Pudge Warding: Vision for Better Hooks

Pudge warding is about seeing enemies before they see you. An Observer Ward shows you where enemies walk, so you can aim hooks at targets you can see while you stay hidden in the fog. Good vision turns blind guesses into planned hooks.

Why does vision matter so much for hooks?

Meat Hook flies in a straight line and drags the first unit it hits back to you. To aim it well, you need to know where your target is and where they are going. When you cannot see them, every hook is a guess.

The fog of war hides units. It also hides you. The ideal hook comes from a spot where you can see the enemy, but the enemy cannot see you. Wards are the main tool that creates that gap.

Vision also tells you when not to hook. If you can see that an enemy has allies nearby, you can hold your hook instead of pulling a target into a losing fight.

Where should Pudge place wards?

Think about paths, not places. Wards help most when they cover the routes enemies use between lanes, their jungle and rune spots. A ward that watches a busy path gives you a steady flow of hook targets.

Try to place wards that let you stand in the fog nearby. If the only safe spot to stand is in plain view, the ward helps your team but not your hooks.

A common approach is to ward the edge of the enemy's side of the map, where enemies feel safe. Heroes who feel safe walk in straight lines, which makes them easier to hit. Ask your supports to help if you cannot spare the gold.

How do trees and high ground affect your hooks?

Trees block vision. A unit behind trees can be hidden even when it is close. You can use this to hide while you wait, and wards can show you enemies who hide the same way.

Units on low ground cannot see up onto high ground without help. If you stand on high ground near a slope, enemies below may not see you at all. A ward that looks down a slope can let you aim at enemies who think they are out of reach.

Trees hide you, but they do not stop the hook. It flies through trees and over cliffs in a straight line. What stops it is the first unit on that line, so check for creeps and allies before you throw.

Should you throw hooks without vision?

You can throw a hook into the fog, aiming where you expect an enemy to be. These blind hooks sometimes land, especially if you saw an enemy walk into the fog a moment ago. Most of the time, though, they miss and cost mana.

Consider blind hooks only when you have a strong reason to think an enemy is there. A target who just walked into the trees, or one who is heading to a rune spot, is a better guess than an empty patch of fog. For more on this, see hooking from the fog of war.

How do you deal with enemy wards?

Enemy wards are the reason many hooks fail. If enemies see you coming, they step behind creeps or walk away. Sentry Wards reveal invisible units, including enemy wards, so you can find and remove them.

You do not have to clear every ward. Focus on the ones that watch the areas where you like to wait. Removing a single key ward can open up a whole side of the map for your hooks and ganks.

When you remove a ward, the enemy may notice. Some players replace it quickly. Others start playing safer. Either way, they now spend gold and attention on you.

How should Pudge buy wards?

If you play Pudge as a support, wards are part of your normal job. If you play another role, you may still buy a few for your own hooks. See what Pudge players buy by game phase to compare how wards fit with other purchases.

Talk with your team about who places wards and where. Two players warding the same spot wastes gold. Supports who know you want hook angles can place wards with you in mind. Read the guide to playing Pudge as a support if warding is your main job.

Checklist

• Ward the paths enemies use, not just open ground.
• Stand in fog near your ward, where the enemy cannot see you.
• Use trees and high ground to stay hidden while you wait.
• Throw blind hooks only when you have a strong reason to.
• Use Sentry Wards to remove the enemy wards that watch your hiding spots.
• Agree with your team on who places wards and where.