Alchemist + Shadow Shaman

Why this works

Farming an early Aghanim's Scepter for Shadow Shaman can significantly accelerate his game plan. The upgraded Mass Serpent Ward allows the team to siege objectives much earlier than usual, especially when placed inside an Acid Spray to melt tower and hero armor. This objective-taking power is the core of the synergy. On a smaller scale, Shadow Shaman’s lockdown from Hex or Shackles provides a reliable setup for Alchemist to land a fully-charged Unstable Concoction, creating a simple but effective kill threat during the laning stage and mid-game.

The strategy usually involves Alchemist focusing on his farm while Shadow Shaman creates pressure and looks for pickoffs. Once the Scepter is delivered, the duo can force the team to group up and push down a lane. This plan is quite predictable, however. An enemy team will often focus all their attention on shutting down the Alchemist to delay this timing. The success of the pairing depends heavily on whether Alchemist can find the space he needs. If he gets slowed down, the advantage from this combination can easily disappear.