Ogre Magi vs Witch Doctor

How this matchup plays

Assuming Ogre Magi can simply walk at a Witch Doctor and win is a common mistake. The reality is that Maledict makes any target vulnerable to focused fire, and Ogre is no exception. If he gets caught and chain-stunned, he'll die to a follow-up Death Ward just like a squishier hero. However, Ogre Magi is also perfectly equipped to deal with that very threat. His high health and armor give him a better chance than most supports to survive the initial stun and close the distance. A single Fireblast is all it takes to interrupt Death Ward and completely turn the fight around.

This tension defines the matchup at all stages. During the laning phase, Witch Doctor's Paralyzing Cask can punish Ogre's aggression, but Ignite spam can wear down the Witch Doctor from a safe distance. Later in teamfights, it all comes down to positioning and initiation. A successful fight for Witch Doctor involves landing his spells from the back lines while his team protects him. A successful fight for Ogre Magi often involves him soaking some damage, surviving, and finding an angle to get his stun onto the channeling Witch Doctor. The winner is usually whoever executes their plan first.