How Bristleback and Dazzle perform as teammates in Dota 2 7.41e, from ranked matches.
In Dota 2 7.41e, Bristleback and Dazzle win 52.12% of ranked matches when playing on the same team, over 5,420 matches.
Pairing these two brings to mind an unkillable frontliner, but the reality is more complicated. The idea is simple: Dazzle uses Shallow Grave to let Bristleback survive at low health, keeping his back turned to maximize damage from his passive and Quill Spray. Dazzle's heals from Shadow Wave add another layer of sustain, allowing Bristleback to keep running at people and stacking damage long after he should have retreated. When it works, the constant pressure can feel relentless.
In practice, this strategy is very predictable. Smart enemies will prioritize bursting Dazzle before he can react or will build items specifically to counter the massive healing and tankiness. A well-timed stun chain on Bristleback can also make him useless for the entire duration of Shallow Grave. Because the game plan is so straightforward, it often hinges on whether the enemy has the specific tools to deal with it. The duo can feel powerful if left unchecked, but it's easily dismantled by a coordinated team that knows who to target first.
How this pairing performs across skill brackets — the duo's team win rate in recent ranked matches, split by average match rank. Ranks with too few recent matches are omitted. These rows use the last 30 days of quality-filtered ranked matches, all patches in that span combined — a wider window than the patch-scoped count above, so the per-rank match totals can exceed it.
| Rank | Team win rate | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Herald & Guardian | 54.51% | 543 |
| Crusader & Archon | 50.30% | 992 |
| Legend & Ancient | 46.27% | 482 |
This duo's team win rate in each recent balance patch — whether the pairing is trending up or down. Patches without enough matches are omitted.
| Patch | Team win rate | Change | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.41e | 52.12% | ▲ +1.8pp | 5,420 |
| 7.41d | 50.31% | ▼ -0.3pp | 69,221 |
| 7.41c | 50.60% | ▼ -1.7pp | 31,254 |
| 7.41b | 52.28% | — | 36,462 |
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Data updated Aug 17, 2026.