Earthshaker vs Venomancer

How this matchup plays

Picking Venomancer means accepting that an enemy Earthshaker could find a very favorable fight. Earthshaker's Echo Slam gains impact from each unit in its radius, and Venomancer’s Plague Wards are a major source of extra units in a teamfight. A good ultimate from Earthshaker can use the ward field to significantly increase his own damage, turning Venomancer's area control into a liability. This oppositional aspect of their abilities also helps explain why they can feel awkward when played on the same team; their kits simply work against each other.

This advantage for Earthshaker is far from guaranteed, however. Echo Slam has a long cooldown, while Venomancer can place wards constantly. A smart Venomancer will use wards for scouting to avoid ganks, spread them out to minimize the potential Echo damage, and use his slows and poison to make it difficult for Earthshaker to find a clean initiation. The outcome often depends on whether Earthshaker can find that one ideal fight before Venomancer’s persistent damage and control have worn his team down.