Puck vs Pudge

How this matchup plays

Trying to burst a target down as Puck gets a lot riskier when Pudge is on the other team. Pudge has a straightforward way to deal with slippery heroes, and Dismember provides enough lockdown to kill Puck before they can Phase Shift or Illusory Orb away. Even if Puck buys items for survivability, a good Meat Hook into Dismember will often pierce through those defenses. The main challenge for Pudge is actually landing the hook in the first place, since Puck has so many tools to dodge and reposition.

This creates a tense cat-and-mouse game. Puck has to play with exceptional positioning and map awareness, constantly tracking Pudge's movements to avoid getting picked off. A single mistake can be fatal. Pudge, on the other hand, is always looking for that one opening. The threat of a hook-and-dismember combo forces Puck to play less aggressively than they might want to, which can slightly curb their overall impact on teamfights and ganks.