Centaur Warrunner + Rubick

Why this works

Setting up a gank with this pair can feel effective. Centaur Warrunner can use Stampede to get both heroes into position, and a follow-up Hoof Stomp provides a clean setup for Rubick to land his own spells or steal one from a reacting enemy. The core issue is that their success is almost entirely dependent on the enemy team's draft. Centaur himself offers very little for a friendly Rubick to copy; his spells are either self-damaging or put the fragile Rubick in melee range. If the opponents lack major teamfight ultimates, Rubick’s potential is capped, and the synergy doesn't offer a backup plan.

This leaves their performance feeling inconsistent across the game. Early lane ganks can work with their combined disables, but they don't have strong lane-pushing or farming synergy. In larger teamfights, Centaur's job is to run in and absorb chaos, while Rubick needs to stay on the edge of the fight, looking for an opportunity. While Stampede can help bridge that gap, the two heroes fundamentally want to be in different places. This can lead to fights where the initiation is good, but the follow-up from Rubick is weak because no impactful spell was available to be taken.