Sand King vs Storm Spirit

How this matchup plays

Trying to lock down a Storm Spirit with Burrowstrike seems simple, but it’s a pure reflex check. An alert Storm can dodge the stun with Ball Lightning, leaving Sand King out of position. If the stun does land, however, Storm is often finished, especially if it's followed by an Epicenter. The matchup works both ways. A well-timed Electric Vortex can pull Sand King out of his Sand Storm, exposing him, or cancel a crucial Epicenter channel from a safe distance. Each hero has the perfect tool to ruin the other's plan.

Throughout the game, this creates a tense standoff. Sand King wants to initiate from the fog or with a blink dagger to guarantee the stun, removing Storm Spirit before a fight begins. Storm, on the other hand, waits for Sand King to commit. Once Burrowstrike and Epicenter are on cooldown, Storm has free rein to zip around the fight, picking off supports and kiting the now-vulnerable Sand King. The fight often hinges on which of these two gets to execute their plan first.