Pudge Blink Dagger Guide

Pudge Blink Dagger builds are about one thing: closing the gap so you can Dismember or Rot a target before they react. Blink teleports you a short distance, but it goes on a brief lockout whenever an enemy hero or Roshan damages you. Aghanim's Shard adds a different tool, since it upgrades Meat Hook rather than your mobility.

What does Blink Dagger do for Pudge?

Blink Dagger teleports you to a target point within its range. There is no travel time, so the enemy has almost no warning. For a melee hero like Pudge, that is a big change in how he starts fights.

Without it, Pudge has to walk into range for Dismember and Rot. Enemies see him coming and step away. With it, he can wait out of sight and appear on top of a target.

The dagger also has a defensive use. Self-casting it sends you toward your own fountain, which can save you when you are caught.

How does Blink Dagger's damage lockout work?

After you take damage from an enemy hero or Roshan, Blink Dagger cannot be used for a few seconds. The exact time is on the item tooltip and on the items page.

The rule names enemy heroes and Roshan. Rot's damage to yourself is not on that list, so running Rot does not lock your dagger. Creep and tower hits are not on it either.

The lockout shapes how you play. Blink in before the fight starts, not after an enemy has hit you. If you plan to escape with it, stay out of enemy hero range until you need it.

What are good Blink Dagger combos on Pudge?

Blink into Dismember. This is the classic pick-off. Blink next to a lone target and channel right away. It skips the walk that usually gives the enemy time to run.

Blink into Rot. Turn Rot on and blink into a group. The slow keeps nearby enemies close while your team arrives. It hurts you too, so do not leave it on after the fight moves away.

Blink and hook. You can blink to a new angle and throw Meat Hook from there. The hook flies through trees and cliffs and only stops on units, so a fresh angle can avoid a blocking creep wave.

For more ways to chain spells, the combos guide goes deeper.

What does Pudge's Aghanim's Shard do?

In the current patch, Pudge's Shard upgrades Meat Hook. It has two effects:

• When the hook hits an enemy, it deals bonus damage based on how far the target was pulled.
• When the hook hits an ally, its cooldown is cut in half.

Shard effects have changed between patches before, so recheck this after each update. The Aghanim's guide tracks both the Shard and the Scepter.

How do Blink Dagger and Aghanim's Shard fit together?

They pull in slightly different directions. The Shard rewards long hooks, because the bonus grows with the distance pulled. A blink puts you close to the enemy, where any hook you throw is short.

That does not make them a bad pair. A common pattern is to use them for different jobs. Throw long hooks from fog to start fights and gain the Shard bonus. Keep the dagger for chasing, for a fast Dismember, or for escaping when the hook misses.

The ally part of the Shard suits a support or a frontline Pudge. A cheaper hook on allies lets you save teammates more often. The guide on hooking allies covers when a save is worth it.

When should Pudge buy Blink Dagger?

Consider it when you keep failing to reach targets on foot. It is also strong when the enemy has fragile heroes who stand behind their front line.

It is weaker when the enemy has many ways to damage you from range. Each hit resets the lockout, so constant poke can keep the dagger off.

A later upgrade, Overwhelming Blink, adds damage based on your Strength and a slow around where you land. It is expensive, so it is a late choice. To see what other players buy and when, check the current build page.

Checklist

• Blink before the enemy damages you, or the dagger locks.
• Run Rot freely; its self-damage does not lock Blink Dagger.
• Use Blink into Dismember to catch a lone target fast.
• Throw long hooks to get the most from Aghanim's Shard.
• Use the Shard's ally effect to save teammates more often.
• Recheck the Shard after each patch, since it changes often.