Hero Discussion of the Day: Spirit Breaker (February 28, 2012)

Spirit Breaker was last discussed on December 17. SB's most recent changes from 6.73:

• Charge of Darkness cooldown decreased from 40 to 35
• Charge of Darkness AoE knockback increased from 250 to 300
• Netherstrike damage increased from 100/200/300 to 150/250/350

Barathrum, the Spirit Breaker

Spirit Breaker is a powerful Ganker Strength Hero that concentrates on taking out single targets, while lacking in larger team fights. His Charge of Darkness lets him charge towards any target available, while knocking off all enemies in his path. If you see the charge coming, it may already be too late. He is picked mostly for his high damage given by Empowering Haste and his Greater Bash which crushes the life out of his hapless victims. Barathrum can instantly and quickly move to his enemy via Nether Strike and shocks them with a soul-bashing blow. Spirit Breaker is recommended for beginners.

Lore:

Barathrum the Spirit Breaker is a lordly and powerful being, a fierce and elemental intelligence which chose to plane-shift into the world of matter to take part in events with repercussions in the elemental realm that is his home. To that end, he assembled a form that would serve him well, both in our world and out of it. His physical form borrows from the strengths of this world, blending features both bovine and simian—horns, hooves and hands—as outward emblems of his inner qualities of strength, speed and cunning. He wears a ring in his nose, as a reminder that he serves a hidden master, and that this world in which he works is but a shadow of the real one.

"Attack is the best defense."

Strength	Agility	Intelligence
23 + 2.4	17 + 1.7	15 + 1.8
Damage	Armor	Movespeed
45 - 55	5.38	290
Attack Range	Base Attack Time	Missile Speed
128	1.7	N/A
Soundset	Icon	Fan Art

Charge of Darkness

Breaker fixes his sight on an enemy unit and starts charging through all objects. All enemy units passed through will be hit by a Greater Bash, and the targeted unit is stunned upon impact. If the targeted unit dies, Spirit Breaker will change his target to the nearest enemy unit to that location.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	100	35	Global	N/A	1.2 seconds	Charge at 425 ms then stuns
2	100	35	Global	N/A	1.6 seconds	Charge at 500 ms then stuns
3	100	35	Global	N/A	2.0 seconds	Charge at 575 ms then stuns
4	100	35	Global	N/A	2.4 seconds	Charge at 650 ms then stuns

• Target will become aware of the charge (a buff is visible in the status bar) when Barathrum is within 3000 distance.
• Spirit Breaker will run through units and trees.
• Allies of Barathrum (and himself) will see an animation over the head of the target.
• Any unit you pass through (300 radius) will proc a Greater Bash of your current level (nothing will happen if you didn't skill it)
• The charge stops if you click anywhere, or if you are disabled.
• Spirit Breaker gains shared vision of the target for the duration.
• If the target dies, the charge is transferred to the nearest valid target.
• Some items are usable during the charge without interrupting it. Using Black King Bar right before you strike will ensure your charge doesn't get countered.
• Provides True Sight on enemy unit.

Empowering Haste

Causes the Spirit Breaker to gain power with higher movement speed, allowing him to deal extra damage based on his movement speed. His presence increases the movement speed of nearby allied units.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	N/A	N/A	N/A	900	N/A	Increases movement speed by 6% and damage by 4% of his movement speed.
2	N/A	N/A	N/A	900	N/A	Increases movement speed by 8% and damage by 8% of his movement speed.
3	N/A	N/A	N/A	900	N/A	Increases movement speed by 10% and damage by 23% of his movement speed.
4	N/A	N/A	N/A	900	N/A	Increases movement speed by 12% and damage by 16% of his movement speed.

• The bonus damage is added to Spirit Breaker's ordinary attack damage.

Greater Bash

Gives a chance to stun and knockback an enemy unit on an attack, as well as gaining bonus movement speed after a bash occurs.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	N/A	1.5 seconds	N/A	N/A	0.95 seconds	Deals 25 damage
2	N/A	1.5 seconds	N/A	N/A	1.15 seconds	Deals 50 damage
3	N/A	1.5 seconds	N/A	N/A	1.35 seconds	Deals 75 damage
4	N/A	1.5 seconds	N/A	N/A	1.55 seconds	Deals 100 damage

• Damage type: magical
• Greater Bash is triggered everytime Spiritbreaker initiates an attack, so it is not necessary to land the attack in order for Greater Bash to work.
• Does not stack with Cranium Basher.
• Knockback distance is 100.

Nether Strike

Spirit Breaker slips into the nether realm, reappearing next to his hapless victim. Upon reappearing, a Greater Bash occurs and deals bonus damage.

SCEPTER UPGRADABLE: Causes the Greater Bash to hit an area around the initial target, decreases cooldown, and increases cast range.

Level	Mana Cost	Cooldown	Casting Range	Area	Duration	Effects
1	125	75 (20*)	400 (550*)	N/A	N/A	Moves Barathrum next to the target, deals 150 damage.
2	125	75 (20*)	550 (700*)	N/A	N/A	Moves Barathrum next to the target, deals 250 damage.
3	125	75 (20*)	700 (850*)	N/A	N/A	Moves Barathrum next to the target, deals 350 damage.

• Damage type: magical
• Barathrum will move to the other side of the target seen from the point he cast it.
• Performs a Greater Bash of your current level upon arrival (no bash will happen if you didn't skill it).
• Teleportation and damage is delayed 1 second while Spirit Breaker is fading out, Spirit Breaker is magic immune for this time period.
• Can be improved by Aghanim's Scepter (* shows the improved values).
• With Aghanim's Scepter, performs a Greater Bash level 4 on all units in a 250 AoE of Spiritbreaker upon arrival.

Wilco- has posted a daily tl;dr on SB.

Be sure to take a look at DotaCinema's video overview of Spirit Breaker.

As always, check out yesterday's discussion of Lina or the complete HDotD archives.