Timbersaw vs Witch Doctor

How this matchup plays

Getting jumped as Timbersaw is usually fine, but not when Witch Doctor is around. Timbersaw relies on his high health and armor to survive after a Timber Chain, but Maledict completely ignores those defenses. It puts a timer on his life that ticks up with every bit of damage he takes, turning his large health pool into a bigger bomb. A well-aimed Paralyzing Cask can hold him in place for the curse, and from there, it’s an uphill battle for him to escape before the Maledict pops.

This dynamic forces Timbersaw to play scared. His typical game plan of diving into the enemy team and being a nuisance is punished severely, as it makes him the prime target for a Death Ward combo. He has to either commit to bursting Witch Doctor before the spells come out, which is difficult against a well-positioned support, or build items specifically to survive the burst, which slows down his own impact. Witch Doctor can simply wait for Timbersaw's aggression and turn it into an easy kill for his team.