Pugna
A master of the arcane arts, Pugna has delved so deep into forbidden knowledge that his very essence has become one with the nether realm.
At a Glance
Core Principles
“Knowledge is power, and power is everything. Master these principles and the nether realm will bow to your will.”
Channel While Casting
Your Oblivion Savant is your greatest advantage. Never stop casting, even while channeling. Life Drain while Decrepifying, Nether Blast while TP'ing - always be multi-tasking.
Ward Placement is Everything
Nether Ward wins or loses teamfights. Position it in trees, use Aether Lens for range, and protect it with Decrepify. Your enemies should fear every spell they cast.
Decrepify Wisely
Not just for enemies. Use it on yourself against ganks, on allies to save them, on your ward to protect it. Understand the ethereal state and its interactions.
Movement Speed is Your Armor
With one of the highest base speeds in the game, you can dodge what kills you. Use this advantage to position perfectly, escape danger, and chase down kills.
Life Drain Versatility
It's damage, healing, true sight, and with Aghanim's, immunity piercing. Drain enemies to survive, allies to save them, and creeps to recover after fights.
Structure Siege Specialist
Nether Blast makes you a tower-killer. Focus creep waves with the AoE, keep towers on the edge, and wear down structures faster than enemies expect.
Hero Overview
Pugna is a highly intelligent nuker who excels at demolishing structures and punishing spell-heavy lineups. His Oblivion Savant innate ability makes him unique by allowing spellcasting during channels, opening up countless tactical possibilities. With one of the highest base movement speeds in the game and potent area-of-effect magic damage, Pugna can control teamfights from unexpected angles.
His gameplay revolves around strategic Nether Ward placement, aggressive Nether Blast positioning, and masterful Decrepify usage. The ability to cast spells while channeling Life Drain creates devastating combos - drain an enemy while simultaneously blasting their allies. His high magic damage output combined with structure-damaging capabilities makes him an excellent pusher who can quickly snowball advantages.
Pros
- Oblivion Savant allows unique channel-casting combos
- Excellent against magic-heavy lineups with Nether Ward
- High base movement speed for positioning
- Strong tower and barracks damage with Nether Blast
- Versatile Decrepify for offense, defense, and utility
Cons
- Very squishy without proper positioning
- Reliant on mana management
- Vulnerable to physical damage dealers
- Nether Ward can be easily destroyed
- Struggles against heroes with magic immunity
Ability Analysis
Oblivion Savant
PassivePugna can cast any spells or items while channeling, with instant cast animations.
Notes: This innate is game-changing. Cast Decrepify while channeling Life Drain, Nether Blast during TP, or save allies in Riki's Smoke Screen. Blink Dagger maintains channel if cast within range. Only one active channel at a time.
Nether Blast
ActiveCreates a blast of energy that damages enemies in an area after a short delay.
Notes: Damages towers and creeps - keep tower on edge of AoE for maximum wave clearing. Excellent for stop-cancel mind games due to lack of visual feedback. Casts instantly while channeling with Oblivion Savant.
Decrepify
Target UnitTransforms a target unit into ethereal form, making them immune to physical damage but amplifying magic damage taken and healing received.
Notes: Makes targets immune to physical damage including spells like Omnislash. Drops creep aggro immediately. Use on enemies 1v1, yourself against multiple enemies, or Nether Ward in teamfights. Doesn't work on BKB targets. Amplifies Life Drain healing.
Nether Ward
ActiveSummons a ward that zaps enemies who cast spells nearby, burning their mana.
Notes: Zaps heroes in fog of war. Only affects spells that give Magic Stick charges. Can be made invulnerable with Decrepify. Use Aether Lens to place inside trees. Devastating against spell-heavy heroes.
Life Drain
Target UnitDrains health from an enemy to heal Pugna, or transfers Pugna's health to heal an ally.
Notes: Provides true sight on targets. Can target allies to heal at cost of your HP. Heal is separate from damage - works fully on BKB'd enemies. Shard upgrade finds secondary targets only on cast. Use creeps for emergency self-healing after fights.
Life Drain (Shard Upgrade)
Target UnitLife Drain also drains nearby enemies in a 450 radius for 60% of the main target's drain amount.
Notes: Shard upgrade turns Life Drain into an AoE ability. Secondary targets are locked in on cast only - new enemies walking into range won't be affected. Devastating in teamfights when positioned correctly.
Life Drain (Aghanim's Scepter)
Target UnitLife Drain pierces debuff immunity and cannot be blocked by Linken's Sphere.
Notes: Aghanim's Scepter makes Life Drain impossible to prevent with standard defensive items. Can drain BKB'd enemies and bypass Linken's Sphere, making Pugna a nightmare for carries who rely on these defenses.
Developer's Notes
Developer Insights
Pugna is one of the most unique spellcasters in Dota 2, thanks to his Oblivion Savant innate that allows spell casting during channels. This ability opens up incredible tactical possibilities.
Key Insights:
- Cast spells instantly while channeling Life Drain or TP
- Use Decrepify to save allies or set up kills
- Position Nether Ward carefully for maximum impact
Pugna rewards intelligent positioning and timing. Master the art of channel-while-casting and you'll become a nightmare for enemy spellcasters!
Game Strategy
Early Game
Timeframe: 0-15 minutes Objective: Control lane with Nether Blast and secure farm Key: Use Nether Blast for creep wave control and tower damage; Harass with Life Drain when safe; Position Nether Ward to punish enemy spell usage; Utilize high movement speed for positioning Items: Arcane Boots (Mana sustainability); Magic Wand (Emergency mana/health); Null Talisman (Early damage) Tips: Keep Nether Ward safe but impactful; Use Decrepify defensively against ganks; Farm jungle camps between lane waves; Watch for enemy rotation patterns
Mid Game
Timeframe: 15-30 minutes Objective: Control teamfights and push objectives Key: Combine Nether Ward positioning with teamfight engagement; Use Life Drain + Decrepify combo on key targets; Push towers with Nether Blast spam; Initiate with channel-casting techniques Items: Aether Lens (Range and positioning); Blink Dagger (Mobility and escape); Force Staff (Positioning utility) Tips: Master the channel-while-casting mechanics; Save Decrepify for critical moments; Coordinate with team for Nether Ward value; Use high move speed to dodge skillshots
Late Game
Timeframe: 30+ minutes Objective: Maximize impact in teamfights and counter enemy carries Key: Position Nether Ward perfectly in teamfights; Use Aghanim's upgraded Life Drain on BKB'd carries; Combine Decrepify with team's magic damage; Maintain pressure with Nether Blast siege Items: Aghanim's Scepter (Piercing immunity); Black King Bar (Survivability); Shiva's Guard (Armor and utility) Tips: Life Drain can deny yourself in emergencies; Decrepify can save allies from physical carries; Use movement speed advantage to kite; Nether Blast damage should focus creeps, not towers
Tips & Strategies
Oblivion Savant Mastery
- Cast Decrepify while channeling Life Drain or TP scroll for maximum flexibility.
- Use Nether Blast during channel animations - instant cast makes it unpredictable.
- Blink Dagger maintains channel if cast within range, cancels if outside max range.
- Can target untargetable allies in Riki's Smoke Screen by starting a channel first.
Nether Blast Optimization
- Keep towers on the edge of Blast AoE - you don't get bonus damage for full coverage.
- Use stop-cancel techniques to bait enemy reactions.
- Spam during sieges to quickly clear creep waves and damage structures.
- Casts instantly during channels with no animation tell.
Decrepify Applications
- Immediately drops creep aggro - great for tower dives and escaping pulls.
- Amplifies incoming heals - use on yourself/ally before Life Drain.
- Can cast on Nether Ward to make it temporarily invulnerable.
- Slows enemies but not allies - use this advantage strategically.
Item Guide
Starting Items
Mana regeneration and damage output for early aggression and spell casting.
Null Talisman, Tangos, Faerie Fire
Core Items
Essential mana sustainability and increased cast range for better positioning and ward placement.
Arcane Boots, Magic Wand, Aether Lens
Situational Items
Blink for positioning, Force for mobility, Glimmer for protection, BKB against heavy disables.
Blink Dagger, Force Staff, Glimmer Cape, Black King Bar
Counter Guide
Good With
Pugna excels with heroes who can capitalize on his magic amplification and Nether Ward pressure. Jakiro and Leshrac provide devastating AoE magic damage that pairs perfectly with Decrepify. Crystal Maiden benefits from Nether Ward protection while channeling Freezing Field. Lich creates additional magic damage synergy with Chain Frost. Heroes with strong magic burst like Lina or QOP become more threatening when enemies are decrepified. The ideal teammates are those who deal high magic damage or need protection from enemy spells while casting their own.
Bad Against
Pugna struggles against heroes who can bypass his strengths or exploit his squishiness. Anti-Mage burns his limited mana pool and can blink onto him easily. Pudge can hook him out of position, ignoring his armor with Rot damage. Nyx Assassin can mana burn and burst him with Vendetta. Silencer prevents spell casting with Last Word and Global Silence. Muerta with Supernatural innate can hit decrepified targets, nullifying his main defensive tool. Heroes with strong physical damage or anti-magic capabilities make Pugna's life difficult by preventing his spell combos or killing him before he can react.
Good Against
Pugna dominates spell-heavy heroes and those reliant on magic damage. Enigma, Invoker, Zeus, and Tinker suffer immensely from Nether Ward pressure. Chen and Enchantress lose their creep advantages to Nether Blast. Heroes with channeling abilities like Crystal Maiden (Freezing Field) or Shadow Shaman (Shackles) become vulnerable to Decrepify + magic damage combos. Medusa struggles with mana sustainability against Life Drain and Nether Ward. Any hero who relies heavily on spell casting or has mana-intensive abilities becomes a prime target for Pugna's anti-mage toolkit.