Pudge in Dota: Overview & How to Play Pudge in Dota 2

Pudge is one of the most popular and iconic heroes in Dota 2. Players adore this hero for his adaptability to various in-game situations, truly powerful abilities, and almost limitless potential.

However, do you know how to play Pudge in Dota 2 to maximize your impact and lead your team to victory? This guide is here to help you become the true master of the Butcher in multiple roles.

Pudge Overview

The introduction of Pudge in Dota occurred after the release of the first custom Defense of the Ancients map in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. Even now, one glance at his old model is enough to recognize the Butcher. Impressively, Pudge has even managed to preserve his iconic abilities, such as Meat Hook, since those early days. With such a long-standing history, it’s no surprise that this hero has built a massive and devoted fan base.

Moreover, a significant contribution to Pudge’s popularity was made by Dendi (Valve even released a cosmetic item for the Butcher titled “Dendi Doll”). The pro player was almost undefeatable due to his mastery of this hero’s abilities, especially the Hook. Even now, many players remember Dendi’s impressive fountain hooking trick during The International 2013:

Another reason why many people opt for Pudge is his Flesh Heap ability, which allows the hero to become stronger even after reaching the maximum level. Thanks to this, the Butcher can easily withstand a lot of damage, making him a great counter-pick against Leshrac, Naga Siren, Broodmother, Slark, Phantom Lancer, and Death Prophet. Additionally, he can also withstand spells with periodic harm cast by heroes like Sand King, Viper, or Jakiro. Plus, the Butcher perfectly deals with the characters who have a low HP pool.

Nonetheless, Pudge does have weaknesses and can still be defeated by heroes with high attack speed and significant damage. Thus, it’s better not to pick him against counters like Ursa, Slardar, Morphling, Timbersaw, Anti-Mage, and Lifestealer.

Thanks to the adaptability of the character’s skills, you can play as an offlaner, a support, and even a carry. However, you need to consider other characters in your team to ensure that the role you choose perfectly aligns with your general strategy. In some cases, you may try to combine two roles, but if you lack experience in playing Pudge, it’s better to avoid this tactic as it can be quite challenging for you.

Pudge as Offlaner in Dota 2

Many players often choose Pudge in Dota 2 as an offlaner. This role demands excellent map control as you must constantly monitor the in-game situation to determine where you can assist your teammates. Here, we have some tips that will help you roam around the lanes.

Early Game

Even before the creeps reach the first tower, you can use his Hook to catch one of the enemy heroes while fighting for runes, setting your team up for First Blood. After that, Pudge usually goes to the Hard Lane, where he starts harassing hostile support and preventing their carry from farming.

Alternatively, it’s a good idea to stay near your Midder at the beginning of the Early Game. Thus, you can use your Hook to catch the enemy and kill him together with your ally and creeps.

Of course, you should remember to rotate between lanes from time to time while playing as an offlaner. Consider that once enemies spot you, they’ll be more careful, expecting your Hook from behind the trees.

When it comes to choosing the items, don’t hesitate to purchase Town Portal Scrolls and Wind Lace to improve your mobility. You can opt for three Iron Branches, Faerie Fire, and Tangoes to ensure an active game from the beginning of the match.

Mid & Late Game

As the match enters the Mid-Game phase, you’ll need to stick together with your teammates to defend your lanes and ambush your enemies successfully. Considering Pudge’s impressive HP pool, you’ll be able to withstand significant damage caused by enemy heroes while your carry will be eliminating them.

During this stage, you should opt for must-have offlaner items like Aghanim’s Scepter and Blink Dagger to increase ambushing and escaping potential. Also, it’ll be a good idea to purchase Heart of Tarrasque and Shiva’s Guard to boost your survivability.

Pudge Offlaner’s Ability Breakdown

Mastering Pudge skills is a challenging task, but they allow this hero to be almost an ideal offlaner. Check the table below to discover how his abilities can help you ambush the enemies.

Icon	Ability	Usage for Offlane Role
	Meat Hook	This is your top ability as an offlaner, as it allows you to unexpectedly grab the enemies. It’s better to use Hook while standing near your allies and towers. Also, this skill can help you prevent an opponent from escaping.
	Rot	Once you catch an enemy, activate Rot to cause extra damage and reduce their speed, preventing them from running away. Also, this ability is ideal for finishing off targets or clearing illusions.
	Flesh Heap	Flesh Heap doesn’t provide any obvious benefits for the offlaner’s role. Nonetheless, it’s still great to get extra Strength points and a damage barrier during the Mid and Late Game stages.
	Dismember	Once you gain the sixth level, you’ll be able to use the ultimate combination: Rot+Hook+Dismember, which guarantees you almost instant kill of the heroes with a low HP pool.

Recommended Skill Build for Pudge Offlaner

Now, it’s time for some Pudge tips to consider while leveling up your hero. The ability to attack an enemy unexpectedly is essential for an offlaner. Thus, on level one, you need to choose Hook, which also provides the character with 150 pure damage.

After that, focus on maxing Rot and ultimate ability (after the sixth level). Once you finish improving Rot, start leveling Flesh Heap to increase your strength, eventually expanding your HP pool and damage caused by Dismember. Finally, continue maxing Hook after the improvement of all other abilities.

Pudge Carry

Of course, no guide would be complete without the discussion of the popular carry build for Pudge. However, consider that taking this role is recommended only for experienced players who can perfectly throw hooks and efficiently farm creeps.

Early Game

During the Early Game, it’s best to pair Butcher’s abilities (Hook and Rot) with a support who can slow down or stun enemies—heroes like Lion, Jakiro, or Crystal Maiden are excellent choices. Alternatively, you can opt for a crazy Pudge+Techies combo, which is extremely efficient in the Early Game.

When choosing the starting Dota 2 Pudge items, consider purchasing a pair of Iron Branches, Tango, Quelling Blade, Mango, and a Ring of Protection. Alternatively, you can purchase Magic Stick if you stand against the heroes who spam their spells (such as Zeus).

Focus on farming and killing the enemies on your lane to get Vanguard ASAP. This item will allow you to farm creeps in the jungle without losing a significant amount of health. After that, focus on buying Phase Boots to increase mobility and compensate for the lack of armor. Optionally, you can also upgrade Magic Stick to Magic Wand and purchase Soul Ring if you have problems with mana supply.

Mid Game

Acquiring Aghanim’s Scepter should be your top priority during the Mid Game. Ideally, you need to craft it before the 17th minute. Once completed, enhance your effectiveness further with Black King Bar and Blink Dagger, turning Pudge into a devastating machine able to appear from nowhere just to make an instant kill.

Late Game

First of all, consider that the Butcher is a tempo hero, which means he loses his potential as the match progresses into the Late Game stage. Thus, it’s better to attack your enemies’ base ASAP.

However, if it has still happened that you’ve entered this phase of the game, buy Shiva Guard and improve Blink Dagger to Overwhelming Blink. It’ll significantly increase Pudge’s strength, armor, and magic damage. Depending on the heroes in the enemy team, you can also purchase Heart of Tarrasque, Lotus Orb, Blade Mail, Eternal Shroud, or Crimson Guard.

Pudge Carry Ability Breakdown

If you play Dota 2 Pudge in the carry role, you should be ready for extreme pressure during the teamfights as you’ll be your enemies’ primary target. Thus, it’s essential to utilize all your abilities effectively.

Icon	Ability	Usage for Carry Role
	Meat Hook	Don’t hesitate to use Hook even when the enemy stands directly near you, as it’ll immediately cause 500 pure damage (with maximum level + Level 15 talent).
	Rot	Rot is your main ability, as it allows you to cause significant damage to multiple heroes simultaneously. Always keep it on in fights and when farming.
	Flesh Heap	Considering that you’ll always be in the center of the battles, you may get a lot of extra Strength points, significantly increasing your HP pool and improving the efficiency of the Dismember ability.
	Dismember	When you fight against several enemies, use Dismember to disable the weakest opponent, causing them damage and healing yourself.

Recommended Skill Build for Pudge Carry

Skill building for a carry role is similar to the one for an offlaner described in our Pudge guide. However, it's better to level Rot right after maximizing Hook, as it’ll significantly increase your damage. Flesh Heap and Dismember will be your last skills to improve.

Pudge Support

Butcher is also a great pick for position four (soft support). Although Dota 2 Pudge gameplay in this role is slightly boring, it’s highly recommended for new players who have just started exploring in-game mechanics.

Early Game

Purchase Tango, Magic Stick, and Wind Lace, and focus on crafting Tranquil Boots. Also, don’t spare money and buy a couple of Sentries to block enemy vision on your lane. During this stage, focus on aggressively harassing the carry from the opposite team by using your Hook and Root to create pressure and disrupt their farm.

Mid & Late Game

Since you won’t have the gold for the purchase of expensive artifacts, opt for budget-friendly but impactful choices, such as the Aether Lens and the Rod of Atos. Plus, it’s essential for support to obtain an Aghanim’s Shard. If you still manage to farm some extra gold, it’ll be a good idea to buy Blink Dagger and Scythe of Vyse for better initiation and crowd control.

Pudge Support Ability Breakdown

Dota 2 Pudge build for position four includes the Eject ability, which becomes available after the purchase of Aghanim’s Shard. Meanwhile, there are some ways to use his usual skills to protect the allies.

Icon	Ability	Usage for Support Role
	Meat Hook	This ability is ideal when your teammate is ambushed, as you can use Hook to grab your ally away from the group of enemies.
	Rot	When you see your opponents chasing your Carry or Midlaner, move in closer to them and activate Rot to slow them down and disrupt their advance.
	Flesh Heap	Thanks to his large HP pool, Pudge is a perfect hero for taking damage while destroying enemy towers or during the teamfights.
	Eject	Allows you to swallow an ally, healing them for 5% of their maximum health per second — a powerful tool for saving teammates in critical moments.
	Dismember	It’s a great idea to use your ultimate during the teamfights to disable high-priority enemy heroes, giving your team the opportunity to eliminate weaker targets first.

Recommended Skill Build for Pudge Support

Dota 2 Pudge skills can surely stand you in good stead for supporting your team. A well-executed Hook+Eject combo, enhanced with Blink Dagger and Aether Lens, allows you to save an ally and turn the tide of any fight. Plus, considering the potential of the first skill, it’s a wise decision to select it at the beginning of the match. At the same time, you should focus on maxing your Rot, Hook, and Dismember, and only after that, continue leveling Flesh Heap.

Conclusion

By following the strategies outlined in our Dota 2 Pudge guide, you’ll steadily improve your in-game performance and overall effectiveness with the Butcher. Keep in mind, however, that mastering Meat Hook takes time and dedication. For practice, consider honing your aim in custom maps, such as Pudge Wars. Train hard with enough perseverance, and one day, you just might reach the legendary level of a pro player like Dendi.