Lion vs Tusk

How this matchup plays

Getting jumped by a Tusk is usually a death sentence, but Lion has the tools to flip the script. Tusk relies on landing his spells in quick succession to burst a target, yet Lion’s instant Hex can stop that combo cold before it even starts. Earth Spike can also interrupt a Snowball or pin Tusk in place after he lands. On the other hand, a well-timed Snowball can completely dodge Lion's Finger of Death, and Ice Shards are great for catching a poorly positioned support. The whole interaction is a test of reaction speed from both players.

This standoff defines fights throughout the game. Tusk will constantly look for openings to pick off Lion, especially when vision is poor at night. Lion's objective is to position safely behind his team, waiting for Tusk to commit. If Lion survives the initial aggression from a Walrus PUNCH!, his disables usually guarantee Tusk gets focused down and killed in return. Success for either hero often comes down to who has better vision and which team is faster to follow up on their hero's initiation or counter-initiation.