It’s no questioning that Yena is completely broken. The combat is usually in my favor before she hits level 4, but afterwards, it’s just better to avoid her. Good Yena’s are even stronger than good Florentino’s (imo). They can build high defense and deal a ton of damage at the same time. I have been diving into counter-building a lot more as of recent, as I now understand the sheer importance of winning your lane so you can stay relevant throughout the match. My question:
If I am playing an off-meta bruiser, what situational 1st core item will be most impactful in fighting a Yena?
Recently after seeing discussions on Mail of Pain, it’s clear that the damage it reflects is minimal on heroes without Magic Pierce. The item is most impactful on a hero like Yena, who possesses large amounts of Damage Reduction, and thus can deflect larger amounts of damage.
Mantle of Ra just seems like a sub par defense item, as it provides medium armor and health values. The Burn damage is a passive way to attack Yena while she is stunning you, but again, the damage is so low when Yena has her Heavy Form active.
I find myself gravitating towards something like Aegis or Shield of the Lost because they have maxed out armor values. Yet, the Passive does not affect Yena, as she does not waste much time auto attacking.
Would a combo Odin’s Will/Gilded Grieves/Bonecutter provide enough move speed to run away from Yena in her Heavy Form? It’s seems like relying on your abilities to escape is nearly impossible when Yena is Silencing. Perhaps a passive move speed multiplier would grant you an opportunity to escape? Or is the only way to escape just complete CC immunity?
Is it better to just try evading the combo and out damaging with Rankbreaker? This is often times the case when dealing with a less experienced Yena. Good Yena players will always land the combo. At which point, I may flat out die to one combo.
What item combos or enchantments might help combating Yena?