Bristleback

Strength•Melee•Carry, Durable, Initiator, Nuker

Skill Build

A level 1-25 plan based on this hero's current ability list. Adjust talents and extra spells for the match.

Levels 1-25

1
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
2
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
3
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4
4
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
5
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
6
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3
7
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
8
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
9
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
10Talent
+25 Attack Speed
11
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
12
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3
13
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4
14
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4
15Talent
+AbilityCastRange Goo Cast Range
16
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4
17
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3
18Stats
Stats
19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+25 Health Regen
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
-quill release threshold Bristleback Damage Threshold

1
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
2
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
3
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4
4
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
5
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
6
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3
7
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
8
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
9
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
10Talent
+25 Attack Speed
11
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
12
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3
13
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4

14
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4
15Talent
+AbilityCastRange Goo Cast Range
16
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4
17
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3
18Stats
Stats
19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+25 Health Regen
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
-quill release threshold Bristleback Damage Threshold

1
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 1Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
2
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 2Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
3
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 3Hotkey: EMax level: 4
4
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 4Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
5
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 5Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
6
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 6Hotkey: RMax level: 3
7
Viscous Nasal Goo
Q
Viscous Nasal Goo
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed for 5 seconds. Multiple casts stack and refresh the duration.
Recommended: level 7Hotkey: QMax level: 4Cooldown: 1.75sMana: 12 / 16 / 20 / 24
8
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 8Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
9
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 9Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35

10Talent
+25 Attack Speed
11
Quill Spray
W
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.
Recommended: level 11Hotkey: WMax level: 4Cooldown: 3sMana: 35
12
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 12Hotkey: RMax level: 3
13
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 13Hotkey: EMax level: 4
14
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 14Hotkey: EMax level: 4
15Talent
+AbilityCastRange Goo Cast Range
16
Bristleback
E
Bristleback
Bristleback takes less damage if hit on the sides or rear. If Bristleback takes enough damage from the rear, he releases a Quill Spray of the current level.
Recommended: level 16Hotkey: EMax level: 4
17
Warpath
R
Warpath
Bristleback works himself up into a fury every time he casts a spell, increasing his movement speed and damage.
Recommended: level 17Hotkey: RMax level: 3
18Stats
Stats

19Stats
Stats
20Talent
+25 Health Regen
21Stats
Stats
22Stats
Stats
23Stats
Stats
24Stats
Stats
25Talent
-quill release threshold Bristleback Damage Threshold

Talent tree

+damage per stack Warpath Damage Per Stack

Lv25Pick one

-quill release threshold Bristleback Damage Threshold

+quill stack damage Quill Stack Damage

Lv20Pick one

+25 Health Regen

+back damage reduction%/side damage reduction% Bristleback Back/Side Damage Reduction

Lv15Pick one

+AbilityCastRange Goo Cast Range

+1.5 Mana Regen

Lv10Pick one

+25 Attack Speed

Item Builds

Based on real match data from OpenDota. Sorted by popularity.

Starting Items

8 items

Iron Branch

55g

Targets the ground to plant a happy little tree that lasts for 20 seconds.

Gauntlets of Strength

140g

Tango

90g

Consumes a target tree to gain 7 health regeneration for 16 seconds. Consuming an Ironwood Tree doubles the heal duration. Comes with 3 charges. Can be used on an allied hero to give them one Tango. Tree Range: 165

Circlet

155g

Magic Stick

200g

Instantly restores 15 health and mana per charge stored. Max 10 charges. Gains a charge whenever a visible enemy within 1200 range uses an ability.

Enchanted Mango

65g

Instantly restores 100 mana.

Quelling Blade

100g

Destroy a target tree.

Ring of Protection

175g

Early Game

8 items

Bracer

505g

Power Treads

1,400g

Switches between +10 Strength, +10 Agility, or +10 Intelligence.

Soul Ring

805g

Consume %abilityhealthcost% health to temporarily gain 170 mana. Lasts 10 seconds. If the mana gained cannot fit in your mana pool, it creates a buffer of mana that will be used before your mana pool.

Vanguard

1,700g

Grants a 60% chance to block 50 damage from incoming attacks on melee heroes, and 25 damage on ranged.

Perseverance

1,400g

Null Talisman

505g

Phase Boots

1,450g

Gives 20% increased movement speed on melee heroes, and 10% on ranged heroes, and lets you move through units and turn more quickly for 3 seconds.

Tranquil Boots

900g

Whenever you attack a hero or are attacked by any unit, the bonus 14 HP regen is lost and the movement speed bonus is reduced to 40 for 13 seconds.

Mid Game

8 items

Consecrated Wraps

2,600g

Gain a stack every 3s, up to a maximum of 3 stacks. Upon gaining a stack, your movement speed is increased by 20% for 7s. Whenever you take damage from a player-controlled unit or Roshan, consume all stacks to gain an all damage barrier for 7s that absorbs 120 damage per stack (360 max).

Sange

2,100g

Lotus Orb

3,850g

Applies a shield to the target unit for 5 seconds which re-casts most targeted spells back to their caster. The shielded unit will still take damage from the spell. Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

Perseverance

1,400g

Yasha

2,100g

Sange and Yasha

4,200g

Power Treads

1,400g

Switches between +10 Strength, +10 Agility, or +10 Intelligence.

Blade Mail

2,400g

For 5.5 seconds, return all incoming damage, increasing the percentage by 85%.

Late Game

8 items

Sange and Yasha

4,200g

Black King Bar

4,050g

Applies a basic dispel. Grants 60% magic resistance and immunity to reflected and pure damage. For the duration of the effect, any negative effect from enemy spells has no effect. Duration: 9s Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

Heart of Tarrasque

5,100g

Your health regeneration is increased by 1.5% of your missing health.

Assault Cuirass

5,125g

Grants 30 attack speed and 5 armor to nearby allied units and structures, and decreases nearby enemy unit and structure armor by -5. Radius: 1200

Nullifier

4,350g

Dispels the target and applies a debuff for 4 seconds. Continuously dispels and slows the target. Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

Lotus Orb

3,850g

Applies a shield to the target unit for 5 seconds which re-casts most targeted spells back to their caster. The shielded unit will still take damage from the spell. Dispel Type: Basic Dispel

Linken's Sphere

4,800g

Blocks most targeted spells once every 14 seconds.

Abyssal Blade

6,250g

Stuns a target enemy unit for 1.6 seconds. Pierces Debuff Immunity.