Pudge Hook Angles Explained

The angle between your hook and the enemy's path decides how hard the hook is. Meat Hook flies in a straight line from Pudge. A target walking along that line is easy to hit. A target crossing it sideways is much harder. Once you see why, you can pick spots and moments that turn hard hooks into easy ones.

Why is a straight line hook easy on some targets and hard on others?

Think of the hook as a moving line with a set width. It starts at Pudge and travels outward. To hit, the target has to be somewhere on that line when the hook head passes them.

If the enemy walks straight toward you, they stay on the line the whole time. You only need to get the direction right. Their speed changes when the hook reaches them, but not whether it does.

If the enemy walks straight away from you, it is almost the same. They stay on the line, so the direction is easy. The only risk is that they walk out of range before the hook gets there. Check the current range on the abilities page.

If the enemy walks across the line, everything changes. They are only on the line for a short moment. You must guess exactly where they will be when the hook arrives. A small error in timing means the hook passes in front of or behind them.

How much harder are sideways targets?

Much harder, and the gap grows with distance. The farther away a sideways target is, the longer the hook takes to reach them. The longer it takes, the farther they move off the spot where they stood when you threw.

So you have to lead them, aiming ahead of where they are. The faster they move and the farther they are, the more you lead. Leading takes practice, and any change of speed or path breaks it.

Diagonal paths sit in between. A target walking at a slant toward you is easier than one walking straight across. The more their path lines up with your hook, the more room you have for error.

How do you turn a sideways hook into a straight one?

You often cannot change where the enemy walks. You can change where you stand. Move so the enemy's path points toward you or away from you, not across you.

Some ideas that help:

• If an enemy walks along a lane, stand ahead of them on the same line, not off to the side.
• If an enemy will walk past a tree line, wait at the end of the path where they will come at you.
• If an enemy is heading back to their tower, step behind their path so they walk away along your line.
• When you have time, move a few steps to line up before you throw.

Each step you take to line up the path makes the hook more forgiving. A Pudge who keeps adjusting his spot lands more hooks than one who stands still and leads every target.

When do angles matter less?

Some targets give you a free angle. A hero who is stunned, rooted or channeling does not move, so the angle does not matter at all. Heroes also stop briefly when they attack or cast, which gives you a short window where they are still.

Your own team can create these moments. A stun or root from an ally turns a hard sideways target into a still one. Rot slows enemies near Pudge, which shrinks how far they move in the time the hook needs. The fast hero guide covers slows and setup in more detail.

What about creeps and other units on the line?

The hook stops on the first unit it meets. A good angle is useless if a creep sits between you and the target. When you move to line up a straight path, check that the new line is clear too.

Sometimes the cleaner angle and the clear line point in different directions. Then you choose. A slightly harder angle with no creeps is usually better than a perfect angle through a crowd. The creep wave guide explains how to find gaps in a lane.

FAQ

What is the easiest angle for Meat Hook?

A target walking straight toward you or straight away from you. They stay on the hook's line the whole time, so you only need the direction and the range right.

Why do I miss enemies walking across my screen?

They are only on the hook's line for a moment. You have to lead them and guess their timing, and any change of speed makes the hook miss.

Should I always lead sideways targets?

Yes, if you throw at all. Lead more for faster and farther targets. If the lead is a pure guess, it is often better to move and wait for a cleaner angle.

Checklist

• Prefer targets walking toward you or away from you.
• Move a few steps to line up the enemy's path with your hook.
• Lead sideways targets, more for fast and distant ones.
• Use stuns, roots and slows to remove the angle problem.
• Check that the lined up path is free of creeps.
• Skip pure guesses and wait for a cleaner angle.