Rubick counters, Rubick, known as the Grand Magus in Dota 2, is one of the most unique and versatile heroes in the game. His ability to steal powerful spells from enemies makes him a constant threat in every stage of the game. However, this versatility comes with its own set of weaknesses, and correctly identifying how to counter Rubick can neutralize his impact. In this article, we’ll dive deep into Rubick’s strengths and weaknesses, analyze heroes that can counter him effectively, and provide strategies, hero choices, and item recommendations to give you the upper hand against this tricky hero.

Source : Topson

Rubick’s Strengths – What Makes Him Challenging?

Rubick excels in team fights with his unique abilities that allow him to steal and use the most impactful spells of enemy heroes. To effectively counter him, you must first understand his strengths:

  • Spell Steal: Rubick’s ultimate ability allows him to steal and replicate any spell an enemy just used. This makes him particularly dangerous against heroes with powerful ultimates like Enigma’s “Black Hole” or Warlock’s “Chaotic Offering.”
  • Team Utility: Rubick can disrupt team fights with “Telekinesis” (a targeted lift and stun) and “Fade Bolt” (a damage-dealing ability with a significant damage-reduction effect).
  • Positioning and Playmaking: His exceptional range and flexibility as a support or core enable him to position himself advantageously without being in direct harm’s way.
  • Arcane Supremacy: Rubick gains bonus magic amplification and increased cast range for stolen spells and his own abilities, making him a deadly force in fights.

Rubick’s Weaknesses – Exploiting His Gaps

While Rubick is undoubtedly a powerful hero, he has vulnerabilities that can be exploited by savvy players:

  • Low Durability: Rubick is a squishy hero with low health and armor, making him vulnerable to burst damage and early-game aggression.
  • Mana Dependency: Rubick relies heavily on his mana pool to cast his abilities, and heroes or items that deplete mana can cripple his effectiveness.
  • Reliance on Enemy Abilities: Rubick’s potential impact often depends on thespells he can steal, which means his effectiveness varies greatly depending on your hero composition.
  • Vulnerability to Silence and Disables: Long silences and crowd-control abilities can render Rubick useless in a fight, as he relies entirely on his active spells to impact the game.

Heroes That Counter Rubick – Top Picks

To counter Rubick, you need heroes that exploit his weaknesses while minimizing his ability to cause chaos with spell steals. Here’s a breakdown of the best picks:

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Mana Burners and Silencers

  • Anti-Mage: Anti-Mage directly targets Rubick’s mana dependency with “Mana Break.” By depleting Rubick’s mana pool, Anti-Mage ensures that Rubick cannot use his abilities effectively. His “Blink” also allows him to close gaps and kill Rubick quickly.
  • Silencer: As his name suggests, Silencer is a nightmare for Rubick. His “Global Silence” ability prevents Rubick from casting any spells for its duration, making him useless in team fights. Additionally, every spell cast by Rubick increases Silencer’s intelligence via “Intelligence Steal.”

Gankers and Mobile Heroes

  • Ursa: Ursa’s high burst damage and mobility with “Earthshock” allow him to punish squishy heroes like Rubick. Additionally, Rubick has no way of dealing with Ursa’s quick burst damage early and mid-game.
  • Templar Assassin: TA’s “Refraction” and high physical damage output mean Rubick falls quickly in fights. Her mobility also allows her to chase or disengage at will.
  • Earth Spirit: Earth Spirit combines mobility with silences and stuns, leaving Rubick little room to maneuver during fights. His ability to initiate and target Rubick early makes him a solid counter.

Heroes With Long Disables

  • Bane: Bane’s long-duration disables (“Nightmare” and “Fiend’s Grip”) can completely lock Rubick out of a team fight, making him an easy target for follow-up kills from your team.
  • Night Stalker: With his superior night vision and “Crippling Fear,” Night Stalker becomes a lethal counter to Rubick in the mid to late game. His silence and ability to jump into backlines negate Rubick’s positioning advantage.

Additional Counters

  • Drow Ranger: Drow’s silence prevents Rubick from reacting or stealing important spells in engagements, especially in the early game.
  • Batrider: Batrider’s “Flaming Lasso” can force Rubick into bad positioning or hold him in place until the team can secure a kill.

General Strategies to Counter Rubick

Early Game – Delaying His Impact

  • Apply Pressure: Rubick needs space to farm, so aggressive early-game heroes like Ember Spirit or Ursa can punish him in the lane phase.
  • Deny Spell Steals: Avoid using powerful ultimates or abilities unless you’re confident you can kill Rubick immediately after he attempts a steal.

Mid to Late Game – Neutralizing His Presence

  • Focus on Targeting: Mobile heroes or blink initiators like Earthshaker and Templar Assassin can jump onto Rubick and delete him before he contributes to team fights.
  • Protect Key Spells: Use disruption abilities or silences to ensure Rubick can’t cast stolen spells effectively.

How to Counter Rubick – A Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Pick Wisely: Choose heroes and abilities that don’t provide Rubick with high-impact spell steals. Heroes like Wraith King (whose ultimate cannot be stolen) are excellent choices.
  2. Ward Aggressively: Rubick excels with good vision. Denying him the ability to position safely by planting wards in contested areas is key.
  3. Coordinate Team Fights: Synchronize silences, disables, and damage to eliminate Rubick early in engagements.
  4. Build Counter Items: Items like “Nullifier” and “Orchid Malevolence” can prevent Rubick from casting spells long enough to kill him.

Effective Item Choices Against Rubick

  • Orchid Malevolence: Silences Rubick and deals damage over time.
  • Eul’s Scepter of Divinity: A perfect counter to Rubick’s positioning and spell-casting window.
  • Force Staff: Helps allies escape Rubick’s “Telekinesis.”

FAQs on Rubick Counters

How do silences counter Rubick?

Silences prevent Rubick from casting spells, including “Spell Steal,” which renders him almost useless in fights.

What are the best heroes to pick against Rubick?

Heroes like Anti-Mage, Silencer, Ember Spirit, and Ursa are excellent choices due to their mobility, silences, and burst damage.

Does Rubick struggle against mana burners?

Yes, mana-dependent heroes like Rubick suffer significantly against mana burners like Anti-Mage or Diffusal Blade carriers.

Can Rubick counter illusions?

Rubick does not generally scale well against illusion-based heroes because his abilities are single-target or AoE-based damage reductions.

How do you protect key spells from Rubick’s steals?

You can save powerful spells until after Rubick is killed or silenced or bait Rubick into stealing less impactful abilities.

Does Drow Ranger counter Rubick effectively?

Yes, Drow Ranger’s silence and high damage output can effectively shut Rubick down both in the laning phase and late game.

What makes Rubick vulnerable during team fights?

Rubick’s low health and armor make him easy to eliminate if targeted early in the fight.

Should I prioritize killing Rubick in team fights?

Yes, especially if he has stolen a powerful ultimate. Killing Rubick before he casts it can turn the tide in your favor.

How do mobility heroes counter Rubick?

Heroes like Ember Spirit or Earth Spirit can dodge Rubick’s abilities and close the gap to eliminate him quickly.

Is Rubick strong against beginners?

Yes, inexperienced players tend to underestimate the power of Rubick’s “Spell Steal,” giving him access to high-impact abilities.

Source : Topson

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