Earthshaker vs Winter Wyvern

How this matchup plays

Drafting one of these heroes into the other creates a tense standoff around big teamfight ultimates. Winter Wyvern’s primary tool, Winter's Curse, can completely neutralize an Earthshaker's initiation. If she catches his intended target, his team can't follow up on the Echo Slam. She can also use Cold Embrace to save an ally from his burst combo. On the other hand, Earthshaker is excellent at punishing Winter Wyvern’s poor positioning. A well-placed Fissure can isolate her from her team, and his chain stuns from Aftershock can lock her down and prevent her from getting off a crucial save.

This dynamic forces a waiting game. A patient Earthshaker will hold his Blink Dagger initiation until Winter's Curse has been used, while a smart Winter Wyvern will save her ultimate specifically to counter his jump. Fights can be decided by who misplays first. If Earthshaker finds and deletes Winter Wyvern before she can react, her team loses its most important defensive spell. But if Wyvern successfully saves a core from Earthshaker's full combo, or turns his initiation back on his own team, the fight is usually won. The outcome really depends on individual skill and timing.