Tusk · Hard Support (pos. 5)
Tusk Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Tusk is a melee Strength hero that Valve tags as Disabler, Initiator and Nuker. It is played mainly as Hard Support (pos. 5): 51% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Hard Support (pos. 5): your job is to keep your carry safe in the safe lane, buy the wards and give up farm so the cores can have it. The kit brings crowd control (stun) with Snowball. Its ultimate is Walrus PUNCH! This patch, Tusk wins 47.9% of the 194,407 public matches we measured (C tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable stun: Snowball sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Keeps allies alive with Ice Shards.
- Heavy magical burst: Valve lists it as a Nuker.
Weaknesses
- Melee: has to walk up to its target, which makes the lane harder against ranged heroes.
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Tusk is easy to catch.
- Low base armor (1): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Vladmir's Offering and Desolator — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Force Staff and Pavise. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Pavise and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
236%158%- Safe laneMain58% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 236% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Blink Dagger
- 2Force Staff
- 3Pavise
- 4Aghanim's Shard
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Tag Team›Snowball›Ice Shards
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 12% Chance Walrus PunchIce Shards slow by 50% and deal 110 DPS25
- -6s Snowball Cooldown+75% Walrus Punch Crit20
- +325 Health+120 Snowball Damage15
- +0.75s Walrus Punch Stun Duration+2s Tag Team Duration10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Vladmir's Offering and Desolator — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
236%158%- Safe laneMain58% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 236% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 2Desolator+55 Damage.
- 3Blink DaggerActive: Blink.
- 4Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Tag Team›Snowball›Ice Shards
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 12% Chance Walrus PunchIce Shards slow by 50% and deal 110 DPS25
- -6s Snowball Cooldown+75% Walrus Punch Crit20
- +325 Health+120 Snowball Damage15
- +0.75s Walrus Punch Stun Duration+2s Tag Team Duration10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Force Staff and Pavise. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
236%158%- Safe laneMain58% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 236% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- 2Pavise+3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
- 3Ghost Scepter+5 All Attributes. Active: Ghost Form.
- 4Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Tag Team›Snowball›Ice Shards
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- 12% Chance Walrus PunchIce Shards slow by 50% and deal 110 DPS25
- -6s Snowball Cooldown+75% Walrus Punch Crit20
- +325 Health+120 Snowball Damage15
- +0.75s Walrus Punch Stun Duration+2s Tag Team Duration10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Pavise and Eul's Scepter of Divinity. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Tusk players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
236%158%- Safe laneMain58% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- OfflanePriority 236% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Pavise+3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
- 2Eul's Scepter of Divinity+10 Intelligence, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +20 Movement Speed. Active: Cyclone.
- 3Spirit Vessel+1.75 Mana Regeneration, +10 All Attributes, +2 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
- 4Essence Distiller+1.5 Mana Regeneration, +3 All Attributes, +6 Armor. Active: Soul Release.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Tag Team›Snowball›Ice Shards
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- 12% Chance Walrus PunchIce Shards slow by 50% and deal 110 DPS25
- -6s Snowball Cooldown+75% Walrus Punch Crit20
- +325 Health+120 Snowball Damage15
- +0.75s Walrus Punch Stun Duration+2s Tag Team Duration10
Abilities
- Ice Shards23 / 20 / 17 / 14s100 mpTusk compresses shards of ice into a ball of frozen energy that damages all enemies it comes in contact with. When the ball reaches its target destination the shards are released, creating a barrier that lasts for 4 seconds.
- Radius
- 200
- Shard damage
- 75·150·225·300
- Shard duration
- 4·5·6·7
- Shard depth
- 0
- Snowball21 / 19 / 17 / 15s75 mpTusk begins rolling into a snowball. Allies within a 325 radius can also be added to the snowball by right-clicking on them, even while the snowball is moving. Once launched, any enemies caught in the snowball's path will be stunned and take damage. Each allied Hero in the snowball will add to its damage and stun duration.
- Base damage
- 80·140·200·260
- Snowball speed
- 575·600·625·650
- Bonus damage per ally
- 40·65·90·115
- Stun duration
- 0.6·0.8·1·1.2
- Stun duration per ally
- 0.2
- Launch time
- 3
- Tag Team24 / 21 / 18 / 15s70 mpActivate to temporarily apply a negative debuff aura around you, causing enemies that are attacked under it to take bonus physical damage and reduced movement speed. Lasts 6 seconds.
- Bonus damage
- 25·50·75·100
- Movement slow
- 75%
- Slow duration
- 0.5
- Debuff duration
- 6
- Radius
- 350
Drinking Buddies14s80 mpTusk reaches out to tag an allied unit, pulling them closer. Once tagged, both Tusk and his tagged ally gain movement speed and armor.- Buff duration
- 6
- Bonus movement speed
- 25%
- Bonus armor
- 7
Walrus Kick12s100 mpKicks the closest enemy unit in the drawn direction, stunning, damaging, and slowing them. Also deals damage to all heroes within 250 radius of its landing area. Cooldown is reduced by 50% if kicking a creep.- Kick push distance
- 1200
- Move slow
- 40%
- Slow duration
- 2
- Damage
- 550
- Walrus PUNCH!16 / 13 / 10s75 mpTusk connects with his mighty Walrus Punch, a critical strike with bonus damage so powerful it launches its victim into the air.
- Bonus damage
- 60·90·120
- Critical damage
- 200%·250%·300%
- Air time
- 1
Launch SnowballLaunch the snowball toward the target.
Bitter ChillPassivePassively slows the attack speed of all enemy heroes within a 350 unit radius.- Attack slow
- 12
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Tag Team›Snowball›Ice Shards
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | · | ● | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Position 5 starts in the safe lane with your carry: their last hits come first, so harass the enemy offlaner, pull the small camp when the wave needs resetting and buy the wards nobody else will. Harass when the enemy core walks up to last hit: every hit you land is gold your carry keeps.
- Early items: Bracer and Urn of Shadows.
2Mid game
Rotate to the lanes where you can get kills, keep vision around the next objective and leave the farm to your cores. Your spikes are level 6, when Walrus PUNCH! comes online, and your core items: Blink Dagger and then Force Staff.
- Core items: Blink Dagger, Force Staff and Pavise.
3Late game
Late, your death costs little gold but your spells are worth a lot: stay behind the team, keep your save items ready and ward before the fight, not during it.
- Late items: Black King Bar and Eul's Scepter of Divinity.
4Team fights
Stay behind your cores, use Snowball on whoever jumps on your carry and keep Ice Shards for the moment the enemy commits. Use Walrus PUNCH! where it hits the most enemies or catches the key target.
Tips
- Land Snowball on the enemy core first: a disabled carry doesn't hit back.
- Keep Ice Shards for the moment the enemy commits, not to top up health.
- Buy and place wards every time they are available: vision is your first job.
- Your key purchases are Blink Dagger and Force Staff: they give your team the saves it needs.
- Plan fights around Walrus PUNCH!: without it, Tusk is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Templar Assassin57.8%win rate in the matchup
Tusk wins 57.8% of the 173 games measured against Templar Assassin this patch.
173 matches
- Lifestealer57.8%win rate in the matchup
Tusk wins 57.8% of the 128 games measured against Lifestealer this patch.
128 matches
- Medusa57.1%win rate in the matchup
Tusk wins 57.1% of the 105 games measured against Medusa this patch.
105 matches
- Void Spirit57.0%win rate in the matchup
Tusk wins 57.0% of the 251 games measured against Void Spirit this patch.
251 matches
- Pudge56.9%win rate in the matchup
Tusk wins 56.9% of the 197 games measured against Pudge this patch.
197 matches
Weak against
- Treant Protector32.6%win rate in the matchup
Tusk only wins 32.6% of the 178 games measured against Treant Protector this patch.
178 matches
- Venomancer37.3%win rate in the matchup
Tusk only wins 37.3% of the 126 games measured against Venomancer this patch.
126 matches
- Phoenix41.2%win rate in the matchup
Tusk only wins 41.2% of the 291 games measured against Phoenix this patch.
291 matches
- Muerta41.5%win rate in the matchup
Tusk only wins 41.5% of the 195 games measured against Muerta this patch.
195 matches
- Abaddon42.9%win rate in the matchup
Tusk only wins 42.9% of the 182 games measured against Abaddon this patch.
182 matches
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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