Lich + Monkey King

Why this works

Pairing these two can feel strong in lane, but their mid-game plans often conflict. The setup of a Frost Blast into Boundless Strike is solid for early aggression. The real issue comes from their signature ultimates. Monkey King wants to trap enemies inside Wukong's Command, but smart opponents will immediately try to spread out and escape the circle. This scattering is the opposite of what Lich wants for a good Chain Frost, which relies on enemies being clumped together for bounces. The two spells create opposing incentives for the enemy team, making it hard to get the full value from both at once.

Across a real game, this means their teamfight impact isn't as coordinated as it could be. After Monkey King commits Wukong's Command, Lich is often left without a good opportunity to use his own ultimate effectively. He can try to hold one enemy in place with Sinister Gaze, but this is a single-target lockdown that requires him to channel from a potentially risky position. Ultimately, the success of their combination depends more on the enemy panicking and grouping up incorrectly than on the heroes' own coordinated setup, leading to inconsistent results.