Pudge Teamfight Tips

The core Pudge teamfight tips are simple: start the fight from the fog, hook the right target, and keep Dismember for the enemy who matters most. Pudge rarely wins a fight by standing in the middle. He wins it by pulling one key enemy out of position or one ally out of danger.

Where should Pudge stand before a fight starts?

Stay out of sight. The fog of war hides units, so a Pudge on the flank is much harder to play around than one standing with his team. Enemies who cannot see you cannot step behind their allies to block your hook.

A common approach is to wait at the side of the fight, close enough to reach targets but far enough to stay hidden. From there, you can throw a hook as soon as an enemy steps out of line. Good vision helps a lot here, so read how wards set up your hooks.

Avoid walking in front of your team. You are often the first target the enemy sees, and you may die before you cast anything.

Who should Pudge hook in a teamfight?

Meat Hook flies in a straight line and drags the first unit it hits back to you. In a fight, that means you can pull an enemy away from their team and into yours. The best targets are usually heroes your team can kill quickly, or heroes who would deal huge damage if left alone.

Meat Hook pierces spell immunity, so it still pulls a target through Black King Bar. The current BKB blocks Pure damage, so that pull deals no damage, but moving the enemy is what matters. That makes the hook useful against cores who rely on spell immunity to fight. See which Pudge abilities go through BKB for the full picture.

Do not throw a hook just to throw it. A hook that pulls a tanky front-liner into your backline can hurt your own team.

When should Pudge use Dismember in a fight?

Dismember is an enemy unit-target, channeled ultimate. It deals Magical damage, pierces spell immunity, and can only be removed by strong dispels. That makes it one of the most reliable ways to lock down a target, even one with Black King Bar active.

Because it is channeled, stuns, silences and similar disables will interrupt it. Before you cast it, look at which enemies can still stop you. If several enemies with disables are nearby, consider waiting or picking a different target.

Save Dismember for the enemy who matters most to the fight. Using it on the first hero you see can leave you with nothing for the real threat.

How should Pudge use Rot in teamfights?

Rot is toggled on and off. It hurts nearby enemies and slows them, but it also damages Pudge himself. In a big fight, Rot can slow several enemies at once, which helps your team catch them.

Rot does not pierce spell immunity. Enemies under Black King Bar will ignore it. Turn it off when it is not hitting anyone useful, so you do not lose health for nothing. Read when to turn Rot on and off for more detail.

Can Pudge save allies in a teamfight?

Yes. Hooking an ally pulls them to you. If a teammate is caught by the enemy, a hook can bring them back to safety. This is often worth more than a hook on an enemy.

Watch your fragile allies during the fight. If one is stuck in the middle of the enemy team, consider using your hook as a save. Make sure you are standing somewhere safe first, or you will just pull your ally into danger.

Meat Shield is a defensive self-cast that cannot be dispelled. Consider using it when the enemy commits to you, so you can stay in the fight longer. Check the current values on the Pudge abilities page.

Should Pudge buy Blink Dagger or Black King Bar for fights?

Blink Dagger teleports a short distance. Some players use it to close the gap and cast Dismember on a key target right away. Black King Bar gives spell immunity, which protects you from many spells that would interrupt your channel.

Both items change how you start fights. A Pudge with Blink Dagger can start fights himself instead of waiting for a hook path. A Pudge with Black King Bar can channel with less risk. Which one you need depends on the game.

Checklist

• Wait on the flank, in the fog, before the fight starts.
• Hook the enemy your team can kill quickly or who is most dangerous.
• Check which enemies can interrupt Dismember before you cast it.
• Turn Rot off when it is not hitting anyone useful.
• Look for a chance to save a caught ally with your hook.
• Use Meat Shield when the enemy commits to you.