Least item dependent hero in the game?

No one can deny that the sucky-sucky strat is best strat. Mana Drain and Life Drain are where it's at. Especially now with Pugna's reverse teammates sucky-sucky heal and his sucky-sucky can also restore his mana if his health is full.

Btw I never got why we don't see sucky-sucky picked more as a counter to Terrorblade or Naga Siren. 0 second cooldown illusion oneshot, and tons of early push to finish the game before they come online.

Pugna too squish dats why.

Well my interpenetration is because the patch made all-in push less effective as a strat. Even against heroes like Naga Siren and Terrorblade, the push just doesn't have the same omph behind it.

And Pugna is a pretty poor choice if you aren't going all in push. He drops off hard obviously (Despite Magic damage dealers becoming a bit more late game viable in general), and well if you want to pick up a hero with attached pushing potential as a way of creating space or advantage, Jakiro exists and scales much much better into a game. Or even still the Death Prophet. Those also have the advantage of not dying to a firm breeze as well.

And as an anti illusion hero, I'd say I'd rather have a Lion, since he's more versatile than Pugna in terms of where he turns up.

Pugna doesnt fit into the meta, its that simple. He gives you early push and late game builds a necro book.
Meh, who needs him when ricing meta has returned? That ulti change is only solidifying his early game dominance, to maintain the position 1's hp shouls the other team retaliate.