Bristleback counter and synergy picks
Pick Bristleback with Wraith King to increase win-rate from 49.2% to 56.8% or against Juggernaut to increase win-rate to 57.8% in Patch 7.38c.
Good with...
...based on stats [7.38c]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▼ |
|---|---|
7.6% | |
4.3% | |
4.3% | |
3.7% | |
3.2% | |
3.1% | |
3.0% | |
2.8% | |
2.8% | |
2.6% | |
2.6% | |
2.6% | |
2.5% | |
2.5% | |
2.5% |
...based on gameplay [up-to-date]
Abaddon's constant sustain with Mist Coil allows Bristleback to play even more into his strengths as he is able to turn HP into Damage with Bristleback Quill Spray procs. Apothic Shield is cruicial as it can dispel some Break effects on top of providing with extra damage and survivability.
Dazzle does exclusively physical damage and is able to reduce opponents Armor with Weave, which has scaling synergy with Viscous Nasal Goo and BB's own physical damage output with Quill Spray. Shadow Wave and Grave allow Bristleback to play even more into his strengths as he is able to turn HP into Damage with Bristleback Quill Spray procs.
Purifying Flames can trigger Quill Spray procs from Bristleback despite them being on the same team. Fortune's End and False Promise arecruicial as they can dispel some Break effects on top of providing extra crowd control and survivability.
Ink Swell gives Bristleback everything he needs to make use of his toolkit - Movement Speed, Damage, Lockdown and a Dispel. Soul Bind prevents enemies from separating, allowing BB to get his damage off on at least 2 targets at the same time.
Omniknight's constant sustain with Purification and Repel allows Bristleback to play even more into his strengths as he is able to turn HP into Damage with Bristleback Quill Spray procs. The combination of Repel providing Magic Resistane and Guardian Angel providing Physical Immunity allows BB to survive Breaks with ease.
...counter items [up-to-date]
A core item that allows you to do massive burst damage in an area with multiple Quill Sprays. Works well in combination with Bloodstone for a massive burst of healing.
A core item to increase your AoE damage and slow with more Viscous Nasal Goo and Quill Spray stacks.
A late-game core item that provides you with extreme tankiness from armor and high DPS due to high attack speed buff for yourself and teammmates around.
Good against...
...based on stats [7.38c]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▼ |
|---|---|
8.7% | |
7.7% | |
6.8% | |
6.6% | |
5.4% | |
5.0% | |
4.9% | |
4.9% | |
4.8% | |
4.7% | |
4.6% | |
4.5% | |
4.4% | |
4.4% | |
4.3% |
...based on gameplay [up-to-date]
Rage and Unfettered provide Magical Resistance and Debuff Immunity/Status Resistance, neither of which do well against Quill Spray and Bristleback Procs. In lane, LS struggles to make use of the excess mana that Quill Spray and Viscous Nasal Goo can provide and to control the wave due to Quill Spray doing AOE damage and naturally pushing the wave in.
Bristleback reduces the effectiveness of Backstab significantly, which is Riki's main damage steroid. Tricks of the Trade and Blink Strike also connect from the back allowing for many Bristleback Quill Spray procs.
Earthbind does not prevent Bristleback from turning around, allowing him to turn his Bristleback towards Meepo during it. Divided we Stand provides extra HERO targets for Bristleback to get additional Spell Lifesteal for full value with Quill Spray and Bristleback procs.
Bristleback can mitigate significant damage during Black Hole and Midnight Pulse and even kill off Enigma with Quill Spray procs before a full Black Hole channel is completed. Eidolons have relatively low armor and mostly provide extra Gold and XP for Bristleback.
Bristleback's heavy AOE kit makes it easy for him to clear Familiars with Quill Spray and Hairball. Visage can take a lot of towers early and Bristleback can simply park his body infront of a tower and turn his Bristleback towards a pushing Beastmaster to delay or stop the push altogether.
Bristleback's heavy AOE kit makes it easy for him to clear Call of the Wild Boar and Call of the Wild Hawk with Quill Spray and Hairball. Beastmaster can take a lot of towers early and Bristleback can simply park his body infront of a tower and turn his Bristleback towards a pushing Beastmaster to delay or stop the push altogether.
Bad against...
...based on stats [7.38c]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▲ |
|---|---|
-6.7% | |
-5.3% | |
-4.9% | |
-4.5% | |
-3.3% | |
-3.2% | |
-3.1% | |
-3.1% | |
-2.8% | |
-2.7% | |
-2.2% | |
-2.1% | |
-1.8% | |
-1.8% | |
-1.7% |
...based on gameplay [up-to-date]
Viper Strike is a reliable low cooldown ability that Breaks the Damage Reduction and Quill Spray procs of Bristleback as well as the further acquiring of stacks from Warpath for it's duration - this completely cripples Bristleback and creates a window of opportunity to outright kill him.
Ice Blast prevents Bristleback from healing with Bloodstone or any other sources of sustain, making it difficult for him to play fights in a manner which he wants to - by trading his HP in order to get Bristleback procs and do damage in order to heal back up and keep repeating the cycle.
Duel forces Bristleback to face LC, preventing him from taking advantage of his Bristleback Damage Reduction and Quill Spray procs for it's duration providing LC's team with a window of opportunity to outright kill him even without Break or Healing reduction.
Berserker's Call forces Bristleback to face Axe, preventing him from taking advantage of his Bristleback Damage Reduction and Quill Spray procs for it's duration providing Axe's team with a window of opportunity to outright kill him even without Break or Healing reduction.
Uproar when upgraded by Aghanim's Scepter provides a consistent Break for Bristleback's Damage Reduction and Quill Spray procs as well as any further acquiring of stacks from Warpath for it's duration - this completely cripples Bristleback and creates a window of opportunity to outright kill him.
Phantom Assassin can buy shard and break Bristlebacks Passive abilities and kill him.
...counter items [up-to-date]
Helps you sustain HP and mana as Bristleback frequently uses his spells to harass and secure last hits.
Gives you tankiness to take less damage from Bristleback's Quill Spray and right clicks. Also counters the armor reduction from Viscous Nasal Goo.
Gives you HP sustain to stay in the lane and not get zoned by Bristleback's heavy bursts of damage through Quill Spray.
Gives you movement speed to kite or chase down Bristleback. Also counters the movement slow from Viscous Nasal Goo to not get run down by Quill Spray and right clicks.
Gives you movement speed to kite or chase down Bristleback. Also counters the movement slow from Viscous Nasal Goo to not get run down by Quill Spray and right clicks.
Adds another layer of damage to burst down Bristleback. Builds into Spirit Vessel later on which is incredible against him.
Helps significantly lower Bristlebacks HP regen with Soul Release charges. Particularly useful against Bloodstone.
Gives you or an ally armor and a physical damage barrier to significantly reduce the burst potential of Bristleback's Quill Spray and right clicks.
Provides armor against right clicks and Quill Spray as well as heal some of the AoE damage done by Bristleback.
Lets you burn Bristleback's mana so he cannot spam Quill Spray for damage or gain Warpath stacks with spells.
Lets you apply the break effect on Bristleback and make him significantly less tanky to burst him down in its duration.
Lets you kite Bristleback by putting some distance between him and yourself with Hurricane Thrust and hit him from range.
Lets you kite Bristleback by protecting yourself or an ally against his right clicks through invisibility.
Lets you kite Bristleback by pushing yourself or an ally away from him.
Lets you kite Bristleback by protecting yourself against his Quill Spray and right clicks in Ethereal form.
Gives armor to your team to take less damage from Bristleback's Quill Spray and right clicks to reduce his kill potential.
Gives you an instant silence and massive burst damage against Bristleback to kill him before he can impact fights or heal up using Bloodstone.
Helps lower Bristleback's HP regen. Particularly useful against Bloodstone.
Gives you armor and evasion to defend yourself against Bristleback's right clicks with the tankiness and miss chance.
Shivas lets you reduce the attack speed of Bristle by a fair bit, and also most importantly his healing, regeneration and lifesteal by 25%.
Bad with...
...based on stats [7.38c]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▲ |
|---|---|
-5.1% | |
-4.7% | |
-4.1% | |
-4.0% | |
-3.9% | |
-3.7% | |
-3.6% | |
-3.5% | |
-3.4% | |
-3.2% | |
-2.9% | |
-2.9% | |
-2.8% | |
-2.7% | |
-2.7% |
