Takes reduced damage when facing away from enemies
When it comes to a fight, Bristleback really puts his back into it. Reducing all damage arriving from the rear or from the sides, he wades into battle with barely a care, spraying enemies with damaging quills and slowing snot.
Win Rate 47.6%
Pick Rate 6.5%
Attributes
![bristleback Image](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/heroes/bristleback.webp)
484 +59.4/lvl
168 +33.6/lvl
![Strength Image](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/attributes/Strength.png)
22 +2.7/lvl
![Agility Image](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/attributes/Agility.png)
17 +1.8/lvl
![Intelligence Image](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/attributes/Intelligence.png)
14 +2.8/lvl
Stats
![Attack](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react//heroes/stats/icon_damage.png)
Damage:
25 - 31 + 1.8/level (77.2 - 83.2 at level 30)
![Attack](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react//heroes/stats/icon_attack_range.png)
Range:
150
![Attack](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react//heroes/stats/icon_armor.png)
Armor:
1 + 0.3/level (9.7 at level 30)
![Attack](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react//heroes/stats/icon_movement_speed.png)
Movement:
295
Roles
Carry
Escape
Nuker
Initiator
Durable
Disabler
Support
Pusher
Facets
![damage icon](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react/icons/facets/damage.png)
Berserk
Win Rate: 47.6%
Pick Rate: 77.0%
Warpath grants scaling Attack Speed instead of Damage.
![](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react/icons/innate_icon.png)
Warpath
Warpath grants scaling Attack Speed instead of Damage.
DAMAGE PER STACK:
5
ATTACK SPEED PER STACK:
5/10/15/20
![snot icon](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react/icons/facets/snot.png)
Snot Rocket
Win Rate: 47.3%
Pick Rate: 23.0%
Bristleback now fires Viscous Nasal Goo instead of Quills when damaged. Viscous Nasal Goo effects are stronger.
![](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/abilities/bristleback_viscous_nasal_goo.webp)
Viscous Nasal Goo
Max stacks and armor reduction per stack increased.
ARMOR LOSS PER STACK:
1
STACK LIMIT:
2
![](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/abilities/bristleback_bristleback.webp)
Bristleback
Instead of releasing Quill Spray from taking damage, he instead launches Nasal Goo of the current level at all nearby enemies.
NASAL GOO RADIUS:
900
Abilities
![Innate Ability Image](https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/apps/dota2/images/dota_react/icons/innate_icon.png)
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
DAMAGE PER STACK: 5/15/20/25
ATTACK SPEED PER STACK: 0
MOVEMENT PER STACK: 0%/2%/3%/4%
STACK DURATION: 12/16/18/20
MAX STACKS: 4/8/10/12
![](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/abilities/bristleback_viscous_nasal_goo.webp)
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 6 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
AFFECTS:unit
PASSIVE:No
DISPELLABLE:basic
DEBUFF:yes
goo speed:1000
goo duration:6
base armor:2 / 2 / 3 / 3
armor per stack:1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3
base move slow:15
move slow per stack:3 / 6 / 9 / 12
stack limit:4
goo duration creep:10
AbilityCastRange:650
![Talet tree background](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branches](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_all_off_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branch](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_pip15_psd.png)
+250 Goo Cast Range
![Cool Down](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/generic/cooldown.webp)
1.75
![Mana Cost](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/generic/mana.webp)
12 / 16 / 20 / 24
![](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/abilities/bristleback_quill_spray.webp)
Quill Spray
Sprays enemy units with quills dealing damage in an area of effect around Bristleback. Deals bonus damage for every time a unit was hit by Quill Spray in the last 14 seconds.
PASSIVE:No
radius:700
quill base damage:25 / 45 / 65 / 85
quill stack damage:30
quill stack duration:14
max damage:500
projectile speed:2400
![Talet tree background](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branches](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_all_off_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branch](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_pip20_psd.png)
+20 Quill Stack Damage
![Cool Down](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/generic/cooldown.webp)
3 / 3 / 3 / 3
![Mana Cost](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/generic/mana.webp)
35 / 35 / 35 / 35
![](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/abilities/bristleback_bristleback.webp)
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes 275 / 250 / 225 / 200 damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
PASSIVE:Breakable
side damage reduction:8 / 12 / 16 / 20
back damage reduction:16 / 24 / 32 / 40
side angle:110
back angle:70
quill release threshold:275 / 250 / 225 / 200
quill release interval:0.1
activation cooldown:24
activation manacost:100
activation delay:0.5
activation num quill sprays:6
activation spray interval:0.4
activation angle:45
activation movement speed pct:-40
activation turn rate pct:-100
activation disable turning:1
activation ignore cast angle:1
activation turn rate:500
![Aghanim Scepter](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/items/aghsstatus_scepter_on.png)
![Aghanim Shard](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/items/aghsstatus_shard.png)
Aghanim`s Scepter Upgrade
Adds active ability to Bristleback. Bristleback rotates towards the targeted direction and, after 0.5s, forcefully ejects 6 sequential Quill Sprays in a tight conical pattern out of his back every 0.4s. Bristleback's facing is locked during this time, he is disarmed, and his speed is reduced by -40.
![Talet tree background](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branches](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_all_off_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branch](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_pip15_psd.png)
+8%/4% Bristleback Back/Side Damage Reduction
![](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/abilities/bristleback_hairball.webp)
Hairball
Coughs a quill-packed hairball towards the target location. Erupts at the location, hitting enemies with Viscous Nasal Goo stacks and Quill Spray.
AFFECTS:area
PASSIVE:No
DISPELLABLE:basic
DEBUFF:yes
projectile speed:1200
radius:700
quill stacks:1
goo stacks:2
![Cool Down](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/generic/cooldown.webp)
13
![Mana Cost](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/generic/mana.webp)
40
Talents
![Talet tree background](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branches](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_all_off_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branch](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_pip25_psd.png)
+18 Warpath Damage Per Stack
+ 2.4 %
+12% Spell Lifesteal
![Talet tree background](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branches](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_all_off_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branch](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_pip20_psd.png)
+25 Health Regen
+ 1.6 %
+20 Quill Stack Damage
![Talet tree background](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branches](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_all_off_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branch](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_pip15_psd.png)
+250 Goo Cast Range
+ 3.7 %
+8%/4% Bristleback Back/Side Damage Reduction
![Talet tree background](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branches](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_bg_all_off_psd.webp)
![Talent tree branch](https://download.dotacoach.gg/app/images/talentTree/statbranch_button_pip10_psd.png)
+1.5 Mana Regen
+ 0.9 %
+25 Attack Speed
Win Rate
Pick Rate
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 camps as you can clear it at level 7.
Once you get Vanguard, play very strong in lane. Look to push the enemy out of the lane and break their Safelane tower with the help of your support.
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 Bristleback's passives.
Armor items are good to counter Bristleback's physical damage output.
Lore
Never one to turn his back on a fight, Rigwarl was known for battling the biggest, meanest scrappers he could get his hands on. Christened Bristleback by the drunken crowds, he waded into backroom brawls in every road tavern between Slom and Elze, until his exploits finally caught the eye of a barkeep in need of an enforcer. For a bit of brew, Bristleback was hired to collect tabs, keep the peace, and break the occasional leg or two (or five, in the case of one unfortunate web-hund). After indulging in a night of merriment during which bodily harm was meted out in equal parts upon both delinquent patrons and his own liver, Bristleback finally met his match. "Your tusks offend me, sir," he was heard to drunkenly slur to one particularly large fellow from the northern wastes whose bill had come due. What followed was a fight for the ages. A dozen fighters jumped in. No stool was left unbroken, and in the end, the impossible happened: the tab went unpaid. Over the weeks that followed, Bristleback's wounds healed, and his quills grew back; but an enforcer's honor can be a prickly thing. He paid the tab from his own coin, vowing to track down this northerner and extract redemption. And then he did something he'd never done before: he actually trained, and in so doing made a startling discovery about himself. A smile peeled back from his teeth as he flexed his quills. Turning his back to a fight might be just the thing.