Lion vs Mars

How this matchup plays

Catching enemies in an Arena of Blood is how Mars wants to win fights, but Lion has all the tools to turn it into a prison for Mars himself. An instant Hex or a well-aimed Earth Spike stops Mars from using his abilities or attacking, completely neutralizing his ultimate's purpose. Even if Mars does get some damage off, Lion's Finger of Death provides a huge burst of magical damage to finish him off, bypassing the frontal defenses from Bulwark. On top of that, Mana Drain can starve Mars of resources, preventing him from even casting his spells in the first place.

Throughout a game, Mars is forced to play with extreme caution. A successful Arena initiation for his team requires Lion to already be dead or completely out of position. Otherwise, the fight often reverses, with Mars being the one who gets focused and killed inside his own ultimate. This dynamic forces Mars to buy a Black King Bar much earlier than he might want to, but a patient Lion can often play around its duration or use his disables to save the ally Mars trapped. The pressure is on Mars to find a perfect window, while Lion has the answers.