At The International this year, Dota 2 pros and viewers witnessed a diverse meta. However, one offlane hero stood out above all others. Bristleback, with his unique item build, proved to be the most effective choice for the pros.
Bristleback garnered significant interest at TI, with 40 picks and 70 bans throughout the tournament. While the hero’s popularity in ranked matches has been growing, many players are still unaware of the optimal ability build in Patch 7.34d.
During TI, professional players deviated from the traditional ability build and focused on maxing out Bristleback’s Q, Viscous Nasal Goo, after leveling up Quill Spray. This allowed Bristleback to be more active in the early-to-mid game, taking advantage of the movement slow and armor reduction provided by Goo. Additionally, the strength attribute’s inherent power in this patch compensated for the hero’s passive tankiness.
The most common ability build at TI involved prioritizing Quill Spray at levels one and three, with the E ability taken in-between to ensure the Quill proc after taking damage to Bristleback’s rear. Maxing out Quill Spray and Goo became crucial to keep up with opponents, and the hero’s ultimate, Warpath, was always chosen at level six.
Interestingly, pros opted to max out Goo before selecting the level 10 Talent option, as the Talent felt underwhelming compared to the significant impact of the fourth level of Q. This allowed Bristleback to effectively lock down enemies and deal substantial damage.
In terms of item builds, professionals adopted a slightly greedier approach. Instead of rushing Boots, they saved starting gold to complete a Vanguard first. Despite the nerfs to its regen and damage block in 7.33c, Vanguard remained a premium pickup for Bristleback. Afterward, they focused on acquiring Arcane Boots and an Aghanim’s Scepter.
The Aghanim’s Scepter upgrade for Bristleback’s passive proved to be incredibly strong. The multiple stacks of directed Quill Spray tore through armor and health, accumulating Quill stacks for further procs of the W ability, resulting in continuous damage.
This spellcaster-style Bristleback build was further enhanced with a Bloodstone for spell lifesteal and a Lotus Orb for additional tankiness and spell reflection. With the strength attribute’s potency, Bristleback’s bonus armor and health, professionals avoided investing in further tanky items and focused on supporting the team by applying Goo to enemy heroes and bursting them down with quills.
Although Bristleback faced limitations at TI due to effects like Break canceling his passive and Silver Edge bursting through his armor, he remained a core component of the TI meta and a popular choice among Dota’s top players.
The question now remains: Will Bristleback receive post-TI Dota 2 nerfs? Only time will tell as the meta is expected to shift in the coming weeks before the conclusion of the 2023 competitive season.
Source: DOTESPORTS
