Nature's Prophet vs Tinker

How this matchup plays

Thinking you can catch Tinker with Sprout is a common mistake. While it can work with follow-up, Tinker usually has a way to cut the trees and escape. The real problem is that both heroes want to play the map in a similar way, but Tinker is better equipped for it. Nature's Prophet teleports to a lane to apply pressure, but Tinker can follow instantly with Rearm and Boots of Travel. Once there, Tinker’s high magic burst from Laser and his missiles is more than enough to kill a fragile Nature's Prophet who gets caught alone.

As the game progresses, this dynamic makes it very difficult for Nature's Prophet to split push effectively. Any attempt to farm a side lane becomes a risk, as Tinker can arrive at a moment's notice to defend the tower and secure a kill. This forces Prophet away from his main strength and into a less comfortable teamfight role. For Nature's Prophet to get ahead, his team needs to proactively hunt Tinker down together. Otherwise, Tinker gets to control the map, pushing lanes and picking off anyone who steps out of position.