Hoodwink + Zeus

Why this works

Setting up a kill with Hoodwink's Bushwhack for a Zeus follow-up looks good on paper. The stun provides a clean window for all of his spells to land, potentially bursting a target from full health. The problem is that both heroes deal almost entirely magic damage. This makes itemization for the enemy team incredibly simple. Once a Pipe of Insight or a few Glimmer Capes come out, the combined burst from this duo drops off hard. Their entire damage profile can be countered by a single type of resistance, which many teams are happy to build anyway.

The laning stage can feel strong if they can coordinate their spells for kills, but the draft often leaves the team without a real frontliner. Both Hoodwink and Zeus need to play from the back, and if the enemy team decides to run at them, there isn't much to stop the aggression. The game becomes a race to end before enemy cores can finish their Black King Bars. If that timing is missed, both heroes struggle to have an impact in teamfights, turning what felt like an early advantage into a very difficult late game.