Pangolier vs Shadow Shaman

How this matchup plays

Trying to start a fight as Pangolier against a Shadow Shaman is incredibly frustrating. Pangolier relies on using Swashbuckle and Rolling Thunder to stay mobile and dodge spells, but Shadow Shaman has exactly the tools to stop that. Hex is an instant disable that prevents Pango from using any items or abilities to escape. If Pangolier gets his ultimate off, a well-timed Shackles can still pin him down, leaving him vulnerable for a long duration. Shaman's lockdown is reliable and doesn't care how fast Pangolier is moving, making him a prime target.

This advantage for Shadow Shaman defines how teamfights play out. Pangolier can't confidently roll into the enemy team because he knows the Shaman is waiting to disable him. He’s forced to play on the edge of the fight, hoping someone else baits out the Hex or that he can jump on and kill the Shaman before getting controlled. This often forces Pangolier into buying defensive items like a Black King Bar much earlier than he would like, delaying his damage output. Shaman, on the other hand, can play his game normally, knowing his most important job is to wait for the ball.