Pudge Hook Threat: Zoning With an Unused Hook

The Pudge hook threat is the control you get from a hook you have not thrown yet. While Meat Hook is ready, every open line between you and an enemy is dangerous for them. They must play around it. Once you throw, that control is gone until the cooldown ends. Learning to hold the hook, and to stand where a hook is possible, turns Pudge from a gambler into a hero who owns space.

Why does an unused hook control space?

Think of your ready hook as a zone, not a spell. Any enemy who steps into a clear line inside your cast range could be pulled. They know this, so they avoid those lines.

That means they stand behind creeps. They walk around open ground. They give up last hits that would put them in the open. They stay away from your ally because the path to your ally crosses your line.

None of this costs you anything. You spend no mana. You keep your cooldown. The enemy does all the work of avoiding you.

When you throw and miss, the zone disappears. Now the enemy can walk freely until your hook is back. A careless throw can hand the enemy a free window to attack you or your ally.

Where should you stand to make the threat real?

A threat only works if the enemy believes it. Stand where a hook could actually land.

• Clear lines. Position so that no creeps sit between you and the enemy. A hook grabs the first unit it meets, so a line full of creeps is no threat at all.
• Near their goals. Stand close to where the enemy wants to go, such as the last hit they need or the rune they want.
• At an angle. Moving to the side of the creep wave can open new lines the enemy did not expect.
• Inside your range. Check the current cast range on the Pudge abilities page. A threat from too far away is easy to ignore.

Shift your position as the creeps move. A spot that was a clear line a moment ago can be blocked by the next wave.

How do you hold the hook without wasting it?

Holding the hook takes discipline. It feels bad to have a spell ready and not use it. But a good Pudge waits for a shot that is likely to hit.

Ask yourself before each throw: will this hook probably land, and can I follow it up? If the answer is no, keep holding. A held hook keeps doing its job.

Some signs that a throw is worth it:

• The target is walking in a straight line toward a fixed spot.
• The target is stuck in place, such as while channeling or stunned.
• The target is low and greedy for a last hit.
• Your ally can follow up right away.

When none of these are true, stay patient. The hook prediction guide helps you spot the moments when a target is easiest to hit.

How does the threat help your teammates?

Your threat protects the heroes around you. In a side lane, an enemy who wants to attack your support has to cross your hook line to do it. Many will not.

This lets your partner take last hits and pull camps with less danger. It also makes enemy supports less aggressive, because they know a bad step means a hook.

In fights, a held hook can save an ally. Since the hook can pull allies without damage, an enemy chasing your teammate also has to worry that you might pull your ally to safety. The guide on hooking allies covers that use in depth.

When should you finally throw?

The threat is strong, but a hook that is never thrown will not win the game. At some point you must cash in.

Throw when the reward is high and the chance is good. A kill, a key target in a fight or a save for an ally are worth the cooldown. A long, hopeful throw at a moving target usually is not.

After you throw, play as if you have no threat, because you do not. Step back, stay near your team and wait for the hook to return. The Pudge mind games overview explains how this rhythm of holding and striking fits into your wider game.

FAQ

Is it bad to throw Pudge hook on cooldown?

Often yes. Throwing every time the hook is ready removes your threat and gives the enemy safe windows. Save it for shots that are likely to land.

Does the hook threat work if the enemy cannot see me?

Yes, but in a different way. An enemy who knows you are near but cannot see you may be even more careful.

How do I know if my threat is working?

Watch the enemy. If they stand far back, skip last hits or avoid your ally, your threat is doing its job.

Checklist

• Treat a ready hook as a zone the enemy must avoid.
• Stand where no creeps block the line to your target.
• Stay within cast range so the threat is believable.
• Hold the hook until a shot is likely to land.
• Use your threat to protect your lane partner.
• Play safe after you throw, until the hook is back.