Ancient Apparition vs Grimstroke

How this matchup plays

Thinking about a big ultimate interaction here is a common trap; these two heroes often play on completely separate maps. Grimstroke's entire plan involves getting into the fight, finding a key Soulbind, and using Ink Swell to control a small area. He wants to make things messy and personal. Ancient Apparition plays the opposite game. He wants to be nowhere near the actual teamfight, using Ice Vortex for information before launching an Ice Blast from a safe distance. Grimstroke's silence can certainly cancel AA's spells, but only if he manages to find him first, which is exactly what the AA player is trying to avoid.

The game then becomes a contest of positioning and team strategy. If Grimstroke’s team can force fights and dive the backline, they can find and neutralize Ancient Apparition before he contributes. However, if AA’s team can dictate the engagement range and protect his position, he can safely land his ultimate on the targets Grimstroke is trying to save. It really comes down to which team is better at enabling their support's preferred playstyle, as neither hero has a built-in tool that reliably shuts the other one down.