11/17: After like a month, I finally got around to writing again. Added the strategy/walkthrough section.

10/12: Updated the layout of the guide.

10/9: decided to start a Spiritbreaker guide, since the others are outdated. Any suggestions/comments would be highly appreciated.

Guide is almost complete. Gotta finish up the rest of the sections and add pics.

Just a warning/disclaimer, this isn't a guide for one of those typical pubstomp/Rambo Spiritbreaker everyone is familiar with (and I've got nothing against it). If you're looking for one of those, just check out any generic/outdated Spiritbreaker guide.

Also, this isn't a complete newbie guide and I use some common DotA terminology. Please refer to terminology guides if you're unfamiliar with them.

Barathrum aka Ganking Bull
The Non-GayPub Spiritbreaker Way

Guide Version | Forum Version

I. INTRODUCTION

Barathrum is a natural DPS Strength hero (his skills are all geared towards optimizing DPS), making him both a decent tank and an effective ganker/support. He's not very item-dependent either, and can maintain effectiveness without hogging a lot of farm; plus, he also has a decent (albeit shaky) disable, and rarely (if not never) has any mana problems.

Unfortunately, his reputation has been tainted over time as a pure pubstomp/noob/Rambo hero. FUCK THAT. The reality is that he can be effective in decent matches when utilized correctly. I hope to introduce to both new and experienced players this new type of Barathrum.

I am by no means a pro, but I have played and experimented with Spiritbreaker a lot. This is my first guide, so I hope it can at least be of some use. I'm not a fan of big walls of text, so I'll try to keep it brief and concise. I seem to have a fuck lot to say though, so no promises there.

II. HERO STATS AND ANALYSIS

The above pretty much shows everything you need to know about Barathrum stat-wise. Eh he's quite average (at best) overall with no GLARING weaknesses. He has passable starting strength and strength growth, so that's somewhat of a plus to his tankiness. His int really doesn't matter as he only has two active skills with 40 and 75 second cooldowns.

His starting MS is freaking terrible at 290, but is no problem at all with his MS-boosting skill (explained later). However, he also has very good starting armor for a STR hero at 5.4, and that's just another reason he can be very tanky.

III. HERO SKILLS AND USAGE

For all technical details and information on Spiritbreaker's skills, click HERE to go to the Playdota Spiritbreaker hero page. I'm not gonna fucking copy all that shit back here.

On a serious note, I strongly suggest you visit that page and become familiar with the skills (experimenting in-game would be great as well) before proceeding.

1. CHARGE OF DARKNESS

A great (although a somewhat unreliable) global-targeting stun. It's good for chasing/finishing-off opponents, as well as general movement/roaming around the map with its global targeting. You also Greater Bash anything that you come into contact with while charging. Be creative with its usage.

Tips:

You can cancel it at ANY time

Use to roam around the map and help in ganks

Use from the fountain to get to lanes

Use to finish off weak heroes

If using to initiate, abuse the Greater Bash proc.

Also, if you initially charge an enemy hero and suddenly realize it's too dangerous to, you can cancel it and back off. Just remember that you don't HAVE TO charge an enemy hero that you've targeted. Generally, Charge is very helpful in surprise/roaming-support ganks or as initiation.

Warning:

You are susceptible to disables while charging

Don't use to initiate if the enemy team has disablers

Don't just recklessly charge in

Experienced players can easily see when a Charge is coming (status/wards)

Skilling or using an item will cancel Charge

Keep enemy's disables and his cooldowns in mind when Charging

That's all of Spiritbreaker's skills. As you can see (and I've mentioned this multiple times), all four of his skills synergize with each other and his role.

He only has two active skills, so mastering them isn't difficult. With a little familiarity and practice/experience, you'll be able to use them to their maximum potential.

IV. SKILL BUILD

The way I see it, there are two main skill builds for Spiritbreaker. DotA is all about situation and being flexible and adaptive. You shouldn't follow skillbuilds exactly as they appear, but use them as guides instead, and change it according to your needs in the game.

SKILL BUILD#1: CHARGE BEFORE BASH (TEAM-ORIENTED)

1: Empowering Haste
2: Charge of Darkness
3: Empowering Haste
4: Greater Bash
5: Empowering Haste
6: Nether Strike
7: Empowering Haste (max)
8: Charge of Darkness
9: Charge of Darkness
10: Charge of Darkness (max)
11: Nether Strike
12: Greater Bash
13: Greater Bash
14: Greater Bash (max)
15: Stats
16: Nether Strike (max)

This used to be the cookie-cutter build for Spiritbreaker before the slight changes to his skills.

Basically, get Empowering Haste first (maximize MS and damage ASAP), then max Charge of Darkness. One level of Greater Bash is gotten at level 4 so that you can still proc it, as well as for Nether Strike.

This build might be more effective team-wise, since you can immediately initiate, as well as support with the global roaming that Charge provides. However, with Charge now so easily blockable, it might not as effective anymore. It's still useful in netting a First Blood though.

SKILL BUILD#2: BASH BEFORE CHARGE (DPS-ORIENTED)

1: Empowering Haste
2: Greater Bash
3: Empowering Haste
4: Greater Bash/Charge of Darkness
5: Empowering Haste
6: Nether Strike
7: Empowering Haste (max)
8: Greater Bash
9: Greater Bash (max)
10: Charge of Darkness/Greater Bash
11: Nether Strike
12: Charge of Darkness
13: Charge of Darkness
14: Charge of Darkness (max)
15: Stats
16: Nether Strike (max)

Similarly, get Empowering Haste first (maximize MS and damage ASAP), then max Greater Bash. Also considering getting a level of Charge before maxing Greater Bash, just as insurance when you really need the chasing/stunning (although at 425MS and 1.2second stun at level 1, it's not really worth it).

This build is better if you wanna maximize your DPS ASAP. A max Greater Bash, coupled with a maxed Empowering Haste, can be pretty deadly. A 100 damage Greater Bash with 1.55 second skid-stun at just level 9 can be lethal to most paper supports.

Some argue that the 75 damage and 0.60 skid-stun increase isn't worth three levels (which could better be used in Charge), but I think that the damage bonus from Greater Bash is most effective at lower levels.

Also, Nether Strike is now dependent on the level of your Greater Bash (FUCK), so at level 9 you can already have a 200-damage blink-stun-nuke if you get Greater Bash first.

Choosing between the two builds is really based on preference. I personally think that a maxed Greater Bash at lower levels is when it's most effective, so I usually go for the 2nd Skill Build, but it's really up to you.

If you feel that you have enough DPSers and your disable would be much more useful for your team, by all means max Charge first.

Again, DotA is all about team play and adapting to the situation. Make the best choice given your current situation and teammates/opponents.

What I wouldn't recommend, however, is going 50/50 on Charge and Greater Bash. That's probably the worst thing you could do (not a good enough stun, yet not a great bash).

V. ITEM BUILD AND ANALYSIS

I'll make a quick comment on what Spiritbreaker needs from his items. Basically, there are two things he needs: tankiness (HP/armor/dmg-reduction) and DPS (damage, MS, and more importantly, IAS). Thankfully, he's not the type to need to worry about Mana regeneration, so he can focus his gold on other shit.

First off, he's a STR hero, so all STR items will increase both his tankiness and his damage. The DPS-enhancing items are pretty self-explanatory: Spiritbreaker has good DPS skills, so it's wise to maximize his DPS output.

STARTING ITEMS

Any combination of the following items would be good for Spiritbreaker:

Personally, I find this build to be quite effective:

With Empowering Haste, you don't need too many damage-increasing items to be a good last-hitter early. What's important is that you are able to stay in the lane and get levels ASAP so that you can start ganking.

Consider picking up a Stout Shield/Magic Stick if you're being harassed a lot. Try to get Boots afterwards, since the MS and damage will be beneficial early on.

EARLY-MID ITEMS

Maybe consider this inexpensive item:

This shouldn't be hard to farm since it's mostly an extension of your starting items.

Stout Shield is an effective damage-reduction item that doesn't cost much, and can be ugraded later on, while a Bracer is a cheap way to increase damage and tankiness. Treads are by far the best boots on Spiritbreaker with the IAS and STR. Always keep a TP scroll on you.

Wand or no Wand?
Personally, I don't think a Wand is that great on Spiritbreaker (he doesn't need the MP), but some people just can't live without one. It's quite useful and has a cheap buildup, so if you don't mind delaying your core for about 500 gold, consider getting it.

You might also consider the following item if you have no healers on the team:

The charges are terrific for recovering HP after a gank. The +6 strength is also a nice addition. You won't really need the Mana Regeneration, but it could be useful. I find that the Vanguard regen is decent enough, and would rather spend the 875 gold on a Ring of Health, but whatever floats your boat. It's a nice alternative nonetheless.

CORE ITEMS

and either a:

OMG WTF NO MoM? FUCKING NOOB BARA PWNS WITH MoM!!!!

See "Specifically Rejected Items" for more details.

This is really all Spiritbreaker needs. A Janggo is just a perfect item for Spiritbreaker since it adds MS, IAS, and stats/damage. He can achieve 409 MS with it. A great plus is that it's a Bracer extension, and its active is very helpful in chases (as if you weren't a fucking awesome chaser already). A Vanguard is a terrific pickup for any hero, and it really helps towards Spiritbreaker's tankiness. This will make him really tough to take down, especially in midgame-ish levels. Finally, a Hyperstone is by far the best DPS item for Spiritbreaker, and it's pretty cheap at 2100 gold. The +55 IAS is unmatched by any other item in its price range. The additional chance to proc Greater Bash significantly boosts your chain-disabling and overall DPS.

As for the Wand or Urn, it's really up to you, and it depends on what you decided to go for early game. The burst regeneration could be useful and life-saving, or you might prefer the Urn's charges.

If you didn't get either, go immediately for a Chainmail/Platemail for more armor and the eventual AC upgrade. Basically, if you think you can get to 1400 gold quickly (or you're nearly there), go for the Platemail. If you only have like 550-ish gold, just get the Chainmail first. It'll be a good boost to your tankiness.

Why Hyperstone (IAS) over Damage?
First of all, Spiritbreaker already has good damage with Empowering Haste. Adding IAS through Janggo/Treads/Hyperstone is much more effective DPS-wise than adding more damage. The exact calculations are a bit long and boring, but with high damage, increasing IAS is much better for your overall DPS.

Also, when a Greater Bash procs, it not only deals additional damage, but also skid-stuns. This is all the more reason to get as much IAS as possible, so you can chain-stun your opponents to death and be more useful in teamfights.

I would suggest getting either a Vanguard or Hyperstone ASAP, depending on your needs. If you're dying too much and stuff, you might wanna start making a Vanguard, since it goes a long way midgame and the buildup is pretty nice. An early Hyperstone, on the other hand, will make you a great ganker. It's pretty hard to farm all at once though. I suggest getting the Janggo only after the two are completed.

Again, personal preference and adapting to the team needs are key.

POSSIBLE CORE EXTENSION/LUXURY

If the game drags on, consider the following items:

You can say that AC is pretty much late core. It's a fucking great item which not only significantly boosts your tankiness and DPS, but also the team's. The auras are great and having one on the team is a significant advantage. GET IT AFTER THE CORE.

The Mjollnir/Malestorm is a terrific DPS-boosting item because it increases both IAS and damage. It also provides a nice AoE presence and the Static Charge is great in synergy with Spiritbreaker's tankiness.

However, you should only make it instead of an AC if someone else already made an AC (or is planning to). AC is a much better item for the team with its auras. It'll be much more beneficial to the team than selfishly increasing your individual DPS.

Yes, they stack.

If annoying disablers and spellcasters are causing your deaths, get a BKB. The stats are decent and work well with Spiritbreaker as well.

If someone else makes a Janggo, the Yasha is a terrific alternative. All in all it's +31 IAS, 2.2 Armor, and 10% MS. It'll be great in conjunction with an ally's Endurance Aura.

The logical extension to your Yasha. Only worth getting if you made your core/AC already.

Boost damage and tankiness. Great item if you get THAT far into the game.

Not a big fan of Aghanim's, to be honest. The cooldown reduction is pretty neat, I guess. Consider getting it if you already have AC/BKB, or you find yourself needing Nether Strike a lot more. It might also be more useful team-wise with the AoE Greater Bash.

Or really, any luxury DPS item will do. If you have that much farm and you're that late into the game, it means you're pretty much owning anyway.

SPECIFICALLY REJECTED ITEMS

God no. Sure, it's a core on every Pubber's Spiritbreaker, because the IAS and MS bonus is undeniable awesome for only 1900 gold, but the +30% damage you receive will pretty much ensure that you die in any team battle, even with a BKB. You pretty much kill any tankiness advantage that you have as a STR hero.

It's not even that great. A Janggo and a Hyperstone can work almost as well, without the horrific +30% damage intake.

If you REALLY must have lifesteal, a HotD, Vlads, or even just a Mask of Death would be better. Just no to MoM pl0x.

VI. WALKTHROUGH

In this section I'll just give you a general outline of what you should be doing throughout the game as Spiritbreaker. It's fairly simple (I dunno how the fuck I managed to fill all this space with this many words), and if your intelligence is insulted by this part of the guide, I do apologize.

Expect walls of text.

EARLY GAME: SURVIVE MOTHAFUCKA

So you've picked Spiritbreaker. Have a good look at the teams, pick up your starting items, and head to the top/bot dual/tri lane. It really doesn't matter what the fuck you do; the goal is just to get decent farm, not feed, and get to level 6 as soon as possible.

Watch out for heavy harassers. I always pick up a Stout Shield as soon as possible, since it really helps laning early-game. Don't try anything too risky unless you're in a trilane or your laning partners are really good. You really can't be too aggressive since you don't have jack to harass with, so just stay back, last hit when possible, go for the First Blood if you have Charge and a good opportunity arises, and fucking survive.

EARLY-MID GAME: GANK, FARM, GANK

Congratulations, you've made it to level 6. By this time you should have some of your early core items, as well as Nether Strike. It's time to start ganking. Don't just charge a hero and auto-attack like a freaking noob. Look for opportunities to strike. Look around the map and see where you can make a difference. It'll be hard for any hero not at full HP to survive against you, a teammate, and your Nether Strike. Remember that your main ganking skill as of right now has a bitch of a 75-second cooldown, so use it wisely.

You'll easily be able to net a couple of kills and rack up the assists. Use runes, charge around the map, look for finishing/chasing opportunities, whatever. Just try to make life as chaotic as possible for the opposing team. Consider farming a little when your Nether Strike is on cooldown (you won't be able to do much without it), since the faster you get your core items, the better.

This is important: you're in a very good time in your hero's development. With maxed Empowering Haste you have great natural damage and the similarly-leveled supports and paper heroes really won't stand a chance (granted you're not a freaking idiot).

MIDGAME ONWARDS: ???

Alright, you should have most of your core in the 11~16 level range. If not, consider concentrating on farming a little more. By this stage your enemy heroes will start beefing up and you with your Bracer and Stout Shield won't be able to compete. Luckily, your core isn't too expensive and just a few items will make you pretty damn strong again.

Getting your vanguard online early is a very good idea. It's more effective the earlier you get it, and the buildup is quite useful. Get a Hyperstone ASAP afterwards. You could get the Hyperstone first if you really think that you need the IAS first.

At this point, I really don't know what to tell you. You've got your core and you're tanky as hell. Just go with the flow of how your team is doing. Push some lanes, gank some more, take out supports that are alone, participate in team fights, and basically whatever the hell you've been doing until now.

VII. STRATEGY/TIPS

The way I see it, there are three main methods that you need to employ when killing enemy heroes: 1-on-1, ganking, teamfight. Here, I will briefly (well, I'll try) explain what you should do and some additional tips or whatever.

1-ON-1

You're a naturally born assassin. This is easily where you excel best, especially against paper heroes and heroes without disables. Sometimes, you may see one lurking around, or farming an abandoned lane all by himself. This is your daily bread; go pick it up.

Charge/TP/walk to that lane and engage the enemy. Look, he's not gonna just stand there and wait to be auto-attacked to death. Invisibility/haste rune is especially helpful, but if there's none lying around, just proceed. You have decent MS, so walking up to him shouldn't be too hard. Just whack-whack-whack, and hope for a Greater Bash or something.

If he has a disable, wait for him to use it before you Charge his ass. Also remember that you can charge from melee range, and it'll essentially be DK's Dragon Tail. If the enemy hero doesn't have a disable, well, he's pretty much fucked. He'll try to do something to you but you'll easily be tanky enough to survive. Use Nether Strike to finish him or when he starts fleeing.

I'll admit, the ease with which you kill your enemy depends highly on your luck. A Greater Bash or two will ensure that you come out unscathed.

A general tip: don't be a greedy dumbass. Know when you can and can't outrun the enemy hero. Don't recklessly tower-dive for an enemy hero you can't outrun. Be a smart mofo.

Now, if you succeed (you most likely will), then do some safe farming, or if you're low on HP... Well, get the fuck outta there.

GANKING

If 1-on-1's your bread, this is your butter. The best thing about ganking is you don't need a ton of items or DPS to do it effectively. You have a nice surprise stun, and Nether Strike brings any fleeing hero back into the range of your allies.

Your role is simple. Initiate/disable. Whack-whack-whack. Nether Strike.

Of course, team coordination is very important here. Don't focus on last-hitting or shit like that; the most important thing is that the gank is successful.

A general tip is that you shouldn't get too greedy or reckless. You gotta know when to let certain heroes go, and when to Nether Strike them back into your nest of gold/exp-hungry ally heroes. For example, don't bother Nether Striking Antimage unless you're sure the nuke will kill him. He can easily blink away, and the same goes for other heroes with escape mechanisms.

Also, magic immunity will screw you hard. In that case, just focus on Greater Bashing and dealing DPS. Also, know when to run the fuck away.

Barathrum the Spiritbreaker
Author: orangeparka
Map Vers.: 6.72f

Barathrum, aka Ganking Bull

The Non-GayPub Spiritbreaker

Date Posted: 10/09/11
Last Comment:25/11/2011
Total Votes: 0
Current Rating: 0.00
Views: 5218