Bristleback vs Templar Assassin

How this matchup plays

Playing as Templar Assassin against Bristleback feels like your main defensive tool is completely useless. Her Refraction shield blocks a set number of damage instances, regardless of how weak they are. Bristleback's entire game plan revolves around repeatedly casting Quill Spray, a low-cost spell that strips all of Refraction’s charges almost instantly. This leaves TA completely exposed to follow-up damage. Even trying to attack him from behind is a mistake, as his passive will trigger more quills, burning through the shield again while you are trying to do damage.

This dynamic starts in lane and only gets worse for Templar Assassin. Bristleback can constantly apply pressure, forcing her to ferry out regeneration or risk dying. Later in the game, TA wants to explode a single target from invisibility, but she can't execute that plan on anyone standing near Bristleback. Her shield is gone before she can get her damage off, and she lacks the sustained damage to fight him. Meanwhile, he can easily run her down with Viscous Nasal Goo slows, building up speed and damage as he spams her down.