StrengthSince you last played
Meat Shield reworked in 7.36124 lines of changes across 46 patches, condensed below to the ones that still matter.
32 buffs and 27 nerfs in total: roughly even.
Biggest ability changes
- ▼Meat Shield Mana Cost increased from 50/60/70/80 to 65/70/75/80adjusted 6 times across 4 patches, net nerf
- ◆Dismember No longer has increased duration on creepsadjusted 8 times across 5 patches, roughly even
- ▲Flesh Heap Strength gain per stack increased from 1.6 to 2.0adjusted 22 times across 15 patches, net buff
- ◆Meat Hook Mana Cost increased from 110 to 120adjusted 17 times across 13 patches, roughly even
- ▼Rot No longer has a separate value for incoming heal reductionadjusted 5 times across 5 patches, net nerf
- ◆Rot Info Still reduces incoming heals due to Health Restoration changes
Innate
- ◆Flesh Heap Pudge permanently gains 1.4/1.6/1.8/2 Strength any time he kills an enemy hero or whenever an enemy hero dies within 450 radiusadjusted 2 times across 1 patch, roughly even
Aghanim’s upgrades
- ▼Shard No longer upgraded with Aghanim's Shardchanged 9 times, latest shown
- ▼Scepter Aghanim's Scepter instead of reducing Healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Lifesteal by 20%, now reduces Health Restoration by 20%changed 7 times, latest shown
Base stats
- ▲Base health regen increased from 1 to 2adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, net buff
- ◆Base Health Regen increased from 1.75 to 2.5adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
- ▲Base damage increased by 3adjusted 3 times across 3 patches, net buff
- ◆Base Agility increased from 11 to 13adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
- ◆Base armor reduced by 1adjusted 2 times across 2 patches, roughly even
- ▲Intelligence gain increased from 1.5 to 1.8
- ▼Strength gain reduced from 4 to 3.2
- ▲Attack range increased from 150 to 175
- ▲Base Intelligence increased by 2
- ▲Base Armor increased by 1
Talents changed
- ◆Lv10 talent Rot Slow decreased from +15% to +10%
- ◆Lv15 talent Meat Hook Damage increased from +140 to +150
- ◆Lv20 talent Dismember Duration decreased from +0.8 to +0.75
- ◆Lv25 talent Dismember Damage/Heal decreased from 1.8x to 1.5x
- ◆Talent spell lifesteal decreased from +10% to +8%
Facets were part of the game from 7.36 and were removed in 7.41. Pudge had 10 facet changes in between.
Most recent change patch 7.41d, Jun 2026
- ▲Base stats Base Agility increased from 11 to 13
Current abilities
Meat HookLaunches a bloody hook toward a unit or location. The hook will snag the first unit it encounters, dragging the unit back to Pudge, killing it if it's a non-ancient creep and dealing damage if it is an enemy otherwise.
RotA toxic cloud that deals intense damage and slows movement--harming not only enemy units but Pudge himself.
Meat ShieldPudge covers himself with a layer of flesh that blocks damage of any type taken from any source.
Flesh Heap innatePudge's skin thickens permanently every time he kills an enemy Hero, gaining 2 bonus Strength for each stack.
DismemberCHANNELED - Pudge chows down on an enemy unit, disabling it and dealing damage over time. Damage is increased by Pudge's Strength and heals him for the total amount. Pudge pulls the unit at a rate of 75 units, up to a minimum of 125 range.
What players buy on Pudge
Starting items
- Circlet 155g
- Magic Stick 200g
Early game
- Bracer 505g
- Phase Boots 1450g
Speed to get into fights quickly, plus attack damage while laning
- Tranquil Boots 900g
- Power Treads 1400g
Speed to get into fights quickly, plus attack damage while laning
Mid game
- Aghanim's Scepter 4200g
Debuff immunity, to act in a fight without being disabled
Late game
- Heart of Tarrasque 5300g
A big health pool and regeneration, which suits a Strength frontliner
- Boots of Travel 2500g
Most bought first, from item purchases in recent professional matches (OpenDota, Nov 2026). Public games can differ.