Broodmother
For centuries, Black Arachnia brooded in the dark lava tubes of Pyrethe, grooming her millions of children beneath the world above. When greed and intrusion threatened her nursery, she emerged to cleanse the world of any who would harm her precious spawn.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“The web is woven not from silk, but from inevitability. Every strand represents a future you cannot escape.”
Territory is Everything
Your web network is your kingdom. Establish it early, expand it wisely, and never let enemies feel safe within your domain.
Numbers Over Might
One spider is insignificant. A thousand are unstoppable. Focus on economy and sustainability, not individual strength.
Patience is Predatory
Wait for mistakes, then overwhelm. The enemy who feels safe in your territory has already lost.
Micro is Mastery
Every spider is a tool, a scout, a blocker, a sacrifice. Master individual control to achieve collective dominance.
Economy is Victory
Healing from kills, infinite spawns, vision control - understand your economic advantages and exploit them relentlessly.
Pressure Never Sleeps
When they defend one lane, attack another. When they chase you, disappear into webs. The mental game is half the battle.
Hero Overview
Broodmother is a unique agility carry who dominates through territorial control and overwhelming numbers. By creating networks of invisible webs and spawning armies of spiderlings, she can simultaneously push multiple lanes while remaining elusive and difficult to catch. Her ability to generate infinite units makes her one of the most intimidating pushers in Dota 2.
Broodmother's gameplay revolves around establishing web networks for mobility and invisibility, then using Spawn Spiderlings to build an army. The key is balancing aggressive pushing with safe positioning, using your spiders for scouting, farming, and siege. With proper micro-management, you can control the entire map while farming efficiently and evading ganks.
Pros
- Excellent map control through web networks
- Infinite spider generation for pushing
- High mobility and invisibility in web territory
- Strong split-pushing potential
- Difficult to gank when properly positioned
Cons
- Vulnerable to AoE damage and spells
- Heavy micro-management requirement
- Weak without established web network
- Spiders provide gold and experience to enemies
- Struggles against heroes with cleave abilities
Ability Analysis
Spawn Spiderlings
Target UnitInjects her eggs into an enemy unit, dealing damage. If the target dies while infected, spiderlings will burst forth.
Notes: Multiple casts stack on the same target, creating more spiderlings on death. Spiderlings from denies still spawn. Use this to generate infinite spiders by poking your own creeps or spiders.
Spin Web
ActiveSpins a web in a target area, granting invisibility, movement speed, and health regeneration while within it.
Notes: Create interconnected pathways for mobility and escape. The 'Necrotic Webs' facet reduces enemy health restoration when standing in web networks. Use webs to control key areas and escape routes.
Incapacitating Bite
PassiveBroodmother's venom cripples enemies, reducing their movement speed and causing them to miss attacks.
Notes: This passive applies to both Broodmother and her spiders. It makes chasing and escaping much easier, and significantly reduces enemy effectiveness in prolonged fights.
Insatiable Hunger
ActiveBroodmother gains lifesteal and bonus attack damage for a duration.
Notes: The lifesteal from this ability can be reduced by items and spells that affect health restoration, such as Spirit Vessel, Ice Blast, and various other effects. Essential for dueling and survivability.
Spinner's Snare (Aghanim's Scepter)
ActiveCreates a single-target snare that roots an enemy and pulls spiders toward them.
Notes: Has global cast range as long as it's within 800 range of a Spin Web. Excellent for catching fleeing enemies or pulling your spider army into position quickly.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Broodmother is the ultimate micro-management hero who excels at map control through her spider army. Her Spin Web creates a network of invisible pathways, while Spawn Spiderlings provides an endless supply of minions.
Key Insights:
- Spider micro-management is crucial for success
- Web placement determines your territorial control
- Spider's Milk innate requires you to secure last hits personally
Broodmother rewards patient, strategic play. Control the map, overwhelm with numbers, and never let your enemies breathe freely in your territory!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Establish web network and build spider economy Key: Create interconnected webs in lane and jungle; Spawn spiders from creep kills for pushing and vision; Use Spider's Milk innate to sustain through last hits; Position in back corners of camps for easy escapes Items: Power Treads (Priority #1); Orchid Malevolence components; Web network establishment Tips: Enable dota_selection_groups false for better micro control; Use spiders to scout nearby areas and prevent ganks; Stack multiple Spawn Spiderlings on targets for maximum spiders; Destroy specific webs strategically when needed
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Split push and control map objectives Key: Use spider army to pressure multiple lanes; Maintain web control for mobility and escapes; Coordinate with team for tower takes; Use Incapacitating Bite to win duels Items: Orchid Malevolence (Lockdown capability); Yasha progressing to Manta Style; BKB if against heavy magic damage Tips: Send spiders to patrol while farming safely; Use spider body blocks by destroying webs after convergence; Utilize Necrotic Webs facet to reduce enemy healing; Be mindful of spider gold bounty - don't feed recklessly
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Execute decisive pushes and teamfight contribution Key: Use Agh's Scepter global snare for picks; Maintain pressure through constant split pushing; Join teamfights with proper positioning; Use Insatiable Hunger effectively against single targets Items: Aghanim's Scepter (Global lockdown); Manta Style (Dispels and damage); Butterfly or Daedalus (Damage scaling) Tips: Coordinate with team to catch enemies out of position; Use spider vision to control Roshan area; Be aware of heroes who can instantly clear spider armies; Prioritize survival over feeding spider gold
Tips & Strategies
Spider Economy Management
- Broodmother must personally secure last hits to benefit from Spider's Milk innate healing.
- Multiple Spawn Spiderlings casts stack - use this to generate massive spider armies from single targets.
- Spiderlings spawn even on denies, including your own spiders - the infinite spiderling hack.
- Use spiders to block or stack camps efficiently while you farm elsewhere.
Web Network Strategy
- Destroy specific webs manually by selecting them and using Destroy Spin Web ability.
- Necrotic Webs facet reduces enemy health restoration when both you and enemy stand in web network.
- Position jungle camp farming in back corners for quickest escape routes.
- Use webs to control vision and movement paths across the map.
Combat Micro Techniques
- Destroy webs after spiders converge to enable body blocking with collision.
- Use individual spider control (dota_selection_groups false) for scouting and harassment.
- Coordinate spider attacks with your own for maximum pressure.
- Pull spiders back before AoE spells to minimize feeding gold to enemies.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Early stats and sustain to survive the laning phase while establishing your web network.
Tangos, Slippers, Circlet
Core Items
Treads for stats manipulation, Orchid for silence and damage amplification, Yasha for mobility and damage scaling into Manta Style.
Power Treads, Orchid Malevolence, Yasha
Situational Items
BKB against magic burst, Silver Edge for break and evasion piercing, Butterfly for late-game damage, Agh's for global snare capability.
Black King Bar, Silver Edge, Butterfly, Aghanim's Scepter
Counter Guide
Good With
Broodmother excels with heroes who can capitalize on her split pushing and provide setup. Shadow Shaman and Chen offer additional pushing power and control to overwhelm towers. Visage complements her minion playstyle with his own familiars, creating overwhelming numbers. Enchantress provides additional healing and control with her nature's attendants. Dark Seer can vacuum enemies into spider swarms while providing armor for survival. Naga Siren synergizes perfectly with sleep setups and illusions for massive pressure. Venomancer adds additional poison damage and lockdown to your spider army. The ideal partners are those who benefit from prolonged fights and can set up engagements where Broodmother's spider swarm becomes devastating.
Bad Against
Broodmother struggles against heroes with efficient AoE damage and cleave abilities. Axe with Counter Helix and Berserker's Call makes spider management impossible while forcing unfavorable trades. Earthshaker can instantly clear entire spider armies with Echo Slam and Fissure. Timbersaw farms spiders easily with Reactive Armor and Whirling Death, making him nearly impossible to kill. Bristleback with Quill Spray effortlessly farms spiders while being difficult to approach. Batrider with Sticky Napalm and Firefly destroys spiders and mobility. Centaur Warrunner with Retaliate makes harassment ineffective. Kunkka clears spiders with Tidebringer and has devastating burst combos. Grimstroke can instantly delete spider armies with Stroke of Fate stacking. The common theme is heroes who can clear spiders efficiently while threatening Broodmother herself.
Good Against
Broodmother dominates heroes who lack efficient AoE clearing and mobility. Sniper, Drow Ranger, and Crystal Maiden are easy targets who can be overwhelmed by spider pressure and lack escape mechanisms. Witch Doctor and Shadow Shaman become vulnerable when caught without their ultimates ready. Zeus and Lina have limited single-target spells that struggle against spider numbers. Anti-Mage in early stages lacks damage output to clear spiders effectively. Pudge struggles to hook through spider swarms and can be kited indefinitely. Nature's Prophet without his treants becomes vulnerable to spider aggression. Templar Assassin before acquiring Blink Dagger becomes trapped by spider body blocks. Broodmother excels at isolating and suffocating heroes who depend on positioning and lack area control abilities.