Riki vs Slardar

How this matchup plays

Getting jumped by Slardar feels like a coin flip for Riki. Slardar has a perfect tool for the job in Corrosive Haze, which gives true sight and makes Riki completely vulnerable. A well-timed Slithereen Crush can then lock him down for the kill. The matchup isn't one-sided, though, because Riki has ways to play around this. His high mobility makes him a difficult target to hit with the stun, and he can use Tricks of the Trade to become untargetable, dodging the spell that would reveal him. If Slardar can't land his initial combo, he's left exposed to Riki's burst damage.

This dynamic makes for a tense cat-and-mouse game all match. Before level six, Riki often has the upper hand. Once Slardar gets his ultimate, however, he becomes a major threat. A good Riki player will adapt, either by building items that can purge Corrosive Haze or by waiting for Slardar to use it on an ally before joining the fight. Slardar will try to lead charges and mark Riki early, but if he fails to connect, his team loses its best tool for dealing with the invisibility, leaving Riki free to clean up.