Lich vs Puck

How this matchup plays

Drafting a mobile midlaner like Puck becomes a real liability when Lich is available. Puck’s entire game is built around avoiding spells with Phase Shift and Illusory Orb, but Lich’s Sinister Gaze is a targeted channel that negates that strategy. Once caught, Puck is easily pulled out of position and focused down. Even Puck's ultimate, Dream Coil, often groups enemy heroes up perfectly for a devastating Chain Frost. The constant slow from Lich’s spells also makes it much harder for Puck to weave in and out of fights as intended.

This means the Puck player has to be extremely cautious. Any aggressive move with Illusory Orb can be punished if Lich is nearby and has his abilities ready. The usual Puck rhythm of jumping on a support is completely disrupted. Lich, on the other hand, can play a simple, reactive game: stay behind the cores, protect them with Frost Shield, and wait for Puck to show up. Puck is forced to either buy an early Black King Bar or wait for Lich to be dealt with first, severely cramping their timing and impact.