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Pudge

Pudge

StrengthMeleeDisabler, Initiator, Durable, Nuker

Hero Guides

Different item routes for common ways to play this hero.

Standard build

The safest route from lane to late game using the most common items.

Balanced

Starting Items

Iron Branch
Iron Branch55g
Observer Ward
Observer Ward
Tango
Tango90g
Observer and Sentry Wards
Observer and Sentry Wards50g

Early Game

Boots of Speed
Boots of Speed500g
Bracer
Bracer505g
Chainmail
Chainmail500g
Phase Boots
Phase Boots1,450g

Mid Game

Blink Dagger
Blink Dagger2,250g
Aghanim's Scepter
Aghanim's Scepter4,200g
Consecrated Wraps
Consecrated Wraps2,600g
Aether Lens
Aether Lens2,275g

Late Game

Shiva's Guard
Shiva's Guard4,500g
Reaver
Reaver2,800g
Blink Dagger
Blink Dagger2,250g
Black King Bar
Black King Bar4,050g

Tempo build

Cheaper early and mid game items when you want to fight sooner.

Fast

Early Game

Boots of Speed
Boots of Speed500g
Bracer
Bracer505g
Chainmail
Chainmail500g
Phase Boots
Phase Boots1,450g
Tranquil Boots
Tranquil Boots900g
Bottle
Bottle675g

Mid Game

Staff of Wizardry
Staff of Wizardry1,000g
Blade of Alacrity
Blade of Alacrity1,000g
Blink Dagger
Blink Dagger2,250g
Ogre Axe
Ogre Axe1,000g
Point Booster
Point Booster1,200g
Vitality Booster
Vitality Booster1,000g

Scaling build

Bigger mid and late game items when the match is likely to go long.

Greedy

Mid Game

Aghanim's Scepter
Aghanim's Scepter4,200g
Consecrated Wraps
Consecrated Wraps2,600g
Shiva's Guard
Shiva's Guard4,500g
Eul's Scepter of Divinity
Eul's Scepter of Divinity2,600g
Black King Bar
Black King Bar4,050g

Late Game

Shiva's Guard
Shiva's Guard4,500g
Reaver
Reaver2,800g
Black King Bar
Black King Bar4,050g
Soul Booster
Soul Booster3,000g
Heart of Tarrasque
Heart of Tarrasque5,100g

Situational options

Alternative common pickups to consider when the game calls for it.

Flex

Mid Game

Consecrated Wraps
Consecrated Wraps2,600g
Aether Lens
Aether Lens2,275g

Late Game

Blink Dagger
Blink Dagger2,250g
Black King Bar
Black King Bar4,050g

Item Builds

Based on real match data from OpenDota. Sorted by popularity.

Starting Items

Iron Branch
Iron Branch55g
Observer Ward
Observer Ward
Tango
Tango90g
Observer and Sentry Wards
Observer and Sentry Wards50g
Gauntlets of Strength
Gauntlets of Strength140g
Blood Grenade
Blood Grenade50g
Boots of Speed
Boots of Speed500g
Sentry Ward
Sentry Ward50g

Early Game

Boots of Speed
Boots of Speed500g
Bracer
Bracer505g
Chainmail
Chainmail500g
Phase Boots
Phase Boots1,450g
Tranquil Boots
Tranquil Boots900g
Bottle
Bottle675g
Ogre Axe
Ogre Axe1,000g
Point Booster
Point Booster1,200g

Mid Game

Staff of Wizardry
Staff of Wizardry1,000g
Blade of Alacrity
Blade of Alacrity1,000g
Blink Dagger
Blink Dagger2,250g
Aghanim's Scepter
Aghanim's Scepter4,200g
Ogre Axe
Ogre Axe1,000g
Point Booster
Point Booster1,200g
Vitality Booster
Vitality Booster1,000g
Consecrated Wraps
Consecrated Wraps2,600g

Late Game

Shiva's Guard
Shiva's Guard4,500g
Reaver
Reaver2,800g
Blink Dagger
Blink Dagger2,250g
Black King Bar
Black King Bar4,050g
Soul Booster
Soul Booster3,000g
Heart of Tarrasque
Heart of Tarrasque5,100g
Aghanim's Scepter
Aghanim's Scepter4,200g
Bloodstone
Bloodstone4,700g