Outworld Destroyer vs Witch Doctor

How this matchup plays

Picking Outworld Destroyer into an enemy Witch Doctor means planning for a difficult mid-game. The core issue is how Witch Doctor’s spells can isolate and burst a hero who wants to stay on the edge of a fight. A bouncing Paralyzing Cask can lock OD down, opening him up for a Maledict. While that curse is active, all the damage Outworld Destroyer takes from the enemy team contributes to a final, large pop of damage, making it very difficult to survive being focused. While Astral Imprisonment can save an ally from Death Ward, OD can't use it on himself if he’s the one caught.

This dynamic often comes down to Outworld Destroyer’s Black King Bar. Before he gets it, he’s extremely vulnerable to Witch Doctor's lockdown and must play cautiously. After he gets his BKB, he can shrug off Maledict and Paralyzing Cask to run directly at the fragile support and kill him. The fight then becomes about who gets the jump. If Witch Doctor and his team can find OD before he uses his immunity, or if Witch Doctor can use items to survive the BKB duration, he maintains the advantage.