How Bristleback and Nyx Assassin perform as teammates in Dota 2 7.41e, from ranked matches.
In Dota 2 7.41e, Bristleback and Nyx Assassin win 51.82% of ranked matches when playing on the same team, over 5,888 matches.
Trying to burst a hero down often means ignoring their partner, but that's a mistake here. Nyx Assassin provides the lockdown Bristleback needs to be effective. A well-timed Impale holds a target in place long enough for Bristleback to apply Viscous Nasal Goo and build up Quill Spray stacks. This turns Bristleback from a nuisance who can be kited into a real threat. Nyx also offers initial burst from Vendetta, helping to finish targets that Bristleback's sustained damage might not be able to secure on its own.
The pair's effectiveness hinges on finding isolated targets. Early on, a rotation from Nyx can easily secure a lane for Bristleback. In the mid-game, they can hunt together, looking for pickoffs to create a numbers advantage before a bigger fight. This synergy is not about a big teamfight combination; it's about control and follow-up. If the enemy team stays grouped and can focus down Nyx Assassin first, Bristleback is left without a reliable stun and can be dealt with much more easily.
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 | 55.11% | 470 |
| Crusader & Archon | 49.25% | 928 |
| Legend & Ancient | 44.07% | 615 |
| Divine & Immortal | 56.33% | 158 |
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 | 51.82% | ▼ -0.0pp | 5,888 |
| 7.41d | 51.84% | ▲ +0.3pp | 80,742 |
| 7.41c | 51.56% | ▼ -1.0pp | 35,100 |
| 7.41b | 52.60% | — | 39,677 |
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Data updated Aug 17, 2026.