Rubick is a ranged intelligence hero who is usually played as a support. His ability to steal the last spell used by a chosen hero makes him a unique, potentially play-making support hero, although he does require a lot of game knowledge and positioning skill to be put to good use.
Skills
Get Telekinesis at level 1 in case of a level 1 engagment, but max it second.
Get Fade Bolt at level 2 and max it first - use it sparingly as a nuke to help ensure kills in the early game. Later on it can be used to clear creep waves when you have the mana to support it.
Max your passive Null Field last.
Always get Spell Steal (levels 6, 11 and 16). Try to always have a spell stolen ready to use and then steal another one during teamfights/ganks.
Items
Starting Items: Observer Wards and/or Courier, a set of Tangos, a Healing Salve, and 3x Iron Branches (or 2x Branches and 2x Clarity).
Early Game: Observer Wards, Flying Courier, Boots of Speed, Magic Wand.
Core Items: Observer Wards, Arcane Boots, Mekanism (if no one else is working on it), Force Staff.
Luxury Item Considerations: Drums of Endurance, Blink Dagger, Pipe of Insight, Ghost Scepter, Heaven's Halberd, Eul's Scepter of Divinity.
Situational Items: Aghanim's Scepter, Scythe of Vyse, Vladmir's Offering, Detection (Gem, Dust, Sentry Wards).
