Kunkka + Slark

Why this works

Drafting Kunkka alongside Slark is a bet on coordinating their target lockdown. On paper, the setup is straightforward. Kunkka can use X Marks the Spot to guarantee an enemy is returned to a specific location, giving Slark a free window to land Pounce and start building Essence Shift stacks. The added control from a well-timed Torrent or Ghostship can then hold that same target in place for the entire duration, which is usually more than enough time for Slark to secure a kill and begin to snowball. This gives the pair a clear method for picking off isolated heroes during the mid-game.

In practice, however, these two heroes can end up playing their own separate games. Both Kunkka and Slark are often played as cores who require significant farm and levels to be effective, which can strain a team's resources. During teamfights, their objectives might also diverge; Kunkka is looking for a perfect multi-hero Ghostship and Tidebringer cleave, while Slark is focused on diving the back line to find a squishy support. Because their ideal fights don't always align, one hero might engage without the full backing of the other, leading to a combo that feels less than the sum of its parts.