Kunkka vs Pangolier

How this matchup plays

Trying to land a full combo on Pangolier is a real headache. Kunkka wants to set up his classic X Marks the Spot into a Torrent or Ghostship, but Pangolier has too many ways to escape. Swashbuckle lets him dash out of the combo's radius, and Shield Crash gives him enough damage reduction to survive the burst even if he does get caught. If Pangolier uses Rolling Thunder, he becomes spell immune and ignores the entire setup completely. Kunkka has to wait for Pangolier to burn through his spells first, otherwise the combo is a waste.

This creates a standoff where neither hero has a clear advantage. In lane, Kunkka can’t reliably bully him out, and Pangolier has trouble closing the distance to secure a kill against Tidebringer's cleave. Teamfights become a game of cat-and-mouse, with Kunkka trying to bait out a Shield Crash before using his ultimate, and Pangolier looking for the perfect moment to roll in when Kunkka's spells are on cooldown. It often comes down to which player can better predict the other's moves.