Black Arachnia, the Broodmother, is a terrifying melee Strength-growth dominant pusher and carry in DotA 1, feared for her ability to completely choke out and capture a single lane of the map. Armed with excellent base survivability and a unique toolkit, she specializes in creating an overwhelming army of arachnid hatchlings, sneaking through impassable terrain, and securing her domain using massive webs. While she scales with a highly balanced attribute set—anchored by stellar +2.8 Strength and Agility growth rates—her real strength lies in her capacity to split-push, control territory, and out-sustain her enemies in direct physical combat.
2. Base Stats & Attributes
Hero Attributes
| Attribute |
Base Value |
Growth (per level) |
| Strength |
18 |
+2.8 |
| Agility |
15 |
+2.8 |
| Intelligence |
18 |
+2.0 |
Statistics & Mechanics
| Statistic |
Value |
Mechanic |
Value |
| Damage |
44-50 |
Base HP Regen |
0.25/s |
| HP |
560 |
HP Regen |
+2.05/s |
| MP |
266 |
MP Regen |
+0.91/s |
| Armor |
2.1 |
Turn Rate |
0.5 |
| Move Speed |
275 |
Base Attack Time (BAT) |
1.7 |
| Attack Range |
150 (melee) |
Attack Animations |
0.4 / 0.5 |
3. Hero Skills Breakdown
1. Spawn Spiderlings
The Broodmother injects her young into a target, creating immense pain. If the target is killed by the injection, spiderlings will be born.
- Damage Type: Magical
- Unit Spawn Behavior: Spawns a dedicated squad of spiderlings only if the target dies while under the effect of the debuff or directly from the nuke.
| Level |
Magical Damage |
Spiderlings Spawned |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
70 |
1 |
11 seconds |
100 |
| 2 |
140 |
2 |
10 seconds |
100 |
| 3 |
210 |
3 |
9 seconds |
100 |
| 4 |
280 |
4 |
8 seconds |
100 |
2. Spin Web
Spins a web that grants a passive Movement speed increase, gives free movement, and HP regen while in its vicinity. Spin Web can be cast from anywhere as long as the new web touches an existing web. Webs never expire, and can be manually destroyed. When the maximum limit of webs is exceeded, the oldest web disappears.
- Buff Conditions: Active only while Broodmother is positioned within the area of effect of a web.
- Collision Interaction: Grants free pathing, allowing her to cross cliffs, trees, and obstacles.
- Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade: Increases the maximum active web count, further boosts movement speed bonuses, and entirely removes the movement speed cap.
| Level |
Max Active Webs |
Web Charges |
Movement Speed Bonus % |
HP Regen Bonus |
Cooldown (Charge Replenish) |
Manacost |
| 1 |
2 |
2 |
25% |
+3/s |
45 seconds |
50 |
| 2 |
4 |
4 |
40% |
+5/s |
45 seconds |
50 |
| 3 |
6 |
6 |
55% |
+7/s |
45 seconds |
50 |
| 4 |
8 |
8 |
70% |
+9/s |
45 seconds |
50 |
3. Incapacitating Bite
Gives the Broodmother venoms which will greatly reduce the target's ability to function.
- Debuff Duration: 2 seconds
- Attack Modifier: Passive physical attack enhancement (on-hit debuff).
| Level |
Miss Chance % |
Move Speed Slow % |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
30% |
20% |
Passive |
0 |
| 2 |
40% |
30% |
Passive |
0 |
| 3 |
50% |
40% |
Passive |
0 |
| 4 |
60% |
50% |
Passive |
0 |
4. Insatiable Hunger
The Broodmother develops a violent thirst for vital fluids. This lust greatly increases her attack damage and gives her bonus lifesteal.
- Lifesteal Stacking: Unique lifesteal mechanic that fully stacks with all other source types of lifesteal (e.g., Vladmir's Offering or Satanic).
- Buff Duration: 14 seconds
| Level |
Bonus Attack Damage |
Lifesteal % |
Cooldown |
Manacost |
| 1 |
60 |
60% |
45 seconds |
100 |
| 2 |
100 |
100% |
45 seconds |
100 |
| 3 |
140 |
140% |
45 seconds |
100 |
4. Item Build Guide
| Phase |
Recommended Items |
Strategic Purpose |
| Early Game |
Soul Ring, Power Treads, Quelling Blade |
Soul Ring is essential to trade excess HP regen (gained passively from Spin Web) for the mana pool required to spam Spawn Spiderlings. Power Treads offer stats and attack speed, while Quelling Blade helps secure early last hits. |
| Core Items |
Orchid Malevolence, Black King Bar (BKB), Vladimir's Offering |
Orchid provides critical mana pool regeneration and a silence to isolate and burst down targets. Black King Bar prevents being stunned and bursted down while utilizing Insatiable Hunger, and Vladmir's Offering provides a percentage-based armor aura and lifesteal that fully stacks with her ultimate. |
| Late Game |
Assault Cuirass, Butterfly, Abyssal Blade |
Assault Cuirass dramatically amplifies push speeds and grants much-needed physical armor. Butterfly boosts her Agility-based damage scaling, and Abyssal Blade allows her to lock down primary targets so she can shred them with Insatiable Hunger. |
5. Quick Gameplay Tips
- The Soul Ring Engine: Because Spin Web grants massive passive HP regeneration (up to +9/s), Broodmother can use Soul Ring on cooldown with almost zero negative consequences. Trade this sacrificial health for free mana to continually secure last-hits and spawn an unstoppable army of spiderlings to overwhelm your lane opponent.
- Navigating Terrain Under Fire: When escaping a dangerous gank attempt, run directly into dense tree lines or over impassable cliffs inside your Spin Web range. Keep in mind that taking damage does not disable your free pathing in DotA 1, making her nearly impossible to capture without flying vision or instant disable abilities.
- Stacking Hunger for Immortality: Since Insatiable Hunger is one of the few lifesteal mechanics in DotA 1 that actively stacks with orb effects and aura lifesteals, pairing it with Vladmir's Offering or standard lifesteal items can push your total recovery past 150%. In a 1v1 duel, activate your ultimate and stand your ground—your survivability scale climbs exponentially as long as you keep attacking.