Bristleback vs Rubick

How this matchup plays

Facing away from the fight is how Bristleback survives, but Rubick can completely ruin that plan. Telekinesis lifts and spins Bristleback around, exposing him to your team's full burst damage. It’s a clean setup for a kill that he can't prevent without specific items or help. On top of that, Rubick has prime targets for Spell Steal. Both Quill Spray and Viscous Nasal Goo are powerful, spammable spells that Rubick is always happy to take. Bristleback constantly provides good, simple abilities for Rubick to use against his own team.

This dynamic mainly plays out in mid-game teamfights where Bristleback tries to frontline. A patient Rubick player waits for the right moment to lift and expose him for a quick kill. The advantage is only slight, however, because Rubick can't kill Bristleback alone. He relies entirely on his teammates to provide the damage during the Telekinesis duration. If the follow-up isn't there, Bristleback simply survives, turns his back again, and walks away. The matchup becomes a game of positioning, with Bristleback managing his aggression around the threat of the lift.