Grimstroke vs Pugna

How this matchup plays

Casting spells near a Nether Ward is always risky, and Grimstroke’s full combo is a lot of spells. Pugna can make teamfights extremely punishing for a Grimstroke who isn't careful about his positioning. Each cast drains his mana and health, shutting down his ability to control a fight. On the other hand, Grimstroke’s Soulbind is a huge threat to a fragile hero like Pugna. If caught, Pugna can’t escape and is easily burst down by single-target spells from Grimstroke’s teammates. Pugna’s own Decrepify can even backfire, making a Soulbound ally take more damage from Grimstroke's magical burst.

This matchup often comes down to who gets the jump on whom. Pugna wants to play from the back, chipping away with Nether Blast and protecting his team with the Ward. His goal is to drain Grimstroke's resources before a fight fully commits. Grimstroke’s plan is to find a good flank and land a multi-hero Soulbind, ideally catching Pugna himself. A well-timed Phantom's Embrace can also cancel Life Drain, which is critical for stopping Pugna’s healing and damage output. The fight is won by the team that better enables their support to execute their specific game plan.