Kez vs Lina

How this matchup plays

Trying to close the distance on Lina is a problem for Kez because her entire kit is built to stop that from happening. A well-placed Light Strike Array can hold him in place long enough for her to unload her magical burst damage from a safe range. Even if Kez gets close, Lina's spellcasting gives her a massive attack speed steroid, allowing her to trade effectively while kiting. Kez’s stance-swapping and parries are designed for a close-quarters duel, but Lina often gets to dictate the terms of the fight before he's ever in range to use them.

This leaves Kez playing from behind in the early and mid-game. Lina can punish his attempts to farm and slow down his item progression. The entire matchup often hinges on whether Kez can survive long enough to acquire a Black King Bar. Once he has magic immunity, he can finally ignore Lina's spells and force the kind of man-fight he's built for. Lina’s game plan is to build a lead and end the game before Kez reaches that critical timing, while he focuses on farming defensively and avoiding her initial burst.