Anub'arak Build Guide “Time is fleeting.”

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."

Strengths

• Excellent initiator
• Access to Cocoon, a valuable Heroic Ability
• Several long-range interruption Abilities

Weaknesses

• Fragile for a Tank
• Limited damage output and waveclear
• Main Abilities are skillshots that can be avoided

Hardened Carapace Build

Recommended

Level 1

Level 4

Level 7

Level 10

Level 13

Level 16

Level 20

Copy build to clipboard Build copied! Talent calculator »

Anub'arak's Hardened Carapace Build increases his mobility, survivability, and damage during prolonged team fights.

Choose this Build when you need the Spell Armor from Harden Carapace and Movement Speed from Shed Exoskeleton at Level 4 more often because Chitinous Plating at Level 7 reduces its cooldown.

Burrow Charge Build

Situational

Level 1

Level 4

Level 7

Level 10

Level 13

Level 16

Level 20

Copy build to clipboard Build copied! Talent calculator »

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

The survivability comes from Subterranean Shield at Level 7 while the damage comes from Underking at Level 4 and Urticating Spines at Level 13.

Scarab Host Build

Beginner

Level 1

Level 4

Level 7

Level 10

Level 13

Level 16

Level 20

Copy build to clipboard Build copied! Talent calculator »

Anub'arak's Scarab Host Build increases his damage output and survivability during prolonged team fights.

The increased damage comes from Burning Beetles at Level 13 while the survivability comes form Leeching Scarabs at Level 7, both empowered by Legion of Beetles at Level 1 and Beetle, Juiced at Level 16.

See our Talents page for further information »

Create your own build and share it with friends!

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.

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.

Anub'arak's stronger maps

Anub'arak's average maps

Anub'arak's weaker maps

Anub'arak's aggressive gameplan works well on most Maps, provided teammates follow through. His sub-par PvE damage output means that someone else will have to help with the many Map Objectives that require killing.

• Exploit Scarab Host Beetles to soak damage from Structures and Mercenaries, and to intercept skillshots.
• Use Burrow Charge to close up on a target, then follow up with Impale for much crowd control.
• Harden Carapace should be used on-Cooldown during fights due to its low Mana cost and ability to summon Beetles.
• Use Locust Swarm with caution; it heals for a large amount, but does not make you invincible, especially versus burst damage.
• Hold onto your Cocoon's Cooldown to interrupt and deny strong enemy Heroic Abilities.

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 and 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 is the expected choice to catch and aggressively collapse on rotating opponents on top of being generally useful.