Brewmaster Overview

Lore & Bio

"Shall we call this off and have a friendly round?"

In the valley of Wailing Mountain beneath the Ruined City, there is a sect that has been residing for several eras which is called Order of the Oyo. For centuries they have been practising their unique sacred rituals to communicate with the holy spirit in Spirit Realm by organizing a grand drinking festival. Among members of this sect there is a young and talented person named Mangnix. 

He is different from others because he was born with his father as a Celestial god. Therefore, he inherited the elemental power from him as well as the talent from his mortal mother.As his dream is to challenge and take over the title of Brewmaster, the most honored appellation among his sect, this young guy trained relentlessly regardless of day or night with the aesthetes expert of the Order. The challenge for the Brewmaster title is not only about drinking but also about fighting. 

Mangnix drank and fought the elder master for nine nights. But after the ninth night, the elder Brewmaster can’t stand and he got weakened after drinking and fighting consecutively. He finally collapsed and the Brewmaster title belonged to Mangnix. As a new Brewmaster, ancestors would grant him strength to accelerate his stick whenever he requested. There was a mission that all Brewmaster had to carry on and Mangnix was no exception. He traveled through lands, striving for enlightenment through drinking,searching for the answer of the physical and spiritual separation and hoping to unite the real world and spirit.

In-game, Brewmaster is described as: 

“A fearsome fighter in any situation, Brewmaster can turn the tide of battle by splitting into three elemental spirits, each with their own unique abilities. When not divided, he brings drunken chaos to his foes with slowing claps and powerful swings of his staff.”

Attribute & Stats

• Strength: 23 + 3.7 each level;

• Agility: 19 + 2 each level;

• Intelligence: 15 + 1.6 each level;

• Health: 660;

• Health regeneration: + 2.8 each second;

• Mana: 255;

• Mana regeneration: + 0.75 each second;

• Damage: 52 - 59;

• Amor: 2.17;

• Magic Resistance: 25%;

• Turn Rate: 0.6;

• Attack Range:150;

• Projectile speed: Instant;

• Attack Animation: 0.35+0.65;

• Movement: 310;

• Sight Range: 1800/800;

• Base Attack time: 1.7 seconds per attack;

• Damage Block: 16;

• Collision size: 24.

Abilities & Talents

Notes:

The attack damage granted by talents is raw attack damage.

• Illusions don't get this bonus damage. Furthermore, most percentage-based damage increasing or reducing effects don’t affect bonus damage from talents.

The health granted by talents expands the health pool and the current health will remain.

Skills building guide

In this build I will focus on guiding you how to play Brewmaster as an offlaner. Then the first ability I recommend you max out is Thunder Clap as it prevents the enemy from farming the creeps easily in the lane due to the attack speed reduction. Besides, the slow effect can be useful as it can help your allies to harass the enemy easier.

The second ability to max out is Cinder Brew. Besides the slow effect that this ability can cause on the enemy, the ignite effect triggered when the targeted enemy receives any spell damage will cause additional damage and might secure the kill. And the ability we are going to max out last is Drunken Brawler as it will make Brewmaster quite tanky and survive better in the combat or teamfight. Always remember to add a point in the Primal Split as it is a main source of damage of Brewmaster.

Abilities

Thunder Clap

Thunder Clap (No Target, Magical)

Effect: Brewmaster smashes the mighty keg in his hand onto the ground, making the circular area around him rumble, dealing damage and slowing the movement and  speed of the enemies in the affected area.

Mana cost: 90/100/110/120

Cooldown: 13

Cast Animation: 0.4+0.4

Radius: 400 (Talents 600)

Damage: 90/160/230/300

Move Speed Slow: 25%/35%/45%/55%

Attack Speed Slow: 25/35/45/55

Slow Duration: 4

Notes:

When hitting the target, the debuff is applied first, then the damage.

Cinder Brew

Cinder Brew (Point Target, Magical)

Effect: Brewmaster spills the alcohol in the keg in a targeted area which slows the enemies and burns them if they receive any spell damage. The slow debull will prolong for 3 seconds when burned. 

Mana cost: 50/60/70/80

Cooldown: 20/17/14/11

Cast Animation: 0.2+0.4

Cast Range: 850

Radius: 400

Move Speed Slow: 24%/28%/32%/36%

Ignition Total Damage: 75/150/225/300 (Talents 97.5/195/292.5/390)

Duration: 5 (Talents 6.5)

Ignite Duration Increase: 3

Notes:

The speed of Cinder Brew’s projectiles when travelling is 1600.

When Cinder Brew is cast, It does not just launch a single projectile in the center of the targeted area regardless of visual effect.

• It actually launches separate projectiles on each enemy in the affected area.

• Enemies can not see these projectiles but can dodge them.

• The enemies are chosen when the ability is cast , not when reaching the affected area.

• Enemies entering the area after the spell is cast won’t receive debuff or damage.

When enemies take any spell damage after getting hit by Cinder Brew, the debuff duration is extended for 3 seconds and then the damage is applied.

• The enemies are ignited after receiving spell damage then are slow.

The longer the debuff’s duration, the higher damage enemies receive. According to the duration, Cinder Brew always deals 8  instances of damage and each of them deals 9.38/18.75/28.13/37.5 (Talents 12.19/24.38/36.56/48.75) damage. 

Cinder Brew does not stack when you cast on the same enemies twice but its duration will be refreshed. Furthermore, the debuff is not updated.

• The ignited debuff is refreshed too but the ignition does not get reset.

•  The amount of intervals is set so it does not update once ignited which means it continues to deal damage till the end of the debuff duration.

Drunken Brawler

Drunken Brawler (No Target)

Effect : When adding a point in this ability, Brewmaster passively gains a percentage of physical attack evasion and critical damage when attacking. When activated, Brewmaster drinks up the alcohol in the keg on his hand and becomes a drunken brawler, granting him a chance to evade or deal critical damage. The movement speed of him is various in the range from 20% slower to 40% faster. And this effect lasts for 5 seconds.

Mana cost: 35/40/45/50

Cooldown:29/25/21/17

Cast Animation: 0+0

Passive Evasion: 15%/20%/25%/30%

Passive Critical Chance: 24%

Passive Critical Damage: 145%/160%/175%/190% (Talents 225%/240%/255%/270%)

Active Evasion and Crit Chance Multiplier: 3

Move Speed Slow: 20%

Move Speed Bonus: 40%

Duration: 5

Notes:

Undispellable.

Any on cast channelling abilities of Brewmaster are interrupted by Drunken Brawler’s activation.

The percentage of attack damage which is increased passively is 10.8%/14.4%/18%/21.6% (Talent: 30%/33.6%/37.2%/40.8%) and the survivability percentage when getting hit  is 18%/25%/33%/43%.

When Drunken Brawler is activated, the percentage of attack evasion is 45%/60%/75%/90% and the percentage to deal a critical damage is 72%.

• The percentage of increased attack damage is 32.4%/43.2%/54%/64.8% (Talent 90%/100.8%/111.6%/122.4%) and the survivability percentage when getting hit  is 82%/150%/300%/900% while active. 

Can stack with other proc chances of multiple crit sources.

• The higher source of critical strike will be prioritized if there are two sources procs at the same time.

• When the attack is finished, the sound effects and particles of critical strike will be applied.

Evasion granted by Drunken Brawler can stacks with other sources of evasion from allies or items

Drunken Brawler’s crit and evasion is controlled by a pseudo-random distribution mechanism.

The movement speed changes every second which starts at the same time with the bonus.

• So for the first second, the movement speed is 40% faster and slows down in every second. And in the fourth and fifth second, the movement speed is 20% slow.

• On average, the moment speed increases about 16% during 5 seconds.

Primal Split

Primal Split (No Target)

Effect: Brewmaster splits and transforms himself simultaneously into 3 elemental warriors and the warriors have their own abilities. If one of these warriors survives until the end of the spell duration, Brewmaster will be reincarnated.

Mana cost: 125/150/175

Cooldown: 140/130/120

Cast Animation: 0.55+0

Split Time: 0.6

Duration: 16/18/20

Upgradable by Aghanim’s Scepter:

• Cooldown: 0
• Number of Charges: 2
• Charge Replenish Time: 140/130/120

Notes:

During the split time and duration, Brewmaster can’t be seen, dealt damage or applied any type of dispel. 

Brewmaster appears in the Earth’s position when Primal Split is active. The Brewmaster’s position will follow this order: Earth → Storm → Fire.

• It means when the Primal Split ends, The Brewmaster’s location will prioritize Earth in case if it still alives but If it’s not then Storm and Fire will be the last.

• Any aura Brewmaster receives from items for allies, is given to Earth and following the aforementioned order if Earth dies.

• The aforementioned order is applied on Effects which react to heroes' presence.

• Brewmaster isn’t teleported periodically when Primal Split is active.

The elemental warriors spawn by Primal Split always form the same formation, an equilateral triangle ( or a square) within a range of 100 radius.

• All elemental warriors face the same direction with Brewmaster when this spell is cast. 

• Earth is always located in the range of 100 which is in front of Brewmaster’s location.

• Storm is always located in the range of 50 which is behind and 86.603 range to the left of Brewmaster’s location. 

• Wind is always located in the range of 50 which is behind and 86.603 range to the right of Brewmaster’s location.

With upgrades from Aghanim’ Shard, there are 4 elemental warriors instead of 3 which form a square and also fit in a 100 radius circle.

• Earth is always located in the range of 100 which is in front of Brewmaster’s location.

• Storm is always located in the range of 50 which is to the left of Brewmaster’s location. 

• Wind is always located in the range of 50 which is to the right of Brewmaster’s location.

• Void is always located in the range of 100 which is behind Brewmaster's location.

These warriors are creep-heroes and ancient creeps  which means they will have different interactions with several abilities.

With upgrades from Aghanim’s Shard, Void can trigger all attack modifiers which Brewmaster is granted from items including the neutral ones.

With upgrades from Aghanim’s Scepter, Primal Split Cancel will be granted to all warriors as a sub-ability.

• Brewmaster will appear immediately at the location of the brewling who casts this sub-ability.

All brewlings are granted with passive evasion and critical strike based on its current level by the level 25 talent.

• Since the ability is granted indirectly, the values can not be enhanced by using the active component.

Primal Split

Primal Split Cancel

Effect: turn the elemental warriors back into Brewmaster.

Mana cost: 0

Cooldown: 0

Cast Animation: 0+0

Notes:

Only unlock when purchasing  Aghanim’s Scepter.

All brewlings will be granted this sub-ability.

Brewmaster will reappear in the location of the brewling who cast the spell.

Effective items guides

Early game

Healing Salve

Healing Salve instantly restores a large amount of health which is useful in the early game.

Tango

Tango keeps Brewmaster in lane longer.

Iron Branch

Iron Branch: a great combination with Tango in terms of healing and can be upgraded to Magic Wand later besides some attributes it grants.

Magic Stick

Magic Stick instantly restores mana and health which helps Brewmaster to cast more Cinder Brew.

Soul Ring

Soul Ring grants great strength bonuses and its activation can immediately restore a large amount of manan in the trade of his health.

Boots of Speed

Boots of Speed: increases mobility.

Mid game

Phase Boots

Phase Boots expands the mana capacity and is a great source of instant mana restoration which helps Viper to cast his spells more often.

Magic Wand

Magic Wand: grants Brewmaster with bonus attributes and is a good source of mana and heal healing.

Blink Dagger

Blink Dagger makes up for his immobility and helps him initiate or escape combat.

Black King Bar

Black King Bar: grants spell immunity which increases his survivability and gives him enough time to use up his abilities to slow the enemy down in order to cast the Primal Split.

Late game

Aghanim's Scepter

Aghanim’s Scepter: Besides the great bonus attributes it grants, this item can update the power of the Brewmaster’s ultimate significantly by allowing him to summon Void warrior.

Radiance

Radiance: grants him bonus attack damage and scorching effect when activated which works well with his abilities especially Primal Split.

Assault Cuirass

Assault Cuirass: besides the armor this item grants to Brewmaster, allies can take advantage of its activation which gives them attack speed and armor.

Shiva's Guard

Shiva’s Guard grants Brewmaster a great armor bonus and expands his mana pool. Furthermore, its activation which slows the enemies down synergizes well with his abilities.

Situation items

Bottle

Bottle: a useful item for Brewmaster to control runes as well as for restoring health and mana purpose.

Hand of Midas

Hand of Midas: speed up the gold and experience accumulating process which helps him quickly reach level 6.

Arcane Boots

Arcane Boots: expands the mana capacity and its activation is useful if your ally in the lane relies on spell to cause damage.

Drum of Endurance

Drum of Endurance: grants great bonus stats for Brewmaster and movement speed for him as well as his nearby allies.

Vladmir's Offering

Vladimir’s Offering: a great item for the teamfight as its activation grants lifesteal, bonus damage, mana regen as well as armor to the nearby allies.

Heaven's Halberd

Heaven’s Halberd grants great bonuses as well as a hard counter for any physical damage heroes. Besides, Halberd can prevent a target from attacking for a certain amount of seconds.

Aeon Disk

Aeon Disk: expands the mana and health capacity as well as strong dispel and status resistance which make Brewmaster more tanky and endurable.

Echo Sabre

Echo Sabre: grants a great amount of attributes, damage and mana regeneration. Its activation gives Brewmaster more chances to trigger the critical attack as well as apply slow debuff on target.

Lotus Orb

Lotus Orb: expands the mana pool and grants regeneration which increase Brewmaster’s chance of survival in the teamfight. Besides, Echo Shell can apply a shield on Mangnix which dispels the debuffs and allows him to cast Primal Split.

Linken's Sphere

Linken’s Sphere allows him to cast Primal Split by blocking the single target disable. Besides, it also grants some attributes and regeneration.

Boots of Travel

Boots of Travel: reduces the cooldown of Town Portal Scroll which means he can travel around the map to support his allies more frequently.

Heart of Tarrasque

Heart of Tarrasque: A total 1300 health and 14.5 health regeneration are what Brewmaster receives when buying this item. Brewmaster can survive longer in a teamfight.

Enemies & Allies

Allies

Dazzle

Dazzle: the blessed from Shadow Grave can give Brewmaster enough time to cast Primal Split in the teamfight.

Oracle

Oracle: Face’s Edict with its disarm effect and healing and dispelling buff from False Promise grant Brewmaster enough time to cast his ultimate successfully.

Tiny

Tiny: With the help from Toss, Brewmaster will be thrown in the great position to cast Thunder Clap and Primal Split. Both can be a great duet in lane pushing because of their bonus building damage.

Invoker

Invoker can be a great lane pushing partner when casting Alacrity. Invoker has many disable abilities which synergize well with Brewmaster’s abilities in the teamfight.

Counters

Bane

Bane: With Nightmare and Fiend’s Grip, It is really difficult for Brewmaster to cast Primal Split. Besides, Bane can use Nightmare to counter-gank Brewmaster after he uses Thunder Clap and Cinder Brew to initiate the gank.

Death Prophet

Death Prophet’s ultimate can drain out the health of Brewmaster quickly.

Lion

Lion: Hex can put the life of Brewmaster on the line if he doesn’t have any spell immunity item with him. Lion’s burst magic damage is a real threat for Brewmaster.

Outworld Destroyer

Outworld Destroyer: Brewmaster’s tankiness won’t stand a chance against Outworld Destroyer’s pure damage.

Shadow Shaman

Shadow Shaman: Hex can put the life of Brewmaster on the line if he doesn’t have any spell immunity item with him. Brewmaster doesn’t have a chance against Shadow Shaman’s lockdown abilities.

Skywrath Mage

Skywrath Mage: Ancient Seal will silence Brewmaster and prevent him from casting any abilities. With little to no Magic resistance, Brewmaster can not duel with Skywrath Mage.

Items Counter

Black King Bar

Black King Bar: disables most of Brewmaster’s abilities.

Monkey King Bar

Monkey King Bar: breaks through Brewmaster's evasion and miss chance.

Favorable Matchups

Abaddon

Abaddon: the Spell Immunity of Earth’s brewling can remove Aphotic Shield and Curse of Avernus debuff on allied heroes. The Cyclone of Storm’s warrior will make waste of Abaddon’s ultimate.

Chaos Knight

Chaos Knight: Storm’s Dispel Magic with the help from Thunder Clap can easily kill Chaos Knight’s illusions. By casting Drunken Brawler, Brewmaster won’t be afraid of Chaos Knight’s physical damage. Due to the lack of area effect and mobility, Chaos Knight can’t stand a chance against Brewmaster when he casts Primal Split.

Huskar

Huskar: Storm’s Cyclone can disable Huskar’s healing effect. Without any disable, Huskar can not stop Brewmaster from casting Primal Split.

Lone Druid

Lone Druid: Cinder Brew makes Spirit Bear become easier to handle for Brewmaster. With Cyclone from Storm warrior, the Bear will be temporarily out of the combat which means Brewmaster can focus on the Lone Druid and finish him.

Lycan

Lycan: The Cyclone of Storm’s warrior will make waste of Lycan’s ultimate.Without any disable, Lycan can not stop Brewmaster from casting Primal Split.

Templar Assassin

Templar Assassin’s Refraction can be worn out easily with the attack from three (or four) elemental warriors at the same time. Without any disable, Templar Assassin has no tool to stop Brewmaster from casting Primal Split

Ursa

Ursa: The duration of Cyclone is long enough to outweigh the duration of Ursa’s Enrage which makes Ursa become harmless when the Cyclone ends its effect. With the movement speed reduction from his skill, Brewmaster can slow Ursa down and allow his teammate to kite Ursa till death.

Game plan

Early game

As an offlaner, farming is not Brewmaster’s priority in the early game. What you try to do is to prevent the enemy hero from farming by denying as much creep as possible as well as supporting your ally to last hit easier.  You might have your eye on the rune in the river as It can help you stay in the lane longer and survive better. And if your ally can not get to the lane on time to farm some creeps, feel free to do so on behalf of him.

Mid game

In the mid game, your job is pretty the same as the early game. It means you also stick with your ally in the lane and fully support him in farming as well as getting the kill from enemy heroes. You can start to roam to other lanes if they need your support but remember your main task is to help the carry in your team have their strength get accelerated as fast as possible. And always be prepared for the teamfight that might happen any time.

Late game

In the late game, your team will mostly focus on the keys objectives like Roshan or buildings and winning the crucial teamfight.With the Blink Dagger and Black King Bar, you should find yourself a good spot among enemy heroes, the cast Cinder Brew, Thunder Clap and then your ultimate Primal Split respectively to max out your damage output and slow the enemies down and let your team do the rest. Remember to activate Drunken Brawler to gain enough time to cast all the spells in the order that is aforementioned.