Lich vs Phantom Assassin

How this matchup plays

Slowing down Phantom Assassin’s item timing is the main advantage for Lich. She needs a good start to build momentum, but Lich’s constant slows and harassment make it difficult for her to secure farm or win trades in lane. Frost Blast is a cheap and effective tool for this, and it sets her back on her core item timings. This pressure continues past the laning stage because of Frost Shield, which provides damage reduction against her physical burst and heavily slows her attack speed, making it hard for Phantom Assassin to finish off a target she blinks on.

Throughout the game, the pattern is Lich protecting whichever ally Phantom Assassin tries to assassinate. A well-placed Frost Shield can often negate her kill attempt, forcing her to disengage or be turned on. To succeed, PA needs to itemize for spell immunity with a Black King Bar to ignore the slows. However, even with BKB active, Lich can still cast Frost Shield on her target, meaning PA’s physical damage is still reduced. This persistent mitigation gives Lich a consistent, if small, advantage in their encounters.