Lina + Pugna

Why this works

Setting up a kill with Decrepify seems like an obvious plan, since it makes a target take more magic damage from Lina's spells. The problem is that Decrepify also makes that target immune to physical attacks. For a hero like Lina, who relies on her right-clicks and Fiery Soul passive to finish off enemies after her initial burst, this can be a real issue. Pugna might try to help secure a kill on a stunned target, but end up blocking the physical damage Lina needs to land. This timing conflict makes their burst damage surprisingly difficult to coordinate, especially in chaotic fights.

Across the game, this pairing can feel a bit awkward. Both heroes are quite fragile and want to play from the back, so the team can end up lacking a solid frontline. While Pugna's Nether Ward is always useful against spell-heavy opponents, the core damage combo often falls short. Lina needs to follow up her Laguna Blade with attacks, but Pugna's instinct is to use Decrepify to amplify his own spells and Life Drain. This lack of smooth sequencing means that even when they have an advantage, they can let targets escape who should have died, leading to them underperforming together.