Lion vs Necrophos

How this matchup plays

Deciding to pick Lion into a Necrophos often comes down to how confident you are in bursting him down instantly. Lion has the tools for it with his chain stuns and Finger of Death. The challenge is that Necrophos's entire design counters burst attempts that fail. His Heartstopper Aura constantly chips away at a fragile hero like Lion, setting him up for an easy Reaper's Scythe. Misusing Ghost Shroud makes Necrophos take amplified magic damage, but if he survives the initial blast, his Death Pulse heals can quickly turn the engagement around.

Throughout the game, Lion is looking for a quick, decisive pick-off. He wants to find Necrophos out of position, lock him down with Hex, and delete him with help before he can press a single button. Necrophos, on the other hand, plays a game of attrition. He positions himself to let his aura soften up the enemy team and waits for the perfect moment to use his ultimate. Because Necrophos has more ways to survive Lion’s initial attack than Lion has to survive Necrophos’s sustained damage and eventual Scythe, the fight tends to lean in his favor.