Patch 7.29 revived Grimstroke thanks to a redesigned Aghanim’s Shard, which now empowers Ink Swell with a strong dispel effect when triggered. The character began to be picked a little more often for the “five”, although on the same professional scene he did not appear so often. However, the main strength of Grimstroke in the current meta is usually Aghanim’s Scepter expensive for “fives”, which shows itself perfectly against the currently popular carry heroes. How Dark Portrait’s ability works with different carries and why it has become so easy to ramp on Grimstroke – in the material from Cybersport.ru.
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On the professional stage, during the DPC at Grimstroke, they practically did not buy Aghanim’s Scepter. However, now esportsmen have finally begun to look closely at the artifact. In matchmaking, Save- and KheZu almost always started taking him.
What does Aghanim’s Scepter give? The hero gains the ability Dark Portrait. She creates an ink illusion of an enemy character that lasts 25 seconds, is immune to magic, and has a 30% increased movement speed. The illusion takes 350% damage and deals 150% damage. The cooldown of the ability is 35 seconds.
Grimstroke – Thunderstorm of Meta Carries
The main reason Dark Portrait has become such a powerful ability is because of the annoying meta. Luna or Terrorblade can be found in almost every first game now. And against both characters, Aghanim’s Scepter works just fine.
Illusion Luna will attack opponents with Moon Glaives, which will cause huge damage to the entire enemy team. In addition, Luna collects artifacts that greatly enhances the illusion created by Grimstroke. We will talk in detail below about the effects that different objects give copies of Dark Portrait. But in short, the illusion’s damage increases from items that give agility, attack speed and the probability of a critical hit.
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In addition to the fact that this bundle of abilities gives two incredibly powerful copies, it also helps to easily identify the real hero among illusions. This trick also works with Phantom Lancer and other illusionists: just apply Soulbind to any of the illusions, and have your teammates focus on the hero it is tied to.
At high MMR, the combo may become less effective, because the enemy carry will instantly switch to the illusion and kill it quickly. However, at Lords and below, the full Grimstroke cast creates confusion in the battle. The enemy carry often does not notice the illusion, focusing on opponents, or even tries to get out of the fight, despite a bunch of ultimates.
How to prolong the life of an illusion?
If you start your initiation with a combination of Soulbind and Dark Portrait, there is always a chance that illusions will be destroyed in a matter of seconds. Ideally, you should use this bunch of blast and stun abilities from a teammate like Sand King or Centaur Warrunner. In these few seconds, the illusions of the same Luna will probably have time to almost kill the flimsy support. In addition, after that, as practice shows, the frightened enemy begins to give all the buttons to the jumped initiator.
On the enemy carry under Soulbind, you should immediately throw Phantom’s Embrace – the phantom can also distract attention. On the illusion, you must instantly put Ink Swell. Firstly, it will probably allow you to prolong the stun effect if you initiate with a teammate stun. Secondly, the illusion will receive additional health regeneration from Aghanim’s Shard and movement speed. Ideally, you should buy Heaven’s Halberd right after Aghanim’s Scepter and use it on the enemy carry after creating the illusion.
Yes, you can really rampage with two illusions of Luna or Terrorblade, but what if the illusion from the opponent’s carry is not so strong or Dark Portrait was used at all on the conditional Doom or Queen of Pain? It would be pointless to send them into the thick of the battle and try to kill the opponent’s carry with them – it would be better to set them on enemy supports. Given that illusions are immune to magic, the conditional Lion simply cannot run away from them. At the very least, we will prevent the enemy supports from feeling comfortable in the fight, and as a maximum, we will kill them, do not underestimate the 150% damage.
1/2 If Luna is on the opposing team, then, most likely, you will be top-1 in terms of damage done, despite the fact that the system sometimes does not take into account the damage received by the opponent from its own copy. Although even such indicators do not guarantee victory
How does Dark Portrait work with the rest of the carries?
Anti-Mage. The illusion will be able to burn mana, and the hero’s high agility rates give high attack speed and damage.
Faceless Void. Time Lock stuns do not work, as well as universal dodges from the hero talent at level 25. The damage from the illusion is not very high, so not the best option.
Riki… The bonus from behind hits does not work, but the illusion can go invisible. A short-lived, low damage ward comes out.
Juggernaut. The illusion will be affected by the passive ability for critical hits. And thanks to the high attack speed of the hero, you can give out a lot of damage.
Sven. Great Cleave splash doesn’t work. Using Dark Portrait on Sven in the ultimate will also not enhance the illusion. Damage is below average.
Drow ranger… The effect of the ultimate does not work on attacks, but the illusion receives a bonus from Aghanim’s Scepter if the enemy Drow Ranger bought it.
Troll Warlord. The illusion will not be able to spur the opponent with melee attacks, but it gains a cumulative bonus from the passive ability Fervor. Thanks to this, it can give very high damage.
Ax. The illusion will spin both from hits on it, and from own attacks, if Aghanim’s Shard was bought from Ax himself. It turns out average damage – there is only one illusion.
Slark. The illusion will not receive stacks from Essence Shift, but it will be able to receive bonuses to movement speed and health regeneration from Shadow Dance (which is not particularly useful). Damage is below average.
Chaos Knight. The Chaos Strike ability works entirely on illusions – it will deal critical damage and restore health. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable lack of attack speed, so the damage is average, but it will be easy to kill an enemy support.
Wraith King. Both passive abilities – critical hits and lifesteal – will work for the illusion. Despite this, the damage is average.
Dragon knight… If you use Dark Portrait on DK in the form of a dragon, you get an illusion with all its modifiers, including the bonuses from Aghanim’s Scepter.
Morphling. The illusion of Morphling pumped into agility deals incredibly high damage. One of the best targets for Dark Portrait on par with Luna and Terrorblade.
Templar assassin… The illusion is affected by Psi Blades. Average damage.
Specter. The passive ability Desolate gives the illusion additional damage, but the effect of Dispersion does not work. Medium damage, but against single targets, the illusion can be effective.
Phantom Lancer. The illusion can be sped up by Phantom Rush and spawned by Juxtapose. Pretty decent damage.
Lifestealer… The passive ability Feast does not work on the illusion, but the slowing effect from Ghoul Frenzy will spread to opponents. Low damage.
Huskar. A passive ability works to increase attack speed at low health. In such a situation, it can give out decent damage, but the illusion will not live long.
Alchemist… If you use Dark Portrait on the Alchemist under the ultimate, then the illusion will receive a bonus to attack speed and health regeneration.
Weaver… There will be no double hit from the passive ability, as well as noticeable damage.
Monkey king… The passive ability does not work. Very modest damage.
Ursa. The passive ability does not work, because of this, the damage done is too small.
Viper. The Corrosive Skin bonus works on illusion, which makes it rather annoying for enemies, but still not very useful.
Legion commander… Vampirism from the counterattack works, but there is little sense from it.
Kunkka… Despite the presence of sound and characteristic animation from Tidebringer, the illusion has no additional damage and splash.
Abaddon. The illusion receives all the bonuses from the passive ability – the ability to impose silence on the opponent after several hits and increase the speed of attacks on him. Not bad damage.
How does Dark Portrait work with different subjects?
Radiance – does not give a bonus to damage, but it burns opponents passively.
Eye of skadi – the modifier affects the target of the illusion.
Desolator – the illusion will not receive a bonus to damage or the ability to reduce the opponent’s armor.
Crystalis / Daedalus – there is no bonus to damage, but the chance of a critical attack appears.
Butterfly – the illusion will receive evasion and a bonus to attack speed.
Monkey king bar – the illusion will only have a bonus to attack speed, it will not receive other effects.
Maelstrom – there will be no lightning.
Basher / Abyssal Blade – there will be no stuns.
Battle fury – there will be no cleaving effect, as well as a bonus to damage.
Diffusal Blade – the illusion will be able to burn mana.
Items with auras – give all positive effects for allies and negative ones for rivals.
Cons of Grimstroke with Aghanim’s Scepter:
If we rely on Aghanim’s Scepter, then we probably ignore team artifacts like Glimmer Cape, Force Staff, etc. Our carry won’t say thank you for that.
Not effective in all matchups – some characters’ illusions are too weak.
Requires more concentration and microcontrol. It is necessary not to forget about the rest of the abilities of Grimstroke, and not just run an illusion after the opponent.
Aghanim’s Scepter is an expensive artifact, it is difficult to make money on it at the top five. Ideally, you will have to occupy the fourth or even third position. In any case, you will have to steal creeps from allied core-heroes.
Vulnerability of Grimstroke itself. Without Aether Lens or neutral items to increase the range of abilities, it will be difficult to successfully cast a procast without dying in the process.
Weakness against BKB. Dark Portrait cannot be used on magic immune heroes. Therefore, if the enemy carry blows BKB before you give procast, then the plan will go downhill.
Aghanim’s Scepter on Grimstroke does not guarantee a 100% victory, but it can be safely attributed to artifacts that can turn the game around. Probably already in patch 7.30, which is supposed to be released on August 17-18, its effectiveness will drop sharply – at least because Valve will probably weaken the meta carries. But at least a week and a half, Grimstroke can be used as a direct counter to the annoying Luna and easily become the team’s key demage dealer, being a support.
