How to Hook Allies as Pudge
Updated: (today) · 4 min read · Facts checked Oct 4, 2026 on patch 7.41
Pudge can hook allies to pull them out of danger or move them to a better spot. 
Meat Hook drags the first unit it hits back to Pudge, and that includes allied heroes. A well-timed ally hook can save a teammate who has no escape of their own.
ADVICE
How does hooking an ally work?
The hook works the same way on allies as on enemies. It flies in a straight line and pulls the first unit it touches back to you. If that unit is an ally, they end up next to Pudge.
This means you control where the ally lands by choosing where you stand. The ally always comes to you. Before you throw, ask whether your own position is safer than theirs. If it is not, the hook only moves the problem.
The ally also needs to be the first unit on the line. Enemies, creeps or other allies standing in front of them will catch the hook first. Plan the angle as carefully as you would for an enemy.
When should you save an ally with Meat Hook?
The classic save is pulling a teammate away from enemies who are chasing them. The ally may be slowed, low on health or cut off from their team. A hook can bring them back to your side in one move.
Good moments to save an ally include:
- A core caught out of position with no escape spell ready.
- A support chased in the jungle by several enemies.
- A teammate who walked into a smoke gank or an ambush.
- An ally being chased near a tower dive.
Timing matters. Hook too early, and the ally may have escaped on their own anyway. Hook too late, and they may already be dead. A useful habit is to watch allies who play far from the team and keep the hook ready for them.
How can you reposition allies on purpose?
Ally hooks are not only for saves. You can also move a teammate into a useful spot. Since the ally lands next to you, stand where you want them to be and pull them in.
One common idea is helping a slow ally reach a fight. If you are already near the enemy, pulling a teammate to you brings them in faster. This works best with allies who have strong spells around them, since they arrive ready to act.
Another idea is pulling an ally across terrain they would need to walk around. A teammate on the other side of trees or a cliff may reach you faster by hook. The hook flies over trees and cliffs, so only a unit in the way can stop it. Check that no creep or other hero stands on the line before you throw.
Why should you talk to your team first?
An unexpected hook can ruin an ally's plan. They may have been about to use their own escape, chase an enemy or channel a spell. Being pulled at the wrong moment can waste their cooldowns or put them in danger.
Let your team know you can save them. Ping or say when your hook is ready. If an ally asks for a save, they will often walk toward you, which makes the hook easier. Allies who know your plan also learn not to stand in the line of your hooks on enemies.
This works both ways. Allies who stand between you and an enemy can block your offensive hooks. Ask your team to give you clear lines in fights. The Pudge teamfight guide covers positioning with your team in more detail.
When is hooking an ally a mistake?
Not every ally in danger needs a hook. Sometimes the save costs more than it gains.
If your hook is your only threat, using it on an ally means you cannot threaten the enemy for a while. In a close fight, landing a hook on an enemy might do more for your team than saving one teammate.
Pulling an ally toward you also pulls the danger toward you. If enemies follow, you may both die instead of one. Check the enemy's chasing tools before deciding.
Finally, consider the cooldown. Check the current values on the Pudge abilities page so you know how long you will wait for the next hook. If you play Pudge as a support, ally saves may be a bigger part of your role.
Checklist
- Make sure your position is safer than your ally's before you hook them.
- Check that no other unit stands in front of the ally on the line.
- Keep the hook ready for teammates who play far from the group.
- Ping or tell your team when your hook is available for saves.
- Avoid pulling allies who are about to escape or cast on their own.
- Weigh the save against using the hook on an enemy instead.
Read next: Meat Hook, step by step
- Big guide · Pudge Meat Hook Mechanics and InteractionsPudge Meat Hook mechanics: what the hook grabs or flies through (trees, wards, couriers), spell immunity, dispels, channels, Twin Gates, cancels, quick cast.
- How to Fake Hook as PudgeHow to fake a hook as Pudge by canceling the cast with Stop, why it works on enemies who juke, and how to follow up with the real hook.
- How to Practice Pudge HooksPractice Pudge hooks step by step: Demo Hero mode, private lobbies, bot games and replay review, with a simple plan for short, focused sessions.
- Pudge Quick Cast SettingsHow to set up quick cast for Pudge's Meat Hook: normal cast vs quick cast, key release vs key down, per-ability settings and the trade-offs of each.
More Pudge guides
- Pudge Teamfight TipsHow to play Pudge in teamfights: where to stand, which enemy to hook, when to use Dismember, how to save allies, and how Rot helps.
- Pudge Smoke GanksHow to run smoke ganks with Pudge: when to smoke, how to walk under smoke, who opens the fight, and what to do after the hook lands.
- Pudge Support TipsHow to play Pudge as a support: protect your carry, ward enemy paths, hook only when cores can follow up, and use Dismember to set up kills.
Part of: Pudge Hook Guide