IntelligenceSince you last played
New hero, released Aug 2018Grimstroke did not exist when you last played. Here is the kit as it stands today.
32 buffs and 34 nerfs in total: roughly even.
Biggest ability changes
- ▼Ink Swell Cast Range increased from 500/600/700/800 to 650/700/750/800adjusted 34 times across 20 patches, net nerf
- ▲Stroke of Fate Can now be put on alt-cast to send the stroke straightadjusted 11 times across 6 patches, net buff
- ▼Soulbind Reflected spells now get casted onto both units affected by Soulbindadjusted 15 times across 13 patches, net nerf
- ▲Phantom's Embrace Cooldown is now also refreshed if the phantom's target dies before the phantom latches to itadjusted 11 times across 9 patches, net buff
- ▼Dark Portrait No longer has illusion vision penaltyadjusted 7 times across 5 patches, net nerf
- ◆Ink Trail Grimstroke now takes 5% + 0.5% per level less damage from enemies affected by Ink Trailadjusted 3 times across 1 patch, roughly even
- ▼Spirit Walk Info Duration decreased as a part of the comprehensive Disables Reduction
- ◆Soul Chain Info Previously, the secondary target would still be leashed
Innate
- ◆Ink Trail Similar to Bounty Hunter's Track visionadjusted 3 times across 1 patch, roughly even
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ▲Scepter Scepter illusion duration reduced from 20 to 15changed 3 times, latest shown
- ▲Shard Aghanim's Shard Heal increased from 30% to 40%changed 12 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▼Base damage increased by 1adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net nerf
- ▲Attack range increased from 550 to 575
- ▼Damage at level 1 decreased from 46–50 to 47–51
- ▲Base intelligence increased by 2
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent Ink Swell Cooldown Reduction decreased from 5s to 4s
- ◆Lv15 talent Ink Swell Movement Speed increased from +12% to +15%
- ◆Lv20 talent Attacks to Destroy Phantom decreased from +3 to +2
- ◆Lv25 talent +75% Stroke of Fate Damage replaced with +70% Stroke of Fate Speed and Travel Range
Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Grimstroke had 8 facet changes in between.
Most recent change patch 7.41e, Jul 2026
- ▼Dark Portrait No longer has illusion vision penalty
Current abilities
Stroke of FateGrimstroke paints a curved path of ink with his brush, damaging and slowing enemies. The damage is increased with each enemy the ink hits. Can be put on alt-cast to have the path be straight.
Phantom's EmbraceSummons a phantom that moves quickly towards the target, latching to it when she arrives. Once latched, the phantom damages and silences. If she survives the full latch duration she rends her victim for heavy damage and refreshes Phantom's Embrace's cooldown. Hero attacks against the phantom count as 3 attacks each.
Ink SwellGrimstroke shrouds an allied unit in ink, increasing its movement speed. Enemies in range of the allied unit are damaged with inky tendrils over time. After 3 seconds it applies damage and stun in an area around the unit in proportion to how long ink tendril was near any hero.
Dark Portrait
SoulbindBinds a targeted enemy hero to its nearest allied hero within the bind radius, preventing both from moving away from each other. Any unit-targeted ability that either bound hero receives also gets cast on the other hero. If the bind is broken before the duration expires, the initial target will be bound to its nearest allied hero in the radius.
Ink Trail innateGrimstroke's attacks and spells cause affected enemy heroes to leave a trail of Ink behind them and deal less damage to Grimstroke for 4s.
What players buy on Grimstroke
Starting items
- Circlet 155g
- Magic Stick 200g
Early game
Restores mana for you and nearby allies, which suits a support who casts a lot
Mid game
- Glimmer Cape 2150g
Makes an ally hard to hit and shields magic damage
- Force Staff 2200g
Pushes you or an ally out of trouble or into reach
Late game
- Aghanim's Scepter 4200g
- Aeon Disk 3000g
- Scythe of Vyse 5200g
Another reliable disable to lock down a target
More cast range and mana for a ranged spell user
- Boots of Travel 2500g
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.