Bloodseeker + Slardar

Why this works

Pairing these two together is a commitment to an aggressive, physical-damage game plan. Slardar’s Corrosive Haze strips away a target's armor, which makes every one of Bloodseeker’s attacks hit significantly harder. The setup is straightforward: a stun from Slithereen Crush guarantees that Bloodseeker can land a Blood Rite. The heroes truly lock in on a target when Rupture is available. The enemy is forced to either stand still and get pummeled by Slardar or try to run and take massive damage from the Rupture. Both of Bloodseeker's options directly benefit from what Slardar wants to do.

The duo hits its stride in the mid-game, roaming the map looking for pickoffs to create an advantage. A successful gank usually starts with Slardar finding a lone hero, applying his Haze, and controlling them for the kill. However, this strategy is one-dimensional and can be countered. An enemy team that recognizes the plan can build Ghost Scepters to nullify the physical damage or Force Staffs to escape the initial lockdown. The success of this pairing often comes down to whether Bloodseeker and Slardar can build a lead before the enemy's defensive items are ready.