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Pudge build, counters and guide for Dota 2 7.41
Pudge wins 50.2% of its 168,962 Divine+ games on patch 7.41f (games from 2026-09-15 to 2026-10-30). Pudge is played as Soft support (pos 4) in 41% of its 473 Divine+ games with a recorded position, and as Hard support (pos 5) in 26%. Below: starting items, the item build and when its core items come, counters and lane notes – measured from recent pro and Divine+ games and rebuilt as the patch and the meta move.
Data through 2026-10-31 · patch 7.41f · page updated 2026-11-01
Pudge at a glance
| Divine+ win rate | 50.2% over 168,962 games |
|---|---|
| Main position | Soft support (pos 4), Hard support (pos 5), Offlane (pos 3) |
| Primary attribute | Strength |
| Attack type | Melee |
| Roles | Disabler, Initiator, Durable, Nuker |
Pudge abilities
The spells on the hero's ability bar and its innate ability, as the game lists them.
Which position Pudge is played in
| Position | Share of Divine+ games | Divine+ tier | Pro tier · picked / banned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry (pos 1) | 4% | – | – |
| Mid (pos 2) | 9% | – | – |
| Offlane (pos 3) | 20% | – | D · picked 2%, banned 2% |
| Soft support (pos 4) | 41% | A | B · picked 2%, banned 2% |
| Hard support (pos 5) | 26% | A | – |
Share of the 473 Divine+ games with a recorded position (patch 7.41f). Tiers are this patch's tier list at that position, from Divine+ and pro games.
Pudge starting items
The most common whole starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players at each position, with the newest games counted most.
Soft support (pos 4)
×2
Brought whole by 7% of the 3,209 players counted at this position.
Hard support (pos 5)
- ×2
Brought whole by 4% of the 2,188 players counted at this position.
Offlane (pos 3)
×2
Brought whole by 4% of the 2,253 players counted at this position.
Pudge item build
The items that Divine+ and pro players of this hero complete most often at each position, with the share of games that finished each one.
Soft support (pos 4)
Divine+ players
81%
76%
49%
34%
22%
17%
15%
15%
196 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
- 69%
- 68%
- 56%
47%- 36%
- 35%
26%- 23%
26 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
Hard support (pos 5)
Divine+ players
- 83%
- 81%
- 49%
- 34%
- 34%
16%- 12%
- 12%
121 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
- 58%
- 53%
- 45%
- 40%
- 33%
- 22%
20%
20%
12 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
Offlane (pos 3)
Divine+ players
90%- 81%
- 72%
- 69%
67%- 45%
34%- 18%
93 Divine+ games at this position.
Pro games
- 90%
- 83%
- 83%
- 77%
- 75%
- 51%
30%- 28%
30 pro games on this patch at this position, the newest counted most.
When Pudge finishes core items
The game minute at which Divine+ players complete each key item: the median, and the range the middle half of them fall in.
Soft support (pos 4)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blink Dagger | 18:26 | 15:15–22:02 | 158 |
| Aether Lens | 23:41 | 17:50–27:44 | 66 |
| Glimmer Cape | 24:16 | 21:08–27:54 | 44 |
Hard support (pos 5)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blink Dagger | 19:11 | 15:37–23:43 | 98 |
| Glimmer Cape | 24:16 | 22:01–29:24 | 41 |
| Aether Lens | 25:25 | 19:48–31:15 | 41 |
Offlane (pos 3)
| Item | Median | Middle half | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blink Dagger | 14:37 | 12:28–21:33 | 75 |
| Aghanim's Scepter | 21:40 | 18:24–24:59 | 62 |
| Black King Bar | 28:44 | 27:01–32:43 | 42 |
| Shiva's Guard | 33:47 | 29:16–39:08 | 32 |
Pudge counters and matchups
From the Divine+ draft tables the coach drafts with: each number is how many points of win chance the matchup moves when the two heroes meet, with both heroes' own win rates taken out. Only matchups that clearly stand out are listed.
Heroes that are hard on Pudge
Heroes Pudge is strong against
Laning against Pudge
- At level 3, Pudge deals about 607 damage to a typical laner in 8 seconds of fighting, mostly through spell burst – more than 120 of the other 126 heroes (items not counted).
- Pudge: stand behind your creeps to block his hook.
Quick answers about Pudge
What is the best item build for Pudge?
Divine+ players at Soft support (pos 4) most often finish Blink Dagger, Tranquil Boots, Magic Wand, Aether Lens.
What starting items should I buy on Pudge?
At Soft support (pos 4) the most common starting basket of recent pro and Divine+ players is Blood Grenade, Boots of Speed, Observer and Sentry Wards.
Who counters Pudge?
In Divine+ drafts Pudge struggles most against Pangolier, Chaos Knight, Bristleback.
Which position is Pudge played in?
Mostly Soft support (pos 4): 41% of its Divine+ games with a recorded position.
Play Pudge with a live coach in your ear
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