Guide to Rigwarl the Bristleback
A tried and true champion of his race, Rigwarl has unsuccesfully led the fight to defend his land under the onslaught of the Scourge. With his diminishing ranks and inability to hold the Scourge throne, he capitulated on the offer to join the Sentinels. With his beastial fighting style reliant on his natural attributes and ritualistic purges of natural accretions, he has become an unconventional ally in the fight.
- Intro
- Hero Role
- Skills Explanation
- Skill Build
- Item Build
- Item Build Details
- Items Not To Get
- Gameplay Strategy
- Bristleback Tips
- Replays
- End
After releasing my second guide, this guide has undergone large cosmetic changes to match the other guide’s layout, for a more professional touch.
Anyways not many people play the Bristleback, despite how great he is. He’s really unpopular but widely-known. Many play him for his infamous ult, for super-damage. While I opt for a not-so-uncommon tank build. So for those few who are looking to boost their game with him, here you go.
This guide was based and designed around pub play. I take part in no participation of any clans/IHL/Cal/whatever play. I know Team Pandemic uses Bristleback as their uber-tank, but I dont use him for such high-level play.
Basically, Bristleback is the super-tank for the Sents and a spell-spammer. His passive makes him REALLY hard to kill while he’s running away. He doubles as an annoying hero-killer who doesnt die when properly farmed.
Movespeed: 300
Range: 100 (melee)
Base HP: 568
Base MP: 182
Base DMG: 52-62
Armor: 4.4
STR: 22 + 2.7
AGI: 17 + 1.8
INT: 14 + 2.2
PROS
-Stackable abilities
-Great base damage
-Tough and annoying to kill
-Great throughout all game
-Great armor starting out
CONS
-Not the best STR gain
-Average movespeed
-Passive not often utilized properly
-Strange hero for first-timers
-Low INT start for being a spell spamer
Viscous Nasal Goo (G)
Covers a target in snot, causing it to have reduced armor and movement speed. Casts on the same target are cumulative. Lasts 5 seconds.
Level 1 - -1 armor, 20% and 3% slow a cast. 30 Mana 1.5 Sec CD
Level 2 - -1 armor, 20% and 6% slow a cast. 30 Mana 1.5 Sec CD
Level 3 - -2 armor, 20% and 9% slow a cast. 30 Mana 1.5 Sec CD
Level 4 - -2 armor, 20% and 12% slow a cast. 30 Mana 1.5 Sec CD
A great stacking slowing spell that also lowers armor. It stacks up to 4 times, has a insane low cooldown, and large range (most of the time will go through fog if you casted it before they entered it).
A green flying snot, that corrupts hearts.
Quill Spray ( R )
Sprays enemy units with quills dealing damage in a 650 AoE. Deals 30 extra damage everytime a unit is struck by a quill in the last 10 seconds. Damage type is physical.
Level 1 - 20 direct damage. 30 stacking damage. 30 Mana 3 Sec CD
Level 2 - 40 direct damage. 30 stacking damage. 35 Mana 3 Sec CD
Level 3 - 60 direct damage. 30 stacking damage. 40 Mana 3 Sec CD
Level 4 - 80 direct damage. 30 stacking damage. 45 Mana 3 Sec CD
A great spell that is underrated. It has huge range and is EASILY spammable. They put a stacking limit on it, I think it goes up to 210 damage. But still easy constant AE damage.
A Quill Spray (Fan Of Knives look).
Bristleback
Rigwal covers his back in spines, causing him to take reduced damage. Automatically releases a quill spray whenever his rear receives 200 damage on his back. Does not reduce damage from towers.
Level 1 - 10% reduced from rear, 5% from sides.
Level 2 - 20% reduced from rear, 10% from sides.
Level 3 - 30% reduced from rear, 15% from sides.
Level 4 - 40% reduced from rear, 20% from sides.
Easily my favorite aspect of the Bristleback. A free quillspray against most spells, and reduced damage from behind! Scroll down for a little bit more in depth of maximizing it’s effects. This passive has also killed people before. Also, it doesn’t reduce damage from towers, so don’t think it gives you better tower-diving changes.
Warpath
Everytime Rigwarl casts a spell, he works himself into a fury. Movement and Attack speeds increase on repeated spell casts. Lasts 10 seconds. Stacks up to 4 times.
Level 1 - 30% IAS/5% MS Base + 5% IAS/1% MS Stack.
Level 2 - 40% IAS/7% MS Base + 10% IAS/2% MS Stack.
Level 3 - 50% IAS/10% MS Base + 15% IAS/3% MS Stack.
The reason about 90% Bristlebacks go damage. It’s pretty insane and benefits from spamming spells. Not much else to really put here…
Warpath look when activated.
Level 1-Quill Spray
Level 2-Nasal Goo
Level 3-Quill Spray
Level 4-Nasal Goo
Level 5-Quill Spray
Level 6-Warpath
Level 7-Quill Spray
Level 8-10-Bristleback
Level 11-Warpath
Level 12-Nasal Goo
Level 13-Nasal Goo
Level 14-Bristleback
Level 15-Stats
Level 16-Warpath
Level 17-25-Stats
I took out the other build after serious thought and I stuck with this. Why? Because I realized getting Bristleback so early is a waste, and ganking is a shit-ton easier when you have Quill Spray/Nasal Goo maxed out. Besides Bristleback doesn’t shine until later on, so this is what I go with.
Start:
1x Ring of Basilus
1-2x Tangoes
Mid:
1x Vanguard
1x Mass. Reaver
1x Boots
Late:
1x Heart
1x Radiance
1x Vladimir’s Offering
So, you’re aiming for this:
Total Item Cost: 16000 Gold
VLADIMIR’S OFFERING: Probably only should be gotten once you have a Heart and Radiance, and since it requires a Ring of Basilius, it’s just that easy.
VANGUARD-Awesome tanking item. This sets you up nicely into a Heart for tanking.
HEART OF TARRASQUE-You need health to be a tank. Increases health by 965!
RADIANCE-This helps with damage for battles and farming. Necessary imo.
BOOTS-Everyone needs boots. What you upgrade it into is your choice.
HOOD OF DEFIANCE-If there are 3 or more casters, TAKE THIS OVER A VANGUARD.
LINKEN’S SPHERE: This is a great item that I sadly dont get often for circumstances often dont happen for me to get one.
MANTA STYLE: I’ve tried this in a game and it’s pretty damn good. Get Warpath up all the way and use Manta Style, and you got three nasty Bristlebacks raising hell. It’s pretty fun also.
BOOTS OF TRAVEL: I recommend this over Power Treads but either is your choice.
Any Int-Hero-Minded item. This includes Guisnoos, Refresher, Bloodgem, and even Sceptre. You don’t need any Orbs, as they aren’t really that important as a tank. So if you think you need one all the time, scratch that.
POWER TREADS-I prefer not to get since BoT is better for map control, but it’s your choice.
BATTLEFURY: I’m biased against Battlefury, for I think it’s a pretty pointless item. The regen is pretty good and damage certainly, even Cleave is useful, but for it’s price it’s not enough imo.
SANGE AND YASHA: Pure damage Bristleback item. Works well sometimes, but I really dont like it since Maim seems to RARELY proc at all.
CRANIUM BASHER: Damage BB item. Nuff said.
SATANIC: You wont exactly have the damage to sustain this great item.
ARCANE RING: Your mana situation is not that bad.
STYGIAN DESOLATOR: Yea with fully stacked Nasal Goo’s, your opponet will have -14 damage. Super damage right? No. You have a huge armor nullifier already, maybe if you were going with a damage BB.
Early Game
I dont exactly recommend the solo. Not that Bristleback is bad at is, I’m sure he could hold his own, but I feel like a partner could benefit him more. Take it if you exceptionally good at it though.
At the beginning of the game, buy your Ring and Tangos and head to the mid. Why mid? Because you are, in my eyes, a great mid hero. You can usually land a FB there since in pubs, noobs feel safer in the mid. But even if you go against good ranged people, just keep your distance, land your last hits, use Quill Spray when it’s level 2 often for harrasing, and you’ll be fine. Landing the first blood isnt easy but it isnt hard either. If you get Nasal Goo and a hero is at about 20%, if you have about 75% or more health, you can chase him down, spam Nasal Goo/Quill Spray and grab it.
Early on you won’t need much mana regen, as the Ring should cover you. Your spells cost little mana but you dont have the mana to constantly spam Rank 1 Quill Sprays. Wait until it’s level 2 before you use it. Your mana regen will recover it shortly. It takes multiple Nasal Goos/Quill Sprays to bring an opponet down. It’s embarrasing when you come up short a Quill Spray because you didnt regen enough.
Mid Game
Use a Tango when you hit half health, as you want to stay near full health through the beginning. Dont get cocky and think you’re something special early on, because you arent really. When you get the money, head back to the fountain, regen and grab your Stout Shield, and Boots if you can. Then get to the secret shop and grab a Ring Of Health (do NOT get the Vitality Booster first, as the regen is better). Then farm a little bit more and finish off the Vanguard. IF THE OTHER TEAM IS CASTER-HEAVY (3 OR MORE) THEN REPLACE VANGUARD WITH A HOOD. Don’t go around ganking everyone solo. If someone asks for a gank, do it or if the guy really needs to die. Keep farming and racking up your money.
Get the Reaver and then the boots when you have enough. When you have Warpath, immediatly creep farm since thats where it benefits most. Go up, use a Quill Spray or two, and just sit there hitting them. Most people dont creep farm in pubs for godknowswhat reason, but you should. The respawns are fast so do it often for the gold.
Late Game
Finish off your first Heart and start working on getting a Radiance. Now is when you can go off on your own a gank. Dont get too confident. Wait for someone thats farming to get hit some, then come from behind with Warpath up and spam Quill Spray/Nasal Goo. The more you spam it, the better. Keep in mind that Nasal Goo will shoot through fog if you targetted someone before they entered and it has a rather large range. Dont be afraid to take on two opponets at a time when you’ve mastered the art of properly using Bristleback (the passive skill).
Grab your Radiance and then start making the team pushes. Whenever possible, finish off a Vladimir’s Offering (although this can be taken early if you’re having a hard time farmer). If you can and have the money, grab your sixth slot item (which will be ANY of the Optional Items depending on your choice/situation). Just end the game.
More than likely you’ll rack up the kills, but you may not but remember that its a TEAM GAME. Everyone likes to ignore that fact. If your team wins, then you win. If your team losses, you lose. If you get 10 kills and you lose, you dont win. Remember that. You benefit your team greatly so dont go pissing everyone off with killsteals (team game though). Everyone LOVES a good Bristleback.
-The 40% damage reduction from your Bristleback stacks with your armor/spell reduction too.
-A huge issue with chasing is Animation Cancelling. To do this, rapidly right click to your destination after casting a spell to immediately start chasing again.
-Quill Spray affects units hidden by Fog of War.
-It’s really useful to bait in enemies with Bristleback. To do this, kinda taunt them to attack you and (while you try to second-guess their moves) then show your back to them. If you do this right, it’s awesome. If not, then you might die!
-A Quill Spray activated from your Bristleback ability does NOT use the cooldown on the actual move. Nor does it cost anything.
-Like stated before, Warpath transfers to images with Manta Style. If you wanna have some fun one game, try it!
-Procs off of Bristleback (the skill) does multiply the effect of Warpath.
-You’re a pig and it’s pretty ugly.
