Pudge is the most picked hero in every bracket: 27.1% of Very High matches, 27.9% of High and 29.2% of Normal. He wins 50.5% / 50.8% / 51.8%. Meat Hook drags enemies to him, Rot damages and slows everyone around him, Meat Shield blocks damage, Flesh Heap adds strength with every kill and Dismember holds a target while he eats it. He is an early-game hero: his team gains more XP in 56.5% of games before minute 15, and he wins 59.6% of games under 25 minutes, 51.3% at 25–50 and 49.5% past 50.
Countered by SlardarSlardar loses the early game against Pudge: his team gains more XP in only 39.6% of games before minute 15, and he wins only 32.3% of the 499 games that end before 25 minutes. Pudge's hooks and Rot are at their strongest while Slardar has few levels.
Pudge's plan is to walk unseen, hook a target and hold it with Dismember. Corrosive Haze gives Slardar's team vision of Pudge and cuts his armor, so the big health pool from Flesh Heap melts under physical damage. Slithereen Crush stuns everyone around Slardar, which breaks Dismember's channel, and Bash of the Deep keeps stopping Pudge as he walks into Rot range. Guardian Sprint lets Slardar reach Pudge wherever he hides.
Slardar's team recovers to 46.9% of games ahead on XP at 15–35 minutes and 50.9% after. He wins 50% of 25–50 minute games (17,005 games) and 52.9% past 50 minutes (3,443 games). The edge is largest in High (+7.04), with +5.92 in Very High and only +2.47 in Normal. Slardar wins 50.5% / 51.4% / 49.2% (Very High / High / Normal) against Pudge, against his usual 48% / 48.7% / 49.7%. It is one of the best-measured counters in these guides, from 20,946 games.
Best teammate: MuertaThe pair starts ahead: their team gains more XP in 55.4% of games before minute 15. Dead Shot ricochets through enemies near a hooked target, and the target has nowhere to go.
Every Meat Hook ends next to two heroes who want a target held still. The Calling surrounds an area with revenants that slow enemies and silence them as they pass through, so a hooked hero can't cast a way out, and Dismember holds the target while Muerta shoots. Pierce the Veil makes Muerta ethereal with bonus damage, and enemies can't hit her back with attacks. The pair's XP-gain share dips to 48.2% between minutes 15 and 35.
After minute 35 the pair gains more XP in 53.8% of games. They win 51.8% of 25–50 minute games (5,675 games) and 52.7% past 50 minutes (1,443 games), above Pudge's own 51.3% and 49.5%, and 56.4% of the 172 games under 25 minutes. The pairing is strongest in Very High (+10.45), with +4.92 in High and +3.78 in Normal. The pair wins 53.8% / 50.8% / 51.8% (Very High / High / Normal), with Muerta normally at 48.1% / 47.5% / 48.1%.
Based on 2,111,000 public ranked matches of patch 7.41, played 30 September – 14 October 2026. Advantage is the win-rate difference from what the two heroes' own win rates predict, times two (+6 is about 3 win-rate points), weighted over the skill brackets. The live numbers on the Pudge page update every few hours. More guides: Dota 2 counter guides.
