Lion vs Treant Protector

How this matchup plays

Thinking Lion can easily burst Treant Protector down is often a trap. While Lion excels at deleting single targets, Treant's Living Armor can be applied globally to mitigate the damage from Finger of Death and any follow-up attacks. A well-timed heal can completely spoil Lion's gank attempt, giving his target the breathing room to survive and escape. On the other hand, Treant himself has no mobility and is very susceptible to Lion’s chain stuns. If caught out of position, he can be quickly removed from a fight before he gets to use Overgrowth, making him a prime target for Lion’s own initiation.

This dynamic makes the game a constant battle for vision and initiation. Treant Protector will play around trees, looking for a multi-hero Overgrowth that can catch Lion and leave his team without their primary lockdown. A successful ultimate on Lion often spells disaster for his team. In response, a good Lion player will coordinate with his team to establish deep wards, hunting for the Treant before he can find that perfect setup. Catching the Treant first neutralizes his team-saving abilities and makes it much easier for Lion to find and execute his preferred targets.