Axe vs Troll Warlord

How this matchup plays

Trying to use Battle Trance to survive a fight feels impossible when an Axe is on the other team. Berserker's Call is the main problem, as it forces Troll Warlord to stop attacking his chosen target and hit Axe instead, completely wasting the ultimate's duration. This problem gets worse when Axe has Blade Mail, as Troll will rapidly kill himself while being taunted. Even if Troll survives the initial jump, Axe can often finish him off with Culling Blade, which ignores the death prevention from Battle Trance and executes him instantly.

This matchup puts all the pressure on the Troll Warlord player. From the mid-game onward, Axe's primary goal is to get a Blink Dagger and hunt for the Troll. Troll is forced into a very defensive position, needing his team to provide vision and save him from Axe's initiation. Building a Black King Bar helps, but a patient Axe can wait out its duration or simply call a more important target. The game often becomes a test of whether Troll can stay far enough away from an Axe who is constantly looking for one good jump to decide a teamfight.