Abaddon vs Invoker

How this matchup plays

A classic problem for an Invoker player is trying to burst down a target that Abaddon is protecting. So much of Invoker's strength comes from chaining disables and damage, but Aphotic Shield provides a timely dispel for stuns and eats a lot of that initial magic burst. A gank that relies on Cold Snap or a Deafening Blast stun can fall apart completely if the target gets a shield and simply walks away from the combo. Forcing a reaction often requires so many spells that Invoker is left with little follow-up.

This dynamic really revolves around Borrowed Time. Invoker wants to bait out Abaddon's ultimate on a low-priority target before committing his big spells on the real threat. Conversely, Abaddon wants to hold his ultimate to save a key core from a full combo. This turns teamfights into a waiting game. An impatient Invoker who unloads everything too early will see it all cleansed away, while a slow Abaddon can lose a core before he can react. The outcome often depends on which of these two players better reads the fight.