Anub'arak Build Guide “Time is fleeting.”

Last updated on Dec 12, 2023 at 14:29 by Elitesparkle 20 comments
General Information

Welcome to our guide for Anub'arak, a Tank in Heroes of the Storm. Within these pages, you will find everything required to understand how best to play this hero, in both different map styles and team compositions.

1.

Anub'arak's Overview

Anub'arak is an aggressive anti-caster Tank. His strongest points are his long-range disruption and powerful on-demand resistance to Ability-based damage. Although considered an archetypal Tank, Anub'arak's Health pool is considerably lower than that of other Tanks. He relies on opportunism and teamwork to survive, exemplifying the adage "the best defence is a good offence."

2.

Anub'arak's Strengths and Weaknesses

V Strengths
X Weaknesses
3.

Anub'arak's Talent Build Cheatsheet

Scarab Host Build

Recommended
Level 1 Legion of Beetles Icon
Level 4 Bed of Barbs Icon Shed Exoskeleton Icon ? Underking Icon ?
Level 7 Leeching Scarabs Icon
Level 10 Cocoon Icon Locust Swarm Icon ?
Level 13 Burning Beetles Icon
Level 16 Epicenter Icon Beetle, Juiced Icon ?
Level 20 Rewind Icon The Traitor King Icon ?

Anub'arak's Scarab Host Build increases his sustain damage and survivability during prolonged team fights or when sieging.

The increased damage comes from Burning Beetles Icon Burning Beetles at Level 13 while the survivability comes from Leeching Scarabs Icon Leeching Scarabs at Level 7, both empowered by Legion of Beetles Icon Legion of Beetles at Level 1.

Burrow Charge Build

Advanced
Level 1 Legion of Beetles Icon Nerubian Armor Icon ? Regeneration Master Icon ?
Level 4 Underking Icon Shed Exoskeleton Icon ?
Level 7 Subterranean Shield Icon
Level 10 Cocoon Icon Locust Swarm Icon ?
Level 13 Urticating Spines Icon
Level 16 Epicenter Icon
Level 20 Rewind Icon The Traitor King Icon ?

Anub'arak's Burrow Charge Build increases his burst damage and survivability while engaging aggressively with Burrow Charge Icon Burrow Charge.

The survivability mostly comes from Subterranean Shield Icon Subterranean Shield at Level 7 and the damage comes from Urticating Spines Icon Urticating Spines at Level 13, which is the best option when it comes to burst damage.

Harden Carapace Build

Situational
Level 1 Nerubian Armor Icon
Level 4 Shed Exoskeleton Icon
Level 7 Chitinous Plating Icon
Level 10 Cocoon Icon Locust Swarm Icon ?
Level 13 Urticating Spines Icon
Level 16 Epicenter Icon Debilitation Icon ?
Level 20 Rewind Icon The Traitor King Icon ?

Anub'arak's Harden Carapace Build increases his mobility, survivability, and burst damage.

Consider going for this Build when playing against Heroes who can deal damage over time because it will trigger Chitinous Plating Icon Chitinous Plating at Level 7 and thus allow you to get more value from Urticating Spines Icon Urticating Spines at Level 13 as well as any other Harden Carapace Icon Harden Carapace-related Talent.

ARAM Build

ARAM
Level 1 Legion of Beetles Icon
Level 4 Bed of Barbs Icon Shed Exoskeleton Icon ? Underking Icon ?
Level 7 Leeching Scarabs Icon
Level 10 Locust Swarm Icon Cocoon Icon ?
Level 13 Burning Beetles Icon
Level 16 Epicenter Icon Beetle, Juiced Icon ?
Level 20 Rewind Icon The Traitor King Icon ? Hive Master Icon ?

Anub'arak's ARAM Build increases his sustain damage and survivability during prolonged team fights or when sieging.

The increased damage comes from Burning Beetles Icon Burning Beetles at Level 13 while the survivability comes from Leeching Scarabs Icon Leeching Scarabs at Level 7, both empowered by Legion of Beetles Icon Legion of Beetles at Level 1.

4.

Anub'arak's Synergies and Counters

V Anub'arak synergizes with

Anub'arak's aggressive crowd control-oriented Ability set makes him particularly useful to any Hero who is able to follow up on said crowd control with their own Ability combo.

X Anub'arak is countered by

Anub'arak's aggressive game plan is difficult to execute against Heroes that have ways of avoiding his skillshot or becoming immune to crowd control on-demand.

5.

Anub'arak's Maps

Anub'arak's stronger maps
Alterac Pass Cursed Hollow Dragon Shire Garden of Terror
Anub'arak's average maps
Blackheart's Bay Hanamura Temple Infernal Shrines Sky Temple Towers of Doom Volskaya Foundry Warhead Junction
Anub'arak's weaker maps
Battlefield of Eternity Braxis Holdout Tomb of the Spider Queen

Anub'arak can be played without major issues on most Maps because he has access to powerful engage and peeling tools.

His best Map is Alterac Pass because, by using his Trait to keep Guards busy, he can capture the enemy Objective all by himself as long as the enemy Heroes are busy somewhere else.

Maps where aggressive plays are rewarded (notably Dragon Shire) are great for Anub'arak because, when the enemy team is split into small groups, he can make high-risk high-reward plays to gain an advantage.

He does not excel on Maps where the Tank has to posture in vision for long (for example Braxis Holdout) because Anub'arak is not that durable against Basic Attacks or where those Heroes are popular.

6.

Anub'arak's Tips and Tricks

7.

Anub'arak's Role in the Current Meta

Anub'arak is a unique Tank that sacrifices raw durability for powerful on-demand initiations. In general, Anub'arak players are expected to look for opportunities to lock down isolated targets (through Impale Icon Impale and Burrow Charge Icon Burrow Charge) to allow their teammates to follow up.

In the early stages of the game, Anub'arak is well-suited for roaming and protecting teammates in lanes. Burrow Charge lets him effectively scout with very little danger. This task is just as important as initiating throughout the entire game. As Heroic Abilities become available, Cocoon Icon Cocoon is the expected choice to catch and aggressively collapse on rotating opponents on top of being generally useful.

8.

Changelog

  • 12 Dec. 2023 (talents page): Guide reviewed.
  • 12 Dec. 2023 (this page): Guide reviewed.
  • 20 Sep. 2023 (talents page): ARAM Build addded.
  • 20 Sep. 2023 (this page): ARAM Build addded.
  • 30 Mar. 2022 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 30 Mar. 2022 (abilities page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 30 Mar. 2022 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 28 Jan. 2022 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 28 Jan. 2022 (this page): Builds and Maps updated.
  • 18 Nov. 2021 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 18 Nov. 2021 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 20 May 2021 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 20 May 2021 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 22 Mar. 2021 (talents page): Builds updated.
  • 22 Mar. 2021 (abilities page): Cocoon's Description updated.
  • 22 Mar. 2021 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 09 Mar. 2021 (talents page): Builds and Talents updated.
  • 09 Mar. 2021 (this page): Builds updated.
  • 25 Feb. 2021 (talents page): New layout.
  • 15 Dec. 2020 (talents page): Builds fixed.
  • 15 Dec. 2020 (this page): Builds fixed.
  • 04 Nov. 2020 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 04 Nov. 2020 (abilities page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 04 Nov. 2020 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 28 Oct. 2020 (talents page): Builds fixed.
  • 28 Oct. 2020 (this page): Builds fixed.
  • 10 Oct. 2020 (talents page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 10 Oct. 2020 (abilities page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 10 Oct. 2020 (this page): Guide reviewed for the latest Balance Update.
  • 30 Aug. 2020 (this page): Role in Current Meta section updated.
  • 19 Aug. 2020 (talents page): Burning Beetles added.
  • 19 Jul. 2020 (talents page): Talents reviewed and updated.
  • 20 Jun. 2020 (talents page): Talents reviewed following June 3 balance patch. No changes to Talent recommendations.
  • 05 Apr. 2020 (talents page): Description reviewed for Bed of Barbs.
  • 27 Jan. 2020 (talents page): Guide reviewed following January 22 balance patch. No changes to Talent recommendations.
  • 15 Dec. 2019 (this page): Added a note about current Anomaly.
  • 26 Jun. 2019 (talents page): Guide reviewed and updated.
  • 26 Jun. 2019 (this page): Guide reviewed and updated.
  • 05 Feb. 2019 (talents page): Talents and recommendations updated following Legion of Beetles rework.
  • 20 Jan. 2019 (talents page): Build recommendations updated.
  • 30 Jun. 2018 (talents page): Updated for the latest Balance update.
  • 14 Jan. 2018 (talents page): Updated Balance build.
  • 15 Mar. 2017 (this page): Guide updated.
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