Monkey King vs Tidehunter

How this matchup plays

Getting jumped by Monkey King feels a lot less scary for Tidehunter than for most heroes. The main problem for Monkey King is Kraken Shell. When Tidehunter takes enough punishment, the automatic dispel cleanses the stun from Boundless Strike, allowing him to turn and fight or simply walk away. This makes it incredibly difficult for Monkey King to lock him down for a full combo. Even if he does get Jingu Mastery stacks, Tide can blunt the follow-up damage with a well-timed Anchor Smash, severely reducing Monkey King's physical output when he needs it most.

This dynamic starts in the lane, where Tidehunter is often too durable to be harassed, and it only gets worse for Monkey King. Later on, a committed Wukong's Command is a perfect target for Ravage, often stunning Monkey King and his illusions for the full duration. This forces Monkey King to play from the edges of a fight, hoping to find a pickoff away from the main brawl. Tidehunter, however, excels at forcing those big teamfights and can usually shrug off the initial burst, turning what should be a kill into a dangerous overextension.