Ember Spirit vs Lion

How this matchup plays

Locking down an Ember Spirit is the whole game for a Lion, but it's rarely straightforward. A well-timed Sleight of Fist can dodge Earth Spike, and Fire Remnant provides an instant escape from a gank. Even if Lion lands a Hex, Ember Spirit's Flame Guard can absorb the follow-up magic damage from Lion and his allies, often buying just enough time to get away. This forces Lion to have perfect initiation or a teammate with another disable, making solo pickoffs on Ember very unreliable throughout the game.

The matchup often becomes a game of cat and mouse. Ember wants to split push and apply pressure, knowing Lion has a hard time catching him alone. Lion, in turn, must stick with his team to create a bigger threat, limiting his own map movement. In teamfights, the duel is decided by who acts first. A pre-emptive Hex from the fog can lead to a dead Ember before he can press a button. But if Ember gets the jump or dodges the initial volley of spells, he can easily play around Lion and attack the back lines with impunity.