Shadow Fiend + Pudge

Why this works

Hooking an enemy directly onto a Shadow Fiend for a triple Shadowraze seems like a clear winning play. The problem is that this combo is the beginning and end of their shared plan. Both heroes are greedy, momentum-based cores that need a good start to function, but neither is particularly good at creating the space the other needs. Pudge wants to roam and find pickoffs, while Shadow Fiend wants to sit in a lane and farm. Unless the Pudge dedicates his game to setting up kills for SF, they often end up playing two separate games on the same map, competing for farm and attention.

The ideal scenario involves Pudge using Dismember to hold a target in place for a full Requiem of Souls. This can be effective for a single pickoff to get Shadow Fiend rolling. However, the entire strategy is brittle. It falls apart if the initial Meat Hook misses, and enemies can counter the lockdown with simple defensive items. Without that specific kill setup, the pair offers very little for each other. Pudge provides no defensive support or wave clear to help SF farm safely, and Shadow Fiend offers no reliable stun to help Pudge land his spells.