction
16
Viscous Nasal Goo
17
Attribute Bonus
18
Warpath
19
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
20
+20 Quill Stack Damage
21
Attribute Bonus
22
Attribute Bonus
23
Attribute Bonus
24
Attribute Bonus
Talet tree backgroundTalent tree branchesTalent tree branch
25
+12% Spell Lifesteal

Disables, Buffs and Passives

AbilitiesDisablesDispellable BuffsBreakable Passives
Interrupts ChannelingSilencesRoots
Viscous Nasal Goo
Quill Spray
Bristleback
Warpath

Item Build

Starting
Tango
Iron Branch
Iron Branch
4
Quelling Blade
Gauntlets of Strength
Gauntlets of Strength
1
Observer Ward
Early Game
Vanguard
25
Soul Ring
8
Phase Boots
15
Magic Wand
7
Infused Raindrops
Mid Game
Aghanim's Scepter
35
Bloodstone
Eternal Shroud
Aghanim's Shard
Kaya and Sange
Late Game
27
Shiva's Guard
Boots of Travel
Heart of Tarrasque
Assault Cuirass
Situational
55
Arcane Boots
16
Veil of Discord
Cloak
60
Pipe of Insight
25
Blade Mail
35
Crimson Guard
30
Satanic
35
Abyssal Blade
Daedalus
95
Black King Bar
18
Heaven's Halberd
40
Guardian Greaves
15
Lotus Orb
14
Linken's Sphere
Octarine Core
15
Overwhelming Blink
Boots of Travel 2
Neutral
60
Arcane Ring
Spark of Courage
Vambrace
Vampire Fangs
Cloak of Flames
40
Ogre Seal Totem
10
Havoc Hammer
Rattlecage
Giant's Ring
20
Arcanist's Armor

Hero Strategy

If you can be aggressive, take a point in Viscous Nasal Goo as it will greatly improve physical damage output.

Turn your back to opponents, their towers or stacks of neutral creeps whenever you expect to take loads of damage.

Alert your supports to stack for you, especially ancient camp as you can clear it at level 7.

Apply aggression on the map as Bristleback by taking and defending towers, as well as rotating through portals.

Check opponents' inventories frequently in search for break effects and healing reductions. Black King Bar and dispel items counter some of them.

You can take Roshan down fast and early with your team thanks to Viscous Nasal Goo.

Use the Bloodstone active together with Bristleback active with Aghanims Scepter to do a massive burst of damage while healing yourself.

Counter Strategy

Magic Stick and Wand are must items against Bristleback's Quill Spray spam.

Someone should buy Spirit Vessel against Bristleback to counter his regeneration and healing.

If you have no good way of dealing with Bristleback, leave and don't waste too many resources on him.

Silver Edge allows you to break Bristleeback's passives.

Armor items are good to counter Bristleback's physical damage output.

Counter Items for Core Players

Laning Phase
15
Magic Wand
Armor items
Ring of Regen
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
7
Urn of Shadows
Mid Game
7
Spirit Vessel
16
Solar Crest
50
Mekansm
15
Diffusal Blade
20
Silver Edge
19
Hurricane Pike
Late Game
Assault Cuirass
15
Bloodthorn
Eye of Skadi
Butterfly

Counter Items for Support Players

Laning Phase
15
Magic Wand
Armor items
Ring of Regen
Wind Lace
Boots of Speed
7
Urn of Shadows
Mid Game
7
Spirit Vessel
16
Solar Crest
50
Mekansm
14
Glimmer Cape
19
Force Staff
22
Ghost Scepter