Pudge Hook Range: Long vs Short Hooks
Updated: (today) · 4 min read · Facts checked Oct 5, 2026 on patch 7.41
Long 
Meat Hook throws look great when they land, but they miss more often. The hook flies at a set speed, so a far target has more time to see it and step aside. A short hook gives the enemy almost no time to react. Knowing when to take each one is a big part of a good Pudge.
ADVICE
The current range and speed are listed on the Pudge abilities page. They can change with patches and items, so check there instead of trusting old guides.
How does range change the hook's travel time?
The hook moves at a fixed speed. The further the target, the longer the hook needs to reach them. A target at the edge of your range gives the enemy the most time to move.
Add the short cast time on top of that, and a long hook has a real gap between your key press and the hit. During that gap, the target can walk, turn or stop. Any of those can make the hook miss.
A close target is different. The flight is short, so the gap is small. Even an alert enemy may not have time to react.
Why do long hooks give the enemy more time?
It comes down to what the enemy can see. A hero watching Pudge sees the cast start and the hook fly. The longer the flight, the longer they have to react.
Long hooks also need more lead. You have to guess where the target will be after a longer delay. A small change in their path makes a bigger miss at the end of the line.
This does not mean long hooks are bad. It means they need the right target:
- A hero walking a straight path who cannot change direction easily.
- A hero who is busy, such as one channeling a spell or fighting someone else.
- A hero who cannot see you, because you threw from fog.
- A hero who is stuck, such as one who is stunned or rooted by a teammate.
Stunned and rooted units cannot move, and channeling heroes stand still. These are the best targets for a long throw.
When is a long hook worth the risk?
Long hooks carry a big reward. Pulling an enemy from far away drags them deep toward you and your team. A carry pulled from the back of a fight may die before they can act.
With Aghanim's Shard, the hook deals bonus damage based on the distance pulled. That makes long hooks hit harder too. The Aghanim's guide covers the upgrade.
Weigh that reward against the cost of a miss. A missed long hook spends mana and cooldown and may reveal where you are. Take it when the payoff is high and the target is likely to stay on the line. Skip it when the target is moving freely and watching you.
When should you wait for a shorter hook?
Patience often turns a risky long hook into a safe short one. If the enemy is walking toward you, wait. Every step closer cuts their reaction time.
Close hooks are best when:
- The enemy is careful and dodges well. Do not give them time.
- You only have mana for one hook. Make it count.
- The fight has not started. Waiting for the enemy to come closer keeps your best spell ready.
The risk with waiting is that the enemy may never come closer. Know when to take the shot you have.
Does the hook always fly its full range?
The hook flies toward the point you aim at and keeps going until it catches a unit or reaches its maximum distance. Aiming short of the target does not make it stop early. What matters is the direction of your aim, not the exact spot you click.
This is useful when you hook into fog. The hook covers its whole path, so a target anywhere along that line can be caught.
FAQ
What is Pudge's hook range?
It changes with patches and items. Check the current value on the Pudge abilities page.
Are long hooks better because they pull enemies further?
They pull further and, with Aghanim's Shard, hit harder. But they give the enemy more time to dodge, so they miss more often.
Does aiming closer make the hook faster?
No. The hook flies at the same speed. A closer target is reached sooner because the distance is shorter.
What targets are best for max range hooks?
Heroes who cannot move freely: stunned, rooted, channeling or walking a fixed path without watching you.
Checklist
- Expect more misses the further the target is.
- Save long hooks for stuck, busy or unaware targets.
- Wait for the enemy to come closer when they are alert.
- Consider Aghanim's Shard if long pulls are part of your plan.
- Aim by direction; the hook covers its whole path.
- Check the current range and speed on the abilities page.
Read next: Meat Hook micro-mechanics
- Big guide · Pudge Hook Hitbox ExplainedHow the Meat Hook hitbox works: hook width, which unit it grabs first, edge hits, travel and return, and why a hook that should have hit missed.
- Pudge Hook Angles ExplainedThe geometry of a straight line hook: why enemies walking toward or away from you are easy, why sideways ones are hard, and how to line up.
- Does Pudge's Hook Give Vision?Meat Hook reveals a small area as it flies. How Pudge can use hook vision to scout fog, peek at a jungle path or Roshan, and what it shows the enemy.
- Pudge Shift Queue GuideHow to use Shift to queue a move and then Meat Hook, chain blink and spells, and when a queued hook is worse than aiming live.
More Pudge guides
- Pudge Hook Cast Time ExplainedMeat Hook has a short cast animation before it flies. Why it gives enemies a reaction window, how to hide it in fog or behind creeps, and how to fake it.
- How to Predict Pudge HooksLearn to read enemy movement for Pudge hooks: last hits, retreats, chases, disables and terrain, plus how to beat players who juke every time.
- How to Hook Through a Creep Wave as PudgeWhy creeps block Pudge's Meat Hook, how to find side angles past the wave, and when enemy heroes step out of their creeps so you can land the hook.
- How to Hook Heroes With Blink and EscapesEnemies with a blink or escape can undo a hook. How Pudge baits the escape first, hooks after it is used and uses damage to lock an enemy Blink Dagger.