Lion + Outworld Destroyer

Why this works

Picking these two often feels like you're doubling down on one specific plan. Lion provides excellent lockdown with Hex and Earth Spike, creating an easy window for Outworld Destroyer to land Arcane Orbs on a target. The issue is that both heroes focus heavily on magical burst and mana manipulation. Sanity's Eclipse and Finger of Death are both powerful ultimates, but they are countered by the exact same items. Once the enemy team builds a Pipe of Insight or key heroes get their Black King Bars, a huge part of this duo's offensive potential gets neutralized simultaneously, leaving them with very little backup.

The early laning and ganking phase can feel strong, since the chain stuns and burst damage are often enough to secure kills. Problems arise in larger teamfights where coordination is key; a poorly timed Astral Imprisonment from Outworld Destroyer can easily save an enemy from Lion's Finger. As the game goes on, this pair's lack of physical damage or sustained push becomes more apparent. If their initial burst doesn't win the fight outright, they don't offer much else, and can be overwhelmed by enemy cores who survive the opening salvo.