Grimstroke vs Rubick

How this matchup plays

Picking one of these heroes into the other creates a high-stakes game around Spell Steal. Rubick sees a hero loaded with powerful abilities he wants to take, especially the game-winning Soulbind. The problem for Rubick is that Grimstroke's own kit makes him a slippery target. A well-placed Phantom's Embrace can silence Rubick and stop him from stealing anything important at the start of a fight. Grimstroke can also simply hold his ultimate until Rubick is already controlled or forced out. This gives Grimstroke a degree of control over what spells are even available to be stolen at any given moment.

Throughout the game, this tension plays out as a positioning battle. Grimstroke's ability to pressure lanes and deal damage from long range with Stroke of Fate can put Rubick's team on the back foot early. In teamfights, everything comes down to who acts first. Rubick needs to find an opening to get a clean spell steal without being caught, while Grimstroke wants to use his disables on Rubick before casting his bigger spells. A stolen Soulbind can win the fight for Rubick's team, but Grimstroke is generally better equipped to dictate the terms of the engagement from a safer distance.