Pugna Dota 2: A Guide to Winning with the Nether Mage

One of Pugna’s most notable abilities is Nether Blast, which allows him to send out a wave of energy that damages enemies and structures in the area. This makes him a powerful hero for pushing down enemy towers and objectives. Pugna’s other abilities include Decrepify, which can be used to slow down enemy heroes and amplify the damage they take, and Life Drain, which allows him to drain the life from enemy heroes and heal himself.

Pugna can be a challenging hero to play due to his low health pool and lack of mobility. However, in the hands of a skilled player, he can be a force to be reckoned with. Whether you’re a seasoned Dota 2 player or just starting out, Pugna is a hero worth considering for your next match.

Pugna’s Origin

Creation

Pugna is a hero in the game Dota 2. He was created by the game developers Valve Corporation and was first introduced in the game on September 23, 2011. Pugna is classified as an intelligence hero and is known for his ability to deal magical damage and drain his enemies’ mana. He is also capable of pushing towers with his ultimate ability, which deals damage to enemy structures.

Backstory

According to Pugna’s lore, he was born in the realm near the vents of the Nether Reaches. In this realm, there existed a lamasery that was focused on the Arts of Oblivion. This lamasery drew its power from the nether energies. The Grandmaster of the lamasery had passed into Oblivion several years prior, leaving the academy without a leader.

Pugna was a student at the lamasery and was known for his exceptional abilities in the Arts of Oblivion. He was also known for his mischievous behavior, which often got him into trouble with the other students and teachers. Despite this, Pugna was highly respected for his abilities.

One day, Pugna stumbled upon a wand and an amulet that were imbued with nether energies. He quickly realized the power that these artifacts held and claimed them for himself. The other students and teachers were in awe of Pugna’s newfound power and quickly made him their leader. Pugna then set out to conquer the world with his newfound powers.

In conclusion, Pugna is a hero in Dota 2 who was created by Valve Corporation. He is known for his abilities to deal magical damage and drain his enemies’ mana. Pugna’s backstory tells the tale of his rise to power after discovering powerful artifacts imbued with nether energies.

Pugna’s Abilities

Nether Blast

Nether Blast is a point-targeted ability that deals magical damage to enemies and structures in the area. The damage is delayed by 0.8 seconds and deals half damage to structures. This ability has a radius of 400 and deals 100 / 180 / 260 / 340 damage.

Decrepify

Decrepify is a unit-targeted ability that applies a strong dispel to the target, removing most negative debuffs. It also slows the target’s movement speed by 50% and increases the magical damage they take by 40% for 3.5 seconds. This ability has a cast range of 700 and a cooldown of 12 seconds.

Nether Ward

Nether Ward is a unit-targeted ability that creates a ward that lasts for 25 seconds. The ward has a 1600 radius and deals damage to enemy heroes and creeps within its range whenever they cast a spell. The damage dealt is equal to 1.25 / 1.5 / 1.75 / 2.0 times the mana spent by the enemy hero or creep. The ward has 75 / 200 / 325 / 450 health and can be destroyed by enemy attacks.

Life Drain

Life Drain is a unit-targeted ability that drains the life of the target enemy hero or creep, healing Pugna and dealing damage to the target. The amount of health drained and damage dealt depends on the level of the ability and the target’s maximum health. This ability has a cast range of 900 and a cooldown of 22 / 18 / 14 seconds.

Pugna’s abilities allow him to deal magical damage to enemies and structures, slow and amplify the damage taken by enemies, create a ward that punishes enemy spellcasting, and drain the life of enemies to heal himself. These abilities make Pugna a versatile hero who can deal damage, control the battlefield, and sustain himself in fights.

Gameplay Strategy

Pugna is a versatile hero that can be played in different roles, including mid lane, support, and offlane. In general, Pugna is a hero that excels at pushing, countering magic, and dealing damage. Here are some tips on how to play Pugna effectively in different stages of the game.

Early Game

In the early game, Pugna’s main goal is to secure farm and experience while also harassing the enemy laner. Pugna’s Nether Blast is an excellent tool for both farming and harassing, as it deals AoE damage and has a low cooldown. Pugna should use Nether Blast to clear creep waves and deny the enemy laner’s last hits. Pugna should also use Decrepify to amplify the damage of Nether Blast and to slow down the enemy laner.

Pugna should also invest in a Magic Stick or Magic Wand to sustain his mana and health. Pugna is a hero that relies heavily on his mana pool, and a Magic Stick or Magic Wand can provide him with the necessary burst of mana to use his spells effectively.

Mid Game

In the mid game, Pugna should focus on pushing and taking objectives. Pugna’s Nether Blast can deal significant damage to towers and buildings, making him an excellent pusher. Pugna should also use his Nether Ward to counter the enemy’s spells and to force them to be more cautious when casting spells.

Pugna should also consider building items that can enhance his pushing capabilities, such as Necronomicon, Mekansm, and Pipe of Insight. These items can provide Pugna with the necessary sustain and push power to take down towers and objectives.

Late Game

In the late game, Pugna should continue to push and take objectives, but he should also focus on dealing damage and countering the enemy’s spells. Pugna’s Life Drain can deal significant damage to enemy heroes and can also provide Pugna with the necessary sustain to survive team fights.

Pugna should also invest in items that can enhance his damage output, such as Aghanim’s Scepter, Dagon, and Ethereal Blade. These items can provide Pugna with the necessary burst damage to take down enemy heroes quickly.

Overall, Pugna is a hero that requires a good understanding of his spells and playstyle to be effective. By following these tips, players can maximize Pugna’s potential and dominate their opponents.

Pugna’s Role in a Team

Pugna is a versatile hero in Dota 2, capable of fulfilling multiple roles in a team. His unique set of abilities makes him a valuable asset in any lineup. Pugna’s primary role is to push lanes and take down enemy towers, but he also excels at nuking down enemy heroes and providing support to his allies.

Pusher

Pugna is one of the best pushers in the game, thanks to his ability to quickly clear creep waves and deal significant damage to towers. His Nether Blast ability deals damage to all enemies and structures in an area, making it an effective tool for taking down towers and pushing lanes. Pugna can also use Decrepify to increase the damage dealt by allied heroes to structures, further enhancing his pushing potential.

Nuker

Pugna’s abilities make him a potent nuker, capable of dealing massive amounts of damage to enemy heroes. Nether Blast deals a significant amount of damage in an area, while his ultimate ability, Life Drain, drains health from an enemy hero and deals damage over time. Pugna can also use Decrepify to increase the damage dealt by his other abilities, making him a deadly threat to any enemy hero.

Support

Pugna can also provide support to his allies, thanks to his abilities. Decrepify can be used to save an ally from an enemy attack, while Nether Ward can be used to drain the mana of enemy heroes and disrupt their ability usage. Pugna’s ultimate ability, Life Drain, can also be used to heal an ally hero, making him a valuable support hero in any lineup.

Overall, Pugna is a versatile hero that can fulfill multiple roles in a team. His ability to push lanes, nuke down enemy heroes, and provide support to his allies makes him a valuable asset in any lineup.

Item Recommendations

Starting Items

When playing Pugna, it is recommended to start with a set of tangos, a healing salve, and two iron branches. This will provide Pugna with enough regen to sustain in the lane and the iron branches will give him some extra stats. Another option is to start with a Null Talisman instead of one of the iron branches, which will give Pugna more damage and mana.

Core Items

Pugna’s core items include Arcane Boots, Aghanim’s Scepter, and Dagon. Arcane Boots will provide him with the mana he needs to spam his spells, while Aghanim’s Scepter will increase his ultimate’s range and decrease its cooldown. Dagon is a good item for Pugna because it allows him to burst down enemy heroes quickly. Other core items that can be considered are Veil of Discord, Scythe of Vyse, and Eul’s Scepter of Divinity.

Situational Items

Situational items for Pugna include Force Staff, Glimmer Cape, and Ghost Scepter. Force Staff can be used to help Pugna and his allies escape or to initiate a fight. Glimmer Cape can be used to protect Pugna from magic damage or to help him initiate a fight. Ghost Scepter can be used to protect Pugna from physical damage. Other situational items that can be considered are Pipe of Insight, Lotus Orb, and Shiva’s Guard.

Overall, Pugna is a versatile hero that can be built in many different ways depending on the situation. It is important to keep in mind that Pugna is a fragile hero and should be played carefully in team fights.

Countering Pugna

Pugna can be a challenging hero to deal with, but there are ways to counter him effectively. In this section, we’ll discuss some of the heroes and items that can be used to counter Pugna in Dota 2.

Effective Heroes Against Pugna

There are several heroes that can be effective against Pugna in Dota 2. These heroes have abilities that can either disable or silence Pugna, or have high magic resistance to mitigate his damage output.

• Anti-Mage: Anti-Mage is a natural counter to Pugna due to his high magic resistance and ability to blink out of danger. He can also burn Pugna’s mana with his Mana Break ability, making it harder for him to cast spells.
• Silencer: Silencer’s abilities can silence Pugna for a long duration, preventing him from casting spells. He can also steal intelligence from Pugna with his Glaives of Wisdom ability, reducing his damage output.
• Huskar: Huskar has high magic resistance and can deal significant damage to Pugna with his Burning Spears ability. He can also jump on Pugna with his Life Break ability, dealing damage based on Pugna’s current health.

Item Counters

In addition to heroes, there are several items that can be used to counter Pugna in Dota 2. These items either provide magic resistance, or allow heroes to escape from Pugna’s abilities.

• Black King Bar: Black King Bar provides magic immunity for a short duration, making it harder for Pugna to deal damage with his spells.
• Pipe of Insight: Pipe of Insight provides a shield that can block a significant amount of magic damage, making it a useful item against Pugna.
• Force Staff: Force Staff can be used to push heroes out of Pugna’s Nether Ward range, allowing them to cast spells without taking damage.

By using the right heroes and items, it’s possible to counter Pugna effectively in Dota 2. Keep in mind that Pugna is a versatile hero, and can still be effective even when countered.

Tips and Tricks

Ability Combos

Pugna is a versatile hero that can be played as a support or a core. He has a unique set of abilities that can be used in various ways to control the battlefield. Here are some ability combos that can be used to maximize Pugna’s potential:

• Nether Blast + Decrepify: This combo deals a massive amount of damage to enemy heroes and structures. Use Decrepify on an enemy hero to increase the magic damage they take, then follow up with Nether Blast to deal even more damage. This combo is also useful for pushing lanes and taking down towers quickly.
• Life Drain + Ethereal Blade: This combo is devastating against enemy heroes with high health pools. Use Ethereal Blade to increase the magic damage they take, then use Life Drain to drain their health and heal yourself. This combo can also be used to disable enemy heroes, as they cannot attack or use items while ethereal.
• Nether Ward + Decrepify: This combo is useful for defending against enemy heroes that rely on spells to deal damage. Place a Nether Ward near your team and use Decrepify on an enemy hero that tries to use a spell. The Nether Ward will then zap them, dealing damage and draining their mana.

Positioning

Positioning is key when playing Pugna. He is a relatively squishy hero with low health, so it is important to stay back and avoid getting caught out of position. Here are some tips on how to position yourself when playing Pugna:

• Stay behind your team: Pugna is not a hero that can initiate fights or take a lot of damage. Stay behind your team and use your abilities from a safe distance. This will allow you to deal damage and support your team without putting yourself in danger.
• Stay near trees and high ground: Pugna is a hero that can take advantage of terrain. Stay near trees and high ground to avoid getting caught out of position. This will also allow you to use Nether Blast to farm creeps and deal damage to enemy heroes.
• Be aware of your surroundings: Pugna is a hero that can be easily ganked if he is not careful. Be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on the minimap. If you see an enemy hero coming, try to move to a safer position or use Decrepify to slow them down.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of Pugna in Dota 2?

Pugna is a versatile hero that can fill different roles depending on the team’s needs. He is often played as a midlaner or support hero. As a midlaner, Pugna can dominate the lane with his strong nuking abilities and push towers quickly with his ultimate. As a support, Pugna can provide a lot of utility with his Decrepify ability, which can be used to save allies or disable enemies.

Is Pugna a good hero?

Pugna can be a very strong hero in the right hands. He has a lot of burst damage and can push towers quickly. However, he is also a very fragile hero and can be easily killed if caught out of position. Additionally, he can struggle against heroes with long-range disables or silences.

What lane is Pugna?

Pugna can be played in both the mid and support roles. As a midlaner, he can dominate the lane with his strong nukes and push towers quickly with his ultimate. As a support, he can provide a lot of utility with his Decrepify ability, which can be used to save allies or disable enemies.

How do you deal with Pugna?

Pugna can be a very strong hero, but he is also very fragile. He can be easily killed if caught out of position, so it’s important to focus him down quickly in team fights. Additionally, heroes with long-range disables or silences can be very effective against him. Finally, it’s important to try to take down his Nether Ward quickly, as it can deal a lot of damage to heroes casting spells nearby.

What is the synergy between Pugna and Lion in Dota 2?

Pugna and Lion can be a very strong combination in Dota 2. Lion’s disables, such as Hex and Earth Spike, can set up Pugna’s nukes for maximum damage. Additionally, Lion’s ultimate, Finger of Death, can deal a lot of damage to heroes that are Decrepified by Pugna.

How does Holy Locket affect Pugna’s gameplay in Dota 2?

Holy Locket can be a very strong item on Pugna in Dota 2. It increases the effectiveness of his Healing and Life Drain abilities, allowing him to sustain himself and his allies for longer periods of time. Additionally, it can increase the damage dealt by his Nether Blast ability, making him an even stronger pusher.