Pugna + Tidehunter

Why this works

Taking towers becomes a straightforward process with this pair. Tidehunter provides a durable frontline, clearing creep waves with Anchor Smash and creating a safe pocket for his team to operate. This gives Pugna the space he needs to repeatedly use Nether Blast on buildings, applying constant pressure and forcing reactions. If the enemy team contests, a good Ravage holds them in place for Pugna to follow up with a full Life Drain on a priority target. Pugna can also use Decrepify to save a low-health Tidehunter from physical damage after he has initiated a fight.

The game plan often comes online in the mid-game once Tidehunter secures his key initiation items. The goal is to force a teamfight with Ravage, win the engagement, and then immediately have Pugna melt a nearby objective. This creates a powerful tempo that can quickly snowball into map control. The enemy has to respect this threat, either by trying to split-push or by finding a way to pick off the vulnerable Pugna before a fight can be properly set up. The success relies on good coordination, which explains why the pairing feels solid but not overwhelming.