Chaos Knight vs Lion

How this matchup plays

Trying to control Chaos Knight with single-target spells is where Lion struggles. Once Phantasm is used, Lion has a difficult time finding the real hero in the chaos. Wasting a Hex or, even worse, a Finger of Death on an illusion can completely lose a fight. Even Mana Drain becomes a liability, as channeling on an illusion does very little and leaves Lion vulnerable. This fundamental mismatch between Lion's focused kit and Chaos Knight's ability to create multiple strong copies of himself defines the matchup.

The game plan for Lion is to punish Chaos Knight early and often. Before CK has his ultimate and items, Lion's lockdown is a serious threat in the lane and during ganks. If Lion can secure a strong early lead for his team, they can often close out the game before Chaos Knight becomes a problem. If the game goes even or late, however, the tables turn. CK can easily Reality Rift onto Lion, and without immediate help or a Ghost Scepter, Lion will get overwhelmed by illusions before he can get his spells off on the correct target.