Invoker vs Lich

How this matchup plays

Choosing a support to deal with Invoker can be difficult, as he has an answer for almost everything. Lich brings a straightforward solution in Sinister Gaze, a channeled disable that can pin the elusive mage down long enough for cores to follow up. It’s a direct threat to an Invoker who relies on Ghost Walk or high movement speed to weave through fights. Frost Shield is also a decent answer to Alacrity-fueled right-clicks. However, Invoker isn't helpless here. Tornado purges Frost Shield, and a good EMP combo can leave Lich without enough mana to cast his most important spells.

This matchup often comes down to a duel of positioning and initiation within larger teamfights. The Lich player is constantly looking for an angle to land Sinister Gaze on Invoker before he can react. The Invoker player, in turn, tries to control the engagement from a distance, using his global presence or long-range disables to disarm Lich before he can get his spells off. Because their core interaction revolves around which one can disable the other first, neither has a truly consistent advantage. The fight can swing based on a single misstep from either hero.