Kez + Shadow Fiend

Why this works

Struggling for farm often defines this pairing. Both Kez and Shadow Fiend are resource-hungry cores who want to clear waves and jungle camps to hit their item timings. They inevitably compete for the safest farming zones, slowing down the entire team's tempo. Their kits also fail to complement each other. Shadow Fiend brings high damage but lacks the lockdown needed to set up a favorable duel for Kez. In return, Kez’s focus on single-target fights and parrying doesn't provide the area control or setup that helps Shadow Fiend land a decisive Requiem of Souls.

This dynamic typically leads to a passive early game that cedes map control. While Kez and Shadow Fiend are focused on their own economy, the enemy team is free to group up and pressure objectives. When fights eventually happen, the lineup struggles to engage on its own terms. Shadow Fiend is often forced to find an ultimate without any real setup, while Kez finds his dueling style nullified by an enemy that is ahead and moving as a group. The two heroes feel like they're playing separate games on the same map.