Necrophos vs Pangolier

How this matchup plays

Picking a hero who can survive a quick combo is key against Pangolier, and this is where Necrophos thrives. Pangolier needs to land his entire Swashbuckle and Shield Crash combo to secure kills, but Necrophos is durable enough to withstand it thanks to the healing from Death Pulse. While Pangolier is trying to deal damage up close, Heartstopper Aura is constantly draining his health. This makes him a very easy target for Reaper's Scythe, as he'll often be low enough for a guaranteed kill before he can disengage.

This dynamic pressures Pangolier from the very start of the game. He can’t easily win the lane, and in mid-game fights, he finds it difficult to jump on the back line without being punished by Necrophos. To deal with this, Pangolier is often forced into buying an early magic immunity item, which can delay his damage and slow down his impact. Meanwhile, Necrophos can play his game as usual, knowing that the enemy's mobile core is also one of his most reliable ultimate targets.