Puck, the Faerie Dragon, is one of the most elusive and dynamic heroes in Dota 2. With exceptional mobility, strong area control, and disruptive abilities, Puck excels at initiating fights, escaping danger, and frustrating opponents. Whether dashing across the battlefield with Illusory Orb, silencing enemies with Waning Rift, or phasing out of harm’s way with Phase Shift, this hero offers incredible versatility. Understanding Puck’s strengths, weaknesses, and optimal item builds is key to dominating the game. Learn how to master this hero with our Dota 2 Puck Guide covering abilities, items, tips, and strategies for dominating your games.

Puck’s Role and Playstyle

Puck serves multiple roles, acting as an initiator, disabler, nuker, and escape hero. The hero thrives in chaotic fights, using its high mobility and crowd control to disrupt enemy formations. Puck often takes the mid lane due to its strong laning presence and ability to secure runes, but it can also be played in offlane or even as a position four support.

An ideal Puck player relies on quick reflexes, precise positioning, and strong decision-making. The hero is difficult to lock down but equally fragile if caught. Mastering Puck requires predicting enemy movements, knowing when to commit, and recognizing opportunities to disengage.

Puck’s Abilities and How to Use Them

Illusory Orb

Puck launches a magical orb that travels in a straight line, damaging enemies in its path. At any moment, Puck can teleport to the orb’s location using Ethereal Jaunt. This ability serves as both an offensive tool and an escape mechanism.

• Use it to harass enemies in lane while securing last hits from a safe distance.
• Fake movements by casting Illusory Orb in one direction while moving in another, making it harder for enemies to predict your teleport.
• Escape by sending an orb through trees or cliffs, then jaunting to safety.

Waning Rift

Puck teleports a short distance and releases a burst of faerie dust, damaging and silencing nearby enemies. This ability is crucial for shutting down enemy spellcasters and setting up kills.

• Silence enemies before they can counter your initiation. Waning Rift is particularly effective against heroes like Storm Spirit and Queen of Pain.
• Combine Waning Rift with Blink Dagger for instant crowd control. This combo prevents enemies from reacting before you follow up with Dream Coil.
• Use it to secure kills or escape dangerous situations. The teleportation can help Puck reposition quickly.

Phase Shift

Puck enters another dimension, becoming completely invulnerable for a short duration. This ability is a game-changer when used correctly.

• Dodge enemy abilities and attacks. With good reaction time, Phase Shift can avoid stuns, nukes, and even projectiles like Sniper’s Assassinate.
• Buy time for cooldowns and teammates. If caught out, Phase Shift can stall until your Blink Dagger or Illusory Orb becomes available.
• With Aghanim’s Shard, Phase Shift attacks nearby enemies, turning a defensive spell into an offensive tool.

Dream Coil

Puck’s ultimate ability creates a magical tether that latches onto enemy heroes in an area. If they move too far, the coil snaps, dealing damage and stunning them.

• Use it as an initiation tool to trap multiple heroes in team fights.
• Break mobility-heavy heroes like Anti-Mage and Puck itself, forcing them to either stay in place or suffer the stun.
• With Aghanim’s Scepter, Dream Coil attacks tethered enemies, adding more damage over time.

Best Items for Puck

Early Game

Puck needs mana sustain and mobility to control the lane and rotate for kills.

• Bottle helps with rune control and mana regeneration.
• Magic Wand provides burst healing and mana restoration.
• Boots of Speed allows for better movement and dodging skill shots.

Mid Game

This is when Puck becomes a serious threat, focusing on mobility and survivability.

• Blink Dagger enables instant initiation and escape.
• Witch Blade amplifies damage and adds a slow effect to Puck’s attacks.
• Eul’s Scepter of Divinity provides a defensive tool against silences and can be used to set up Waning Rift.

Late Game

As the game progresses, Puck needs more survivability and damage.

• Scythe of Vyse adds a powerful hex, locking down key targets.
• Linken’s Sphere protects against single-target disables.
• Revenant’s Brooch enhances Puck’s magic burst against tankier enemies.

How to Play Puck in Different Game Stages

Laning Phase

Puck’s laning phase is strong due to its ability to harass, secure last hits, and escape danger. Constantly pressure your opponent with Illusory Orb while avoiding unnecessary trades. If playing mid, control power runes with Illusory Orb and Bottle to maintain lane dominance.

Mid Game

This is Puck’s strongest phase. The hero should be active in fights, initiating and controlling engagements. Look for Blink Dagger + Waning Rift initiations, followed by Dream Coil to set up kills.

Puck is also excellent at split pushing, using Illusory Orb to clear waves and escape safely. Keep enemies guessing where you will be next.

Late Game

Puck transitions into a teamfight disabler and burst damage dealer. Positioning becomes crucial—stay on the edges of fights, using Illusory Orb and Phase Shift to evade threats.

If the enemy team has strong disables, consider building defensive items like Linken’s Sphere or Eul’s Scepter. If facing high-mobility heroes, prioritize Scythe of Vyse or Aghanim’s Scepter to counter them.

Puck’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Extremely elusive, making it hard to catch or kill.
• Strong initiation and crowd control with Dream Coil and Waning Rift.
• Scales well into the late game with the right items.
• Can dodge spells and attacks with Phase Shift.

Weaknesses

• Highly vulnerable to silences and hard disables. If locked down, Puck is easy to burst.
• Mana issues early game, requiring good rune control.
• Squishy and reliant on items for survivability.

Tips for Playing Puck Like a Pro

• Always have an escape plan. Before diving into fights, ensure Illusory Orb or Blink Dagger is ready.
• Use Phase Shift aggressively. Dodging key abilities can turn fights in your favor.
• Split push when necessary. Puck’s mobility makes it excellent at pressuring lanes.
• Bait enemies into bad fights. Pretend to be caught, then Phase Shift or Blink Dagger to safety while your team counterattacks.

Final Thoughts

Puck is a high-skill, high-reward hero in Dota 2, capable of controlling fights and outmaneuvering opponents with ease. With a well-executed game plan, sharp mechanics, and proper itemization, Puck can become one of the most frustrating heroes for enemies to deal with. Whether you’re looking to dominate the mid lane or create chaos in team fights, mastering Puck will elevate your Dota 2 gameplay to the next level.