Sniper vs Tidehunter

How this matchup plays

A teamfight often becomes a standoff between these two heroes. Tidehunter's goal is to land a decisive Ravage, and an immobile hero like Sniper makes for a perfect target. The problem for Tidehunter is that Sniper’s extreme range allows him to contribute from a completely different screen. This dynamic forces Tidehunter to rely on a Blink Dagger to be effective. Before he has one, he has almost no way to threaten Sniper. After he gets one, he becomes the single most dangerous hero on the map from Sniper’s perspective, capable of deleting him from the fight instantly.

The entire matchup revolves around that Blink Dagger timing. Before it comes out, Sniper can dictate the terms of engagement, kiting and dealing damage while Tidehunter struggles to get close. As soon as Tidehunter can initiate, the pressure flips entirely onto Sniper to position flawlessly. A single misstep means getting caught by Ravage, which is usually a death sentence. Given Tidehunter’s durability from Kraken Shell, he’s very likely to survive long enough to cast his ultimate if he can get the jump, making this a pure contest of initiation versus positioning.