Some tips how to cancel pudge / be a better Pudge from a player with 630 Pudge games.
Hey all, just wanted to share some tips from a hardcore Pudge player - myself :)
First of all, here is the list of hard pudge counters in mid: Kunkka, Lanaya, Storm, Akasha, Timbersaw
--------------How to counter Pudge?---------------
*Shut him down early. Pudge is extremely potent hero from level 5-7 , if Pudge does not make anything happen during those levels its likely that he would not be efficient later, gain enough levels or gold making him useless as a successful hook would lead to Pudge's death anyways.
*Keep Pudge on defensive in mid lane, he should almost never be able to get more CS than the enemy, always hide behind creeps, dont risk hiding behind creeps that are about to die, as this is the best chance for Pudge to hook a good player, dont get too greedy and confident next to enemy tower as this would lead to a certain hook.
*Make sure you ward and dont allow Pudge to take any runes, as Invis or Haste rune = free kill for pudge, the other 2 would be situational. A smoke would counter the ward, but you should not allow him to get the rune anyway.
*Always report miss, and I mean if he is gone for 5 seconds, its likely that he is halfway to a gang or TP'ed to side for a kill.
*How to move and avoid a hook, well this is a hard one, just one tip, dont overjuke as the distance will close and pudge will be able to hook you easily from closer range or even ulti you before hook. If you get ultied before hook, make sure you move to either side straight after ulti ends, a hook will almost certainly miss if the pudge is less experienced.
*Salve works over Rot until level 3 I believe, you can use it and it wont get cancelled.
-------------How to make yourself a better Pudge----------------
I wont get into items here, i believe its personal preference.
*You should always try to control the creeps and make them stand on top of your cliff but not in range of your tower, this is useful for extra CS as well as a threat of a mortal hook to your tower , to do this :
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Make sure you block the initial creep wave as much as possible.
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Click an enemy hero, or a ranged creep, get all aggro from enemy creeps and pull them further back, this way they would be closer to you in a lane than your own creeps.
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If there are enemy creeps left and they are going towards your tower, tank them or juke them to a position where the tower wont hit them and your next wave would stop there.
-When you are closer to enemy tower, force an enemy to attack you so your creeps would go to tower range, this will make it harder for enemy to CS and make next wave to stop at your desired position.
*Playing against a ranged hero can be hard in mid, you can get a stout shield if you get harassed really heavy, it situational.
*Get smoke, I mean you should get it really early, like for your first moving out for gang, or even if you want to hook your mid rival from river, or side of their tower, or up from your cliff.
*When aiming for a hook, try to hook at the point when enemy hero is attacking for a creep kill, enemies would often move when not attacking and landing a hook can be tricky, but when they move into position for a creep kill, the small time window from when they stop and attack animation happens, could give you a good hook chance.
*Always move out for runes, even if you don't carry a bottle.
*When you are approaching for a gang by TP or foot, always keep your distance, you are most potent if you are not seen before you attempt to hook, this may mean to take odd gang routes or taking TP to a further away tower, you can also predict creep wave movement and move into a hook spot in the woods.
*In late game, when you should usually initiate fights, don't just hook anybody you can, you should only hook the preferred targets, as hooking someone else may just lead to a lost fight. Also if you have hooked someone you did not intend, walk, force staff or blink away before the fight begins, this may lead to overreaction from some enemies and good initiation.
*Do not over-roam, if you did not land a hook, just move back to your lane and come back other time, often waiting for another chance does not end well because you have been seen already and this leads to lack of farm and more important - level.
*This is situational, but playing Pudge i am buying dust, smoke and wards. It is crucial for your team to have map control so you could roam and gang properly.
*As a general tip, never rush your hook.
Sorry for poor formatting :)
Posted Jan 15, 2014, 8:40 AM UTC · edited