Bristleback vs Invoker

How this matchup plays

A fight between these two heroes often hinges on whether control or durability wins out. An Invoker has plenty of tools to manage Bristleback, with Cold Snap and Ice Wall keeping him pinned down and unable to turn his back. The constant stuns from Cold Snap are especially effective when triggered by Quill Sprays. But Bristleback's innate tankiness from his passive makes him very resilient to the kind of magical burst damage that Invoker relies on. If he can survive the initial spell combo, he is very difficult to finish off alone.

Early on, Invoker can use his spells to bully and set up kills on a less-farmed Bristleback. As the game progresses and Bristleback acquires defensive items, he can often shrug off the spell damage and run directly at the fragile Invoker. The matchup then becomes about positioning and team support. Invoker needs allies to capitalize on the control he provides, while Bristleback needs to close the gap without getting kited to death by the enemy team.