Anti-Mage vs Lich

How this matchup plays

Laning against a Lich can feel awful for Anti-Mage. The constant slows from Frost Blast make it hard to secure last hits or escape pressure, while Frost Shield on the enemy core makes trading hits a losing proposition. This forces Anti-Mage to play defensively and cede control of the lane, potentially delaying his core items. However, Lich lacks a true stun to hold him down. Once Anti-Mage has a few levels in Blink, he can easily escape ganks and dodge Chain Frost bounces, making him very difficult for Lich to kill alone.

The matchup becomes a race between two different game plans. Lich's team wants to leverage their early strength to group up, take towers, and end the game before Anti-Mage becomes a problem. If they can't, the game swings heavily in the other direction. A farmed Anti-Mage doesn't care about slows and can Blink onto Lich for a near-instant kill. Lich also becomes a liability against Mana Void, making late-game teamfights dangerous for him. The game often comes down to which team better executes their hero's preferred timing.