Grimstroke

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Grimstroke
21 + 2.4
18 + 1.9
25 + 3.8
Grants the following bonuses per level:
+52.8HP and +0.24HP regeneration
+0.32 armor and 1.9 attack speed
+45.6MP and +0.19MP regeneration
+0.1% base magic resistance
+3.8 Main Attack Damage
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3
Armor
(686.76 EHP)
27.5%
Magic Resist
(802.76 EHP)
900
Projectile Speed
Melee Melee units have their projectile speed set to 900, if they should ever need it.
100 (118)
(1.7 BAT)
Base Attack Time Attacks per Second is defined as
ΣAS / BAT / 100
0.35 + 0.85
Turn Rate This unit takes 0.175s to turn 180°.
This ability component has a different effect during daytime. 1800 / This ability component has a different effect during nighttime. 800
Default
Gib Type
2018-08-24
Released
Competitive Span
2018-11-19 — Present
Version Control
This article is mostly accurate for 7.40, the last version this hero was changed in.

New interactions that emerged in following patches may have not yet been accounted for.
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Disables enemies with a swipe of his brush.
The peoples of Ashkavor gave their lives for the newly Ascended, one unlike any Ascended before him. Grimstroke's lust for power had tainted the sacred ritual, and the corrupted ink consumed him — along with his kin. The defiled remnant of his former beloved remains at his side, agonizing those caught in this Phantom's Embrace. Shrouded by a shadowy Ink Swell, Grimstroke retaliates with lashing black tendrils, while a Stroke of Fate forms under his brush, darkening the land and painting a Dark Portrait of an unfortunate foe. Drawing on Ashkavorian rituals of protection, Grimstroke twists the ancient arts to Soulbind foes together, so that the sufferings and vexes of one will be felt equally by the other.
Stroke of Fate
Phantom's Embrace
Ink Swell
Ink Swell
Dark Portrait
Dark Portrait
Soulbind
Roles:Support Support Nuker Nuker Disabler Disabler Escape Escape
AdjectivesFlying, Undead, Nose
Legs ( 0 )
Inkstigate
Ink Swell
Increases Ink Swell's duration.
+1s Duration
Ink Explosion
Grants the Ink Explosion sub-ability.

Trigger an existing Ink Swell anytime as the ink master wishes.
Fine Art
Stroke of Fate
Stroke of Fate now launches a mirrored curved stroke from Grimstroke's right hand.

Upgrades

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Aghanim's

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Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter.
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade:
Dark Portrait
Grants the Dark Portrait ability.

Masterfully creates an illusion of the affected enemy hero.

The ink illusion is a strong illusion, has bonus movement speed, deals additional damage based on the affected enemy's main attack damage and receives additional incoming damage.
Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade:
Ink Swell
Applies a basic dispel on the target upon cast.

Ink Swell tendrils now heal the affected allied unit based on the damage dealt, and spell lifesteals from the ink explosion damage.

Increases damage.

Talents

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+70% Stroke of Fate Speed/Travel Range25+150 Ink Swell Radius
+3 Phantom Hit Count20+80% Stroke of Fate Damage
+12% Ink Swell Speed15+25% Soulbind Spell Damage Amp
-4s Ink Swell Cooldown10+65 Phantom's Embrace Damage per Second
▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃ ▃
+2 All / / Attributes

Bio

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I'll paint this world as I see fit.
▶️  Grimstroke
Alias:
GS
The people of Ashkavor crowded around the temple square, eager to witness the ascension of their new guardian -- to stand near the man as he bound their souls to his own. But as his final brush strokes fell against the runestone, and the bond of a new Ascended One was forged, everyone -- even those who'd stayed in their homes -- could sense that something had gone terribly wrong.

He knew the cause instantly. The droplets of ichor he'd procured to amplify the potency of his inkpots had instead contaminated them, and the power of the binding spell he'd cast now threatened to consume him. An inky corruption snaked upward from the runestone, along the handle of his brush, soon overtaking his hands. From there it spread quickly. Once it overcame his face and his mouth, he couldn't have screamed even if he'd wanted to.

All of his life he'd calculated on how to attain ever greater powers than the limits presented by his teachers would allow--going so far as to break the sacred prohibition against augmenting the inks. Indeed, with the Wellspring of the Ascended Bond open to him, he felt a measure of power coursing into his soul like he'd never imagined. His greatest triumph was upon him, if he could only survive it.

He drew deep from the power of the bond, pushing back against the corrupted ink flow. A great moan filled the air -- the collective cry of his people. Some swayed on their feet. The weakest collapsed. Many tried to run. And still deeper he pulled from their bloodline reservoir. But it wasn't enough to stop the ink tide.

It was only when the breath trapped in his lungs began to fail him, and the inkpool darkness fully encased him, that he saw his way out. The bond he'd made with the Ashkavoran people -- his people -- meant to be drawn upon only in service of their protection... It flowed two ways.

With a final surge of strength -- this time directed by more than just blind repulsion -- he pushed the ink torrent into the bond itself.

Slowly, he felt the tide retreat... and heard the awful wails of his people as the corruption in turn rolled over them. When at last the ink relented, his eyes opened upon a world changed. The Ashkavoran people as he knew them were gone. Every last soul was transformed into terrifying shades of their former selves -- comprised no longer of blood and bone, only viscid, tainted ink.

Ink Trail

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Ink Trail
This ability is not bestowed by Illusions. Neither affected nor disabled by Break.
Passive
Affects
Self / Enemy Heroes
Successful attacks apply a debuff that causes enemy heroes to leave a trail of ink behind, directly exposing them.
Expose Duration: 4
Stroke of Fate also applies the trail to affected enemy heroes.

Hero Model

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Hero Model
Neither affected nor disabled by Break.
Passive / Channeling
Affects
Self
Grimstroke's hero model has the following hidden Innate. innate abilities.

He may only perform or utilize the ability's functions upon a successful channeling.
Grimstroke is considered a ground unit, despite its hero model showing otherwise.
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade
Dark Portrait is innately bound to Grimstroke's hero model.
Details
Hidden Innate Abilities
Watch Tower
Warp
Warp
Lantern of Sight
Tap on the Innate. innate abilities for more details.

Abilities

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Stroke of Fate

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Q
F
Stroke of Fate
Point / Vector
Affects
Enemy Units
Spell / Magical
Paints a path of ink with his brush, damaging and slowing enemies. The damage is increased with each enemy the ink hits.
Cast Animation: 0.6 + 0.5
Cast RangeAffected by Cast Range increasing sources. 1400 (With level 25 Left Talent.With level 25 Left Talent. 2380)
Travel Distance: Affected by Cast Range increasing sources. 1400 (With level 25 Left Talent.With level 25 Left Talent. 2380)
First Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 120
End Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 160
Base Damage: 100/160/220/280 (With level 20 Right Talent.With level 20 Right Talent. 180/288/396/504)
Damage Increment per Hero Hit: 20/40/60/80 (With level 20 Right Talent.With level 20 Right Talent. 36/72/108/144)
Stroke of Fate has a vector-targeting functionality that causes the launched projectile to curve.
Vector Curve Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 140
Stroke of Fate also applies the Ink Trail to affected enemy heroes, exposing them in the process.
The damage increment is reduced when the enemy unit hit is a creep.
Damage Increment per Creep Hit: 10/20/30/40 (With level 20 Right Talent.With level 20 Right Talent. 18/36/54/72)
11/9/7/5
Mana Cost
100/110/120/130
The corruptive force of Grimstroke's ink, drawn from the reservoir of his fallen people, consumes any enemy caught in its path.

Phantom's Embrace

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Affects
Enemies / Self
Spell / Magical
Summons a phantom that moves quickly towards the unit-targeted enemy. Once the phantom latches on the unit, she deals damage over time while silencing it.
Damage per Second: 10/20/30/40 (With level 10 Right Talent.With level 10 Right Talent. 75/85/95/105)
Attacks to Destroy: 2/2/3/3 (With level 20 Left Talent.With level 20 Left Talent. 3/3/4/4)
Max Silence Duration: 5
Latch Duration: 5
If she survives the full latch duration she rends her victim for heavy damage and refreshes this ability's cooldown.
Latch Distance: 130
Damage: 120/200/280/360
Cooldown Factor per Phantom Returned: 0
Creeps' attacks are less effective on Yaovhi.
Creep Attacks to Destroy: 6/6/9/9 (With level 20 Left Talent.With level 20 Left Talent. 9/9/12/12)
30/26/22/18
Mana Cost
80/100/120/140
Grimstroke holds no sorrow for the downfall of his people. Only for Yaovhi, she who was most dear to him, does he feel even a semblance of longing.

Ink Swell

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Affects
Units
Spell / Magical
Shrouds an allied unit in ink, increasing its movement speed.

Enemy units in range of the affected ally are damaged with inky tendrils over time.
Cast Animation: 0.15 + 0.73
Cast RangeAffected by Cast Range increasing sources. 500/600/700/800
Effect Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 375 (With level 25 Right Talent.With level 25 Right Talent. 525)
Move Speed Bonus: 20% (With level 15 Left Talent.With level 15 Left Talent. 32%)
Radius Damage per Second: 30/45/60/75 (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 42/63/84/105)
Duration: 3
After swelling up for a period of time, the ink explodes, applying damage and stun within the radius proportion to the duration the tendril was near any enemy hero.
Max Power Duration: 2.5
Max Explosion Damage: 90/180/270/360 (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 126/252/378/504)
Max Stun Duration: 1.6/2/2.4/2.8
Has a different cast backswing when self-casting the ability.
Cast Animation: 0.15 + 0.86
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Applies a basic dispel on the target upon cast.

Ink Swell tendrils now heal the affected allied unit based on the damage dealt, and spell lifesteals from the ink explosion damage.

Increases damage.
Tendril Heal: Affected by Heal Manipulation sources. (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 40%)
Explosion Spell Lifesteal: Utilizes Spell Lifesteal. Affected by Health Restore sources. (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 40%)
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
The heal/spell lifesteal is less effective when affecting creeps.
Creep heal/Spell Lifesteal Penalty: (Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard. 80%)
27/24/21/18 (With level 10 Left Talent.With level 10 Left Talent. 23/20/17/14)
Mana Cost
120/130/140/150
Now that the rise of the ink tide no longer threatens to overwhelm Grimstroke, its tendrils of power are never far from his hand.

Ink Explosion

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W
E
Ink Explosion
Affects
Heroes
Trigger an existing Ink Swell anytime as the ink master wishes.
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Aghanim's Shard Upgrade
Applies a basic dispel on the affected allied unit and spell lifesteals for the explosion damage upon the ink explosion.
1

Dark Portrait

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D
D
Dark Portrait
Affects
Enemy Heroes
Masterfully creates an illusion of the affected enemy hero.
Cast Animation: 0 + 0.54
Cast RangeAffected by Cast Range increasing sources. 1200
The ink illusion is a strong illusion, has bonus movement speed, deals additional damage based on the affected enemy's main attack damage and receives additional incoming damage.
Number of Illusions: 1
Damage Dealt: Affects the outgoing ability value positively of the affected unit. 125%
Damage Taken: Affects the incoming ability value negatively of the affected unit. 275%
Move Speed Bonus: 30%
Duration: 25
This illusion is debuff immune and has high magic resistance.
Magic Resist: 95%
35
Mana Cost
200
No dark creation is beyond the skill of the master's hand.

Soulbind

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R
B
Soulbind
Affects
Enemy Heroes
Spell / Source
Bound an enemy hero to its nearest allied hero within the radius, preventing both affected enemy units from moving away from each other.

Any unit-targeted ability that either bound hero received is instantly cast on the other.
Cast Animation: 0.15 + 0.5
Cast RangeAffected by Cast Range increasing sources. 700/800/900
Search Radius: Affected by AoE Radius increasing sources. 600
Max Bound Units: 2
Break Distance: 700
Duration: 6/7/8
Spell Damage Amp: Affects the incoming ability value negatively of the affected unit. (With level 15 Right Talent.With level 15 Right Talent. 25%)
If the bonds are broken before the debuff duration expires, the debuff remains on the primary target, and binds itself to the next nearest allied hero.
70/65/60
Mana Cost
150/200/250
The Ascended were chosen sons of Ashkavor, granted immense power by the bonds forged between their own souls and those they were charged with protecting. In the years that followed the ruination of his kin, Grimstroke discovered much more sinister applications for the binding rituals...

Recent Matches

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Main Article: Grimstroke/Matches
DateTierTournamentPicksScorevs. Picks
January 10, 2026 - 12:00 CETQualifierWEU CQ DreamLeague S28WEU CQ DreamLeague S28WEU CQ DreamLeague S28Shadow Demon Centaur Warrunner Grimstroke Tiny Medusa
1 : 0
Batrider Ancient Apparition Tidehunter Dragon Knight Sand King
January 8, 2026 - 18:00 EETQualifierEEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28EEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28EEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28Warlock Grimstroke Ursa Timbersaw Storm Spirit
1 : 0
Techies Mars Dazzle Outworld Destroyer Broodmother
January 8, 2026 - 18:00 EETQualifierEEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28EEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28EEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28Jakiro Tidehunter Grimstroke Storm Spirit Phantom Assassin
1 : 0
Slardar Techies Clinkz Ogre Magi Tinker
January 7, 2026 - 18:25 EETQualifierEEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28EEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28EEU OQ2 DreamLeague S28Warlock Centaur Warrunner Grimstroke Weaver Lina
1 : 0
Shadow Fiend Tusk Ringmaster Axe Huskar
January 5, 2026 - 17:15 CETQualifierWEU OQ1 DreamLeague S28WEU OQ1 DreamLeague S28WEU OQ1 DreamLeague S28Kez Grimstroke Death Prophet Pugna Monkey King
0 : 1
Centaur Warrunner Faceless Void Jakiro Venomancer Rubick
  • Grimstroke has won the following final matches in The International of the following years:

Recent Changes

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Main Articles: Changelogs, Old Abilities and Hero Lore
Description
7.40
(2025-12-15)
7.39d
(2025-08-05)
  • Reduced Phantom's Embrace cooldown from 36/30/24/18 to 30/26/22/18.
  • Increased Ink Swell max stun duration from 1.3/1.8/2.3/2.8 to 1.6/2/2.4/2.8.
7.39
(2025-05-21)
  • Stroke of Fate
    • Now has The ability's vector-targeted properties. vector-targeting functionality by default.
    • Has a 140-vector curve radius.
    • Now considers Illusion Properties. illusions as creeps.
    • Increased damage increment per enemy hero hit from 20/30/40/50 to 20/40/60/80.
    • Reduced damage increment per enemy creep hit from 20/30/40/50 to 10/20/30/40.
    • Fine Art
      • No longer has a 0/10/20/30 damage increment bonus per enemy unit hit.
      • Now launches a mirrored curved stroke from Grimstroke 's right hand.
      • Both strokes contributes to the damage increment value per enemy unit hit.
      • The spell damage component can only affect the same enemy units once per cast.
  • Soulbind debuff applied to the secondary target now ends at the same time as the primary The ability's unit-targeted properties. unit-targeted enemy.

Dota Plus Progress

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Main Article: Hero Challenges

Relics track a hero's actions and statistics, and display in-game notifications when a milestone is reached. They are only available to Dota Plus subscribers.

Grimstroke's Relics Voice Lines

Three Hero Stroke of Fate Hits

Three Hero Ink Swells

Max Stun Ink Swells

Full Duration Phantom's Embraces

Slow Duration

Stuns Leading to Kills

Silences Leading to Kills

Dominating Kill Streaks

Dusts Leading to Kills

Enemy Wards Kills

Wards Placed

Kill Assists

Kills

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Platinum

Master

Grandmaster
  • ▶️ Aaah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, my masterpiece!

Equipment

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Trivia

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  • Grimstroke was revealed during The International 2018, alongside with Mars in the same trailer.[1]
  • Grimstroke's abilities have different names in the game files:
  • ▶️ "More art than science." is a reference to the common phrase "More of an art than a science", when referring to an activity or field that is not bound by clearly-defined rules and is open to subjective interpretation.
  • ▶️ "At least you died with a smile on your face." is a reference to album of the label "Bella Union".
  • ▶️ "Welcome to the real void." perhaps a reference to the film "Matrix" - "Welcome to the real world".
  • After killing Lich he says ▶️ "Another self-styled king meets his end." perhaps a reference to the Lich-King in the fantasy world "Warcraft".
  • ▶️ "Brush beats scythe." is a reference to game "Rock, paper, scissors".
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