Shadow Shaman vs Templar Assassin

How this matchup plays

Locking down Templar Assassin is often difficult, but Shadow Shaman has the perfect tools for it. Her entire survivability hinges on Refraction absorbing damage instances, but it does nothing to stop disables. Shadow Shaman's Hex and Shackles are both long-duration lockdown spells that deal very little damage themselves. This is the ideal scenario for his team: they get a long window to attack Templar Assassin, burn through her Refraction charges with multiple small hits, and then finish her off before she can escape or turn the fight with Meld.

This advantage dictates the entire pace of the mid-game. A Shadow Shaman with a Blink Dagger forces Templar Assassin to play defensively, as getting caught out of position is a death sentence. She can't split push lanes or farm aggressively without risking an instant Hex from the trees. Furthermore, Mass Serpent Ward is excellent for controlling the Roshan pit and other key choke points, denying Templar Assassin her most important objectives. She has to rush a Black King Bar and hope to find the Shaman before he can initiate, but that's a tough ask against a support who wants to play behind his cores.