Lich + Tinker

Why this works

Setting up kills for a Tinker requires instant, reliable lockdown, and that's not what Lich provides. Sinister Gaze is a channeled disable, forcing Lich to stand still and making him an easy target, which is risky when your main damage dealer is often far away from the fight. While Frost Shield is a great defensive spell, it's most effective when the team is grouped up and fighting together. The core issue is that Tinker wants to play a solo game, farming lanes and split-pushing the map, while Lich’s kit is designed around enabling a team that sticks together and fights as a unit.

This mismatch in game plans creates awkward mid-games. Tinker will be off creating pressure alone, while Lich is left with the rest of the team, trying to defend or make plays without their primary core. A support with global presence or a more reliable stun would offer more to Tinker's playstyle. While a late-game Frost Shield can certainly save a cornered Tinker, and Chain Frost adds to teamfight chaos, the heroes spend too much of the game wanting to be in different places. They don't actively hurt each other, but they offer very little to make the other's job easier.