Sniper vs Io

How this matchup plays

A Relocate gank onto Sniper is the whole story here. Io himself poses almost no threat, but he can deliver a much scarier hero right on top of you. The entire interaction depends on who Io brings along for the ride. If it's a hero with a blink or a long stun, Sniper is likely in trouble. If it's a hero who can be kited, however, a good Shrapnel can slow the tethered pair enough for Sniper to walk away, peppering them with attacks from a safe distance. This makes the gank attempt a gamble for Io's team every time.

The matchup becomes a game of vision and execution. Io's team wants to find Sniper isolated and jump him, while Sniper's team needs to play around him, providing wards and defensive support to scout the ganks. If Io fails to shut Sniper down, he'll eventually get items that let him survive or even kill the incoming attacker before they can get close. But if Io and his partner are successful, they can starve Sniper out of the game entirely. Neither hero has a definitive advantage on their own; it comes down to which team plays their hand better.