Spectre vs Templar Assassin

How this matchup plays

Trying to burst down a target who kills you for doing it is a losing proposition. Templar Assassin relies on unloading huge physical damage from Meld to delete a hero, but Spectre's Dispersion reflects a portion of that damage right back before it's even reduced. This passive damage also quickly burns through Refraction charges, leaving TA exposed. Spectre doesn't need to do anything special to win these trades; her natural durability and damage reflection punish Templar Assassin's entire game plan. Even Desolate finds easy value against a TA trying to farm lanes or jungle alone.

This leaves Templar Assassin on a very tight clock. She has to dominate her lane and create enormous pressure across the map before Spectre gets her key items. The problem is Spectre's Haunt, which can turn any of TA's gank attempts into a disadvantageous fight for her team. Once the game goes late, the matchup becomes hopeless. A farmed Spectre can simply Haunt on top of Templar Assassin, ignore her burst attempt, and grind her down. The TA has to win early or she won't win at all.