Arc Warden vs Phantom Assassin

How this matchup plays

Fighting into a Magnetic Field is tough, but Phantom Assassin has the right tools for the job. Arc Warden relies on that zone to safely deal damage, but PA can instantly close the gap with Phantom Strike. While the field's evasion is a serious problem, Phantom Assassin's typical item build naturally solves it with a Monkey King Bar. Arc Warden also struggles to trade right-clicks against her, as his physical damage has to contend with Blur's high evasion. He wants to stand still and attack, while she excels at jumping on and bursting a stationary target.

The matchup often comes down to timing and itemization. Before PA gets items that pierce evasion, Arc Warden can feel pretty safe inside his field and use his Tempest Double to control the map. Once Phantom Assassin has her damage and a way to guarantee hits, though, she can hunt either the real hero or the clone. Arc Warden is forced to play from extreme range and use his double for split-pushing, trying to avoid the direct fights that PA wants to force. This pressure gives Phantom Assassin a small but consistent advantage in the mid and late game.