Pudge Smoke Ganks

Pudge smoke ganks work best when your group uses Smoke of Deceit to walk unseen to a hook angle, then lets Pudge open the fight. The smoke hides your group until you get close to enemies or attack. That gives Pudge time to find a clear path for his hook before anyone reacts.

Why does Smoke of Deceit suit Pudge?

Most of Pudge's threat comes from surprise. Meat Hook flies in a straight line and drags the first unit it hits back to you. An enemy who knows you are near will stand behind creeps or allies. An enemy who thinks you are far away walks in the open.

Smoke of Deceit hides a group from the enemy until they get close or attack. That means you can walk past wards that would normally spot you. You arrive at a hook angle that the enemy does not expect.

Smoke also lets your allies come with you. A lone Pudge can land a hook and still fail to finish the kill. A smoked group can turn one hook into a quick kill, or even more.

When should your team smoke with Pudge?

A common approach is to smoke when your team has a clear target in mind. Good moments include:

• When you have your ultimate and enough mana for a full combo.
• When an enemy core is farming alone far from their allies.
• When the enemy has placed new wards you want to walk around.
• When an objective, like a tower, will be easier after a kill.

Avoid smoking when your key spells are on cooldown. If the gank starts and your disables are not ready, the enemy can often walk away. Check the current cooldowns on Pudge abilities if you are unsure how long you will need to wait.

Who should lead the smoke and where should Pudge walk?

Pick one player to lead the group. Everyone else follows that player. When several players move in different directions, the group may break apart or reveal itself early.

As Pudge, try to walk near the front, but slightly to the side. That lets you find a hook angle as soon as enemies come into view. If you walk directly behind your team, your allies may block your hook path.

Stay away from enemy heroes until you are ready. Walking too close can break the smoke before you reach a good spot. Watch the enemy positions on the minimap and stop before you get close.

Who starts the fight: Pudge or a teammate?

There is no single right answer. If you have a clear line to a target, a hook is often the best opener. It pulls an enemy into your group, where your allies can act right away.

If the target stands behind creeps or allies, let a teammate with a disable start instead. Once the target is stunned or slowed, your hook path may open up. A stunned enemy is also easier to hit.

Agree on this before the smoke ends. A short call such as "Pudge opens" or "I stun first" avoids hesitation. Hesitation gives the enemy time to see you and run.

What should Pudge do after the hook lands?

After a hook, you usually want Dismember ready. It is a channeled ultimate, and channeled spells are interrupted by stuns, silences and similar disables. If an enemy ally can stun you, your teammates should look to deal with them first.

Rot is toggled on and off, hurts nearby enemies and slows them. It can keep a target close while your team adds damage. Rot also damages Pudge himself, so turn it off once the fight is won.

If more enemies arrive, look for a second target or for a way out. A smoked group that wins a fight can often push into a tower or take a nearby objective. For more ideas on a full fight, see Pudge in teamfights.

What usually goes wrong in a Pudge smoke gank?

The most common problem is walking into an enemy who sees you early. A missed hook is the next one. If you miss, your team has lost its surprise, and the enemy may turn on you.

Another mistake is smoking without a plan. Wandering under smoke wastes time and gold. If you cannot find a target, it is usually better to take a farm or vision objective than to walk back empty-handed. To spot the enemy before you commit, read vision and wards for Pudge hooks.

Checklist

• Smoke only with a clear target and your key spells ready.
• Let one player lead the group so it stays together.
• Walk at the front and slightly to the side to keep hook paths clear.
• Agree on who starts the fight before the smoke ends.
• Deal with enemies who can interrupt Dismember first.
• Turn to a nearby objective if the target is gone.