Pugna · Soft Support (pos. 4)
Pugna Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Pugna is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Nuker and Pusher. It is played mainly as Soft Support (pos. 4): 43% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Soft Support (pos. 4): your job is to help your offlaner win the hard lane, rotate for kills and make space with your spells. The kit brings crowd control (disable) with Decrepify and sustain with Decrepify. Its ultimate is Life Drain. This patch, Pugna wins 50.5% of the 149,812 public matches we measured (B tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable disable: Decrepify sets up kills.
- Keeps allies alive with Decrepify.
- Long attack range (630) to harass and last hit safely.
- Takes towers quickly: Valve lists it as a Pusher.
Weaknesses
- No escape in the kit: without good positioning and vision, Pugna is easy to catch.
- Low base armor (0): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- Plays on little gold: expensive items arrive late.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Meteor Hammer and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Survival buildDefensiveSituationalPrioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Glimmer Cape and Force Staff. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Glimmer Cape and Aether Lens. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
321%236%144%- OfflaneMain44% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 236% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- MidPriority 321% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Glimmer Cape
- 2Aether Lens
- 3Force Staff
- 4Aghanim's Shard
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Nether Blast›Nether Ward›Decrepify
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- +1.9 Nether Ward Damage Per Mana+200 Nether Blast Damage25
- +1.5s Decrepify Duration+15% Life Drain Heal20
- +250 Health+30% Decrepify Movement Speed To Allies15
- -1s Nether Blast Cooldown+2 Nether Ward Health10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Meteor Hammer and Vladmir's Offering — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
321%236%144%- OfflaneMain44% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 236% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- MidPriority 321% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Meteor Hammer+6 Strength, +6 Agility, +24 Intelligence. Active: Meteor Hammer.
- 2Vladmir's Offering+1 Armor, +0.75 Mana Regeneration.
- 3Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 4Aether Lens+300 Mana, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +225 Cast Range.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Nether Blast›Nether Ward›Decrepify
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- +1.9 Nether Ward Damage Per Mana+200 Nether Blast Damage25
- +1.5s Decrepify Duration+15% Life Drain Heal20
- +250 Health+30% Decrepify Movement Speed To Allies15
- -1s Nether Blast Cooldown+2 Nether Ward Health10
Survival build
When to use it
Prioritises the popular items that keep you alive — Glimmer Cape and Force Staff. Choose it against heavy disables or burst, or when you are the enemy's focus. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
321%236%144%- OfflaneMain44% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 236% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- MidPriority 321% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 2Force Staff+10 Intelligence, +175 Health. Active: Force.
- 3Kaya and Sange+16 Strength, +16 Intelligence, +25% Slow Resistance.
- 4Solar Crest+7 Armor, +25 Movement Speed, +200 Mana. Active: Shine.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Nether Blast›Nether Ward›Decrepify
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- +1.9 Nether Ward Damage Per Mana+200 Nether Blast Damage25
- +1.5s Decrepify Duration+15% Life Drain Heal20
- +250 Health+30% Decrepify Movement Speed To Allies15
- -1s Nether Blast Cooldown+2 Nether Ward Health10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Glimmer Cape and Aether Lens. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Pugna players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
321%236%144%- OfflaneMain44% of matchesOff lane next to your offlaner, as Soft Support (pos. 4).
- Safe lanePriority 236% of matchesSafe lane next to your carry, as Hard Support (pos. 5).
- MidPriority 321% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
- 2Aether Lens+300 Mana, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +225 Cast Range.
- 3Solar Crest+7 Armor, +25 Movement Speed, +200 Mana. Active: Shine.
- 4Pavise+3 Armor, +175 Mana, +175 Health. Active: Protect.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Nether Blast›Nether Ward›Decrepify
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- +1.9 Nether Ward Damage Per Mana+200 Nether Blast Damage25
- +1.5s Decrepify Duration+15% Life Drain Heal20
- +250 Health+30% Decrepify Movement Speed To Allies15
- -1s Nether Blast Cooldown+2 Nether Ward Health10
Abilities
- Nether Blast5s100 / 115 / 130 / 145 mpAn exploding pulse deals damage to enemies and structures in the area. Deals 65% damage to structures.
- Blast delay
- 0.8
- Radius
- 400
- Blast damage
- 95·170·245·320
- Decrepify16 / 13 / 10 / 7s80 mpA powerful banishing spell that slows a unit and renders it unable to attack or be attacked. Healing on affected allies is increased, while afflicted enemies take extra magic damage instead.
- Ally heal amplification
- 10%·15%·20%·25%
- Enemy increased magic damage
- -20%·-30%·-40%·-50%
- Enemy move slow
- -45%·-50%·-55%·-60%
- Duration
- 3.5
- Nether Ward40s80 mpPugna places a Nether Ward at the target location. The ward will fire at any enemy hero who casts a spell dealing base damage plus the damage multiplier of the mana spent by the enemy hero.
- Ward attack range
- 1400
- Base damage
- 50·70·90·110
- Damage per mana
- 1·1.2·1.4·1.6
- Damage to hp
- 0%
- Damage to mana
- 0%
- Attacks to destroy
- 4
Oblivion SavantPassivePugna can cast spells and use items while channeling.
Pugna receives 1.5% spell amplification per destroyed tower.- Life Drain7s115 / 160 / 205 mpCHANNELED - When cast on an enemy, Pugna drains health from the target enemy unit to heal himself and granting vision over the target.
When cast on an ally, Pugna will drain his own health into his ally.
- Enemy drain per second
- 150·250·350
- Ally drain/heal per second
- 150·250·350
- Max duration
- 10
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 16 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Nether Blast›Nether Ward›Decrepify
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Position 4 starts in the off lane with your offlaner: harass the enemy carry, block or pull their camp when it helps and look for the first rotation to mid once the runes spawn. Harass when the enemy core walks up to last hit: every hit you land is gold your carry keeps.
- Early items: Null Talisman and Bottle.
2Mid game
Rotate to the lanes where you can get kills, smoke with your cores to catch heroes out of position and keep vision around the next objective. Your spikes are level 6, when Life Drain comes online, and your core items: Glimmer Cape and then Aether Lens.
- Core items: Glimmer Cape, Aether Lens and Force Staff.
3Late game
Late, your death costs little gold but your spells are worth a lot: stay behind the team, keep your save items ready and ward before the fight, not during it.
- Late items: Blink Dagger and Aeon Disk.
4Team fights
Stay behind your cores, use Decrepify on whoever jumps on your carry and keep Decrepify for the moment the enemy commits. Use Life Drain where it hits the most enemies or catches the key target.
Tips
- Land Decrepify on the enemy core first: a disabled carry doesn't hit back.
- Keep Decrepify for the moment the enemy commits, not to top up health.
- Buy and place wards every time they are available: vision is your first job.
- Your key purchases are Glimmer Cape and Aether Lens: they give your team the saves it needs.
- Plan fights around Life Drain: without it, Pugna is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
- Queen of Pain59.6%win rate in the matchup
Pugna wins 59.6% of the 104 games measured against Queen of Pain this patch.
104 matches
- Dragon Knight59.2%win rate in the matchup
Pugna wins 59.2% of the 120 games measured against Dragon Knight this patch.
120 matches
- Mars56.5%win rate in the matchup
Pugna wins 56.5% of the 124 games measured against Mars this patch.
124 matches
- Tusk56.2%win rate in the matchup
Pugna wins 56.2% of the 130 games measured against Tusk this patch.
130 matches
- Timbersaw51.2%win rate in the matchup
Pugna wins 51.2% of the 127 games measured against Timbersaw this patch.
127 matches
Weak against
- Primal Beast39.4%win rate in the matchup
Pugna only wins 39.4% of the 66 games measured against Primal Beast this patch.
66 matches
- Nature's Prophet41.9%win rate in the matchup
Pugna only wins 41.9% of the 86 games measured against Nature's Prophet this patch.
86 matches
- Shadow Fiend42.1%win rate in the matchup
Pugna only wins 42.1% of the 114 games measured against Shadow Fiend this patch.
114 matches
- Centaur Warrunner42.2%win rate in the matchup
Pugna only wins 42.2% of the 83 games measured against Centaur Warrunner this patch.
83 matches
- Rubick42.7%win rate in the matchup
Pugna only wins 42.7% of the 82 games measured against Rubick this patch.
82 matches
Works well with
Decrepify from Pugna keeps Terrorblade alive, and Terrorblade is the damage the team needs to protect.
Decrepify from Pugna keeps Abaddon alive, and Abaddon is the damage the team needs to protect.
Decrepify from Pugna keeps Monkey King alive, and Monkey King is the damage the team needs to protect.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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