Which Aghanim to Buy on Pudge

Which Aghanim to buy on Pudge depends on how you plan to fight. Aghanim's Scepter upgrades Rot, so it suits a Pudge who stays close to enemies for a long time. Aghanim's Shard upgrades Meat Hook, so it suits a Pudge who wins games with long hooks and ally saves.

What does Aghanim's Scepter do for Pudge?

Aghanim's Scepter makes Rot bigger and stronger. The radius grows, the damage goes up, and enemies inside it get less out of their health restoration. That last part means their healing and regeneration do less while they stand in your Rot.

The upgrade does not change how Rot works at its core. It is still a toggle that hurts Pudge while it runs. You still turn it on and off by hand. The Rot guide covers that habit.

For the exact upgrade text and values, see the Aghanim's section on the abilities page.

What does Pudge's Shard do?

Aghanim's Shard changes Meat Hook in two ways. When the hook hits an enemy, it deals bonus damage based on how far the enemy was pulled. A long hook hurts more than a short one.

When the hook hits an ally, its cooldown is cut by half. That rewards a Pudge who saves teammates with the hook. The ally hook guide explains when a save is worth it.

The exact numbers are on the abilities page. They can change with any patch.

When is Aghanim's Scepter a good fit?

The Scepter fits a Pudge who spends a lot of time in the middle of fights. A bigger Rot reaches more enemies at once. The extra damage adds up when you stand among them.

It also fits games where the enemy relies on healing or regeneration. Reducing their health restoration can make fights shorter in your favor.

It is a weaker fit when you rarely get close. If the enemy keeps you at range, or if most of them go spell immune, a bigger Rot does less. Rot does not affect spell-immune enemies, as the BKB guide explains.

Think about your health too. A bigger Rot still damages you. A Pudge with lots of Strength and health handles that cost better than a fragile one.

When is Aghanim's Shard a good fit?

The Shard fits a Pudge who throws many hooks from far away. Since the bonus grows with distance pulled, long hooks gain the most. Players who often hook from the edge of their range get the most out of it.

It also fits a support or roaming Pudge. Saving an ally and getting the hook back sooner gives you two chances in one fight. One hook can rescue a teammate, and the next can catch an enemy.

The Shard is a weaker fit if you mostly fight up close. Short hooks gain little from the distance bonus. In that case, your money may do more elsewhere.

Should support Pudge buy Scepter or Shard?

A support Pudge usually has less gold than a core. That makes the price of each upgrade matter more. Many support players value the Shard because it improves the hook they already rely on.

A Scepter can still make sense if the game goes long and you become the frontline. Judge it by how often you stand in fights, not by habit. The support guide covers how support Pudge spends gold.

Should core Pudge buy Scepter or Shard?

A core Pudge in the offlane or mid often has more gold and more health. That makes the Scepter easier to use well, since you can afford to stand in a long Rot fight.

A core Pudge can end up with both in a long game. The order depends on what your team needs first. If you need to catch heroes from range, start with the Shard. If you need to win long brawls, start with the Scepter. The builds by position guide shows how these fit next to other items.

How do you decide in a real game?

Ask three questions before you buy. How often do you get close to enemies? How long are your hooks? Does the enemy heal a lot?

If you are close a lot and the enemy heals, the Scepter answers both. If you hook from far away or save allies often, the Shard answers that. If neither fits, another item may help more. The items page lists what Pudge players buy.

Checklist

• Remember that Scepter upgrades Rot and Shard upgrades Meat Hook.
• Buy Scepter when you spend long stretches in close fights.
• Consider Scepter against heroes who heal or regenerate a lot.
• Buy Shard when you land many long hooks or save allies often.
• Skip the Scepter when most enemies go spell immune.
• Read the exact upgrade text on the abilities page each patch.