Bane vs Magnus

How this matchup plays

Holding map control feels like a constant standoff in this matchup. The entire pace of the game can be dictated by which of these two heroes gets the first move in a teamfight. Bane brings Fiend's Grip, a perfect tool for catching and deleting Magnus before he can ever use Reverse Polarity. A successful gank on Magnus can completely shut down his team's initiation and open up the map for a push. On the other hand, Magnus's ultimate pierces spell immunity and can easily catch Bane, whose own lockdown requires him to stand still. This tension defines every major objective fight.

As a result, the mid-game often becomes a careful dance around vision. Magnus and his team will typically look for a smoke gank to catch Bane and his allies grouped up. Bane's team plays a similar game, trying to find Magnus isolated and use Nightmare to set up a kill before he can act. The game often comes down to which side executes their plan better. A fight can swing entirely based on whether Bane can grip Magnus before he skewers in, or if Magnus can land a multi-hero RP that includes Bane.