Lifestealer vs Rubick

How this matchup plays

Activating Rage lets Lifestealer ignore the main reason teams fear Rubick. A support whose job is to disable and control with spells like Telekinesis has few options against a magic-immune carry. Stealing Rage itself offers Rubick a brief defensive window, but it doesn't provide the same offensive power it gives a strength core built for fighting. Lifestealer can often close the distance and start hitting without worrying about being lifted or disabled by a powerful stolen ultimate, which fundamentally nullifies Rubick’s core contribution against him.

Throughout the game, this forces Rubick to play from the back lines, waiting for Lifestealer to use Rage on someone else before he can contribute. This makes Rubick a prime target, as he's a squishy hero who can't use his primary defensive spell to create space. While Rubick can still be effective against Lifestealer's teammates, Lifestealer is free to dictate the engagement, run at the support back line, and generally create chaos that a hero like Rubick struggles to manage directly.