Lion vs Phantom Assassin

How this matchup plays

Deciding on a support against Phantom Assassin often means looking for reliable lockdown, and Lion has it. His Hex is an instant disable that completely bypasses her evasion from Blur, and an Earth Spike can hold her in place for his team. This makes him a significant threat to her. The issue is that Lion is extremely fragile. If Phantom Assassin can close the distance with Phantom Strike and start hitting him, he dies very quickly. The matchup often comes down to who gets the jump on whom; it’s a pure test of reaction time and initiation.

Throughout the mid-game, fights become a matter of positioning and vision. A Lion caught out of place is an easy kill that helps Phantom Assassin snowball. Conversely, a well-played Lion can anticipate her aggression and stop a gank completely, turning the fight for his own team. The balance can shift with key items. A Black King Bar on Phantom Assassin lets her run straight at Lion, but a timely Ghost Scepter or Blink Dagger purchase on Lion can give him the escape or counter-initiation he needs to survive her initial burst and turn the tables.