Shiv vs Pocket

Brawler vs Assassin

You have the health; they have the burst. Make them fight you long — every second past their first combo is in your favour. Buy defensive items early and stay near allies.

Your game plan as Shiv

A dirty fighter who bleeds you, defers his own damage and finishes you with an execute.

How to beat Pocket

A trickster who hides in a suitcase and then hits you with a shotgun.

• 01Wait out Enchanter’s Satchel instead of wasting abilities into it.
• 02Affliction can’t kill you — don’t panic-use cooldowns.
• 03Shoot the Flying Cloak path; he’ll teleport there.

1. 01Pocket wins the farm by ~40 last hits per match. Prioritise safe last hits and denies over trades, and let your lane partner zone.
2. 02Pocket looks for burst windows. Don’t sit in lane at low health, and ping the moment they disappear — they’re hunting.

This matchup

123

Usual

132

49.3% win rate over 51,603 matches

• 2
  Early point

  Put an early point into Slice and Dice: Pocket dives on you, and an escape ready beats a lost trade.

• 1
  Early point

  Pocket wins the farm: an early point into Serrated Knives clears waves and keeps you in lane.

• Shiv averages 1.20 kills per death against Pocket.
• Shiv finishes 1.4k souls behind Pocket on average — play for teamfights and scaling rather than lane kills.
• Shiv deals 637 less objective damage per match than Pocket — let teammates take structures while you hold.
• Track Affliction (170s cooldown). The window right after Pocket uses it is your best time to fight.