Rubick vs Tidehunter

How this matchup plays

Stealing Ravage is the single most important interaction in this matchup, and it can decide a teamfight on its own. A successful steal gives Rubick one of the best ultimates in the game, often letting him use it from a safer position than Tidehunter could. A smart Tidehunter player is aware of this, however, and will try to cast another spell immediately after Ravage to prevent the steal. Outside of that moment, Tidehunter is also a naturally durable hero who can absorb a lot of the magic damage that Rubick’s team typically outputs, making him a difficult target to burst down before he can act.

The entire game can feel like a cat-and-mouse chase over this one spell. Rubick has to position perfectly, waiting for his chance, while Tidehunter needs to find a clean initiation and then cover his tracks. If Rubick fails to get the Ravage, he’s often left with much weaker spells to take, while a massive, hard-to-kill hero is now running at his team. The outcome often hinges on which player executes their plan better in that critical moment, making fights between them very unpredictable.