Pudge Hook Hitbox Explained

The Meat Hook hitbox is wider than the thin chain you see on screen. The hook has a set width, and any valid unit that touches that width on the way out can be caught. It takes the first unit it meets, then drags it back. The exact width, speed and range are listed on the Pudge abilities page and change with patches.

This page explains how that hitbox works in play. It does not cover aiming in general; for that, read the hook prediction guide.

How wide is the Meat Hook hitbox?

The hook is not a laser. It is more like a moving circle that sweeps along a straight line. Anything that overlaps that circle can be grabbed. That is why a unit standing slightly to the side of your aim line can still be caught.

The width is a fixed value for the ability. We do not list it here because it can change with a patch. Check the abilities page when you want the current number.

Heroes and creeps also take up space on the ground. A target does not need to stand right on your line. If their body overlaps the hook's path, the hook can touch them. In practice, think of your line as a lane with some width, not a string.

Which unit does the hook grab first?

The hook grabs the first valid unit it touches as it flies outward. It does not pick the best target or skip creeps to reach a hero. Order along the path is all that matters.

This leads to some common results:

• A creep a little in front of your target catches the hook instead.
• An ally walking across your line gets pulled toward you.
• A hero at the very edge of the hitbox is caught before a hero in the middle further away.

Once the hook catches something, it stops and starts the pull. A unit that touches the chain after that point is not grabbed. The hook also does not pick up units on its way back. For lane-specific blocking, see the creep wave guide.

What counts as an edge hit?

An edge hit is a hook that catches a target with only the side of its hitbox. On screen, it can look like the chain passed beside the target and still grabbed them. That is the width at work.

Edge hits cut both ways. They let you land hooks that looked a bit off. They also mean a creep you thought was clear of the line can still catch the hook.

A safe habit is to give creeps and allies a little room. If a creep is close to your line, assume it may block. Move a step to change the angle, or wait for the creep to walk away.

Why did my hook "should have hit" but miss?

Every Pudge player has seen a hook pass right where the enemy was standing. The cause is almost always timing, not a broken hitbox.

The hook has a short cast time before it leaves Pudge. Then it travels at a set speed. During both of those moments, the target keeps moving. A hero who was on your line when you pressed the key may be off it by the time the hook arrives. Hooks at long range give the target more time to move, so they miss this way more often.

Other common causes:

• The target turned or stopped. You aimed for a straight walk, but they changed direction.
• You aimed at their current spot. A moving hero needs a lead. Aim at where they will be.
• Something else caught it first. If the hook stopped short, a unit you missed was on the line.

When a miss feels unfair, replay it in your head. Was the target moving? Did you lead them enough? That habit fixes more misses than any setting.

How does the hook travel and return?

The hook flies in a straight line toward the point you chose. It keeps going until it catches a unit or reaches its maximum distance. Then the chain comes back to Pudge.

If it caught something, that unit is dragged back with it. An enemy takes Pure damage, a non-ancient creep dies, and an ally is pulled without damage. If it caught nothing, the chain returns empty. A miss still spends the mana and the cooldown.

The hook gives you a little vision around it while it flies. That can show you units hidden in fog along the path, even on a miss.

FAQ

Is the Meat Hook hitbox bigger than it looks?

Yes, in the sense that the hook has a width and is not just the thin chain you see. Units beside the line can be caught if they overlap that width.

Can the hook grab two units at once?

No. It stops on the first valid unit it touches and pulls only that one.

Does the hitbox change with level?

In the current game data the hook has one width for every level. The damage is what grows as you level it. Check the abilities page after each patch.

Why does my hook hit creeps I thought were clear?

Because of the hook's width. A creep close to your line can touch the edge of the hitbox and block the hook.

Checklist

• Treat your hook line as a lane with width, not a thin string.
• Give nearby creeps and allies extra room before you throw.
• Remember that the first unit touched is the one pulled.
• Lead moving targets to cover the cast time and travel time.
• Expect more timing misses at long range.
• Look up the current width and speed on the abilities page.