Bristleback vs Slardar

How this matchup plays

Picking a tank to run at the enemy can feel risky when Slardar is on the other team. Bristleback’s whole game plan is to soak up damage and be a nuisance, but Corrosive Haze makes him a much more manageable target for physical damage dealers. The armor reduction doesn't ignore his passive damage block, but it makes every hit that does get through, especially from the front, hurt a lot more. This means Slardar enables his entire team to focus down a hero that usually wants to be focused.

Later in the game, this turns into a cat-and-mouse situation. Slardar will be looking to get the jump and apply his ultimate so his carry can go to work on Bristleback. Bristleback, in turn, has to play around that threat, either by building different kinds of survivability items or by making sure he can’t be caught and held in place by Slithereen Crush. If Bristleback gets to run free, he can still overwhelm Slardar and his team with Quill Sprays, so Slardar has to commit to bringing him down quickly or risk getting turned on.