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The worst-kept secret of the year is finally official, and people are free to talk about the Deadlock alpha. This is a new hero shooter from Valve itself that is already becoming one of the most talked-about titles of the year.
With any hero shooter, the question everyone wants to know the answer to is which are the best Deadlock heroes. Even while the game is still unavailable to most, knowing which character to start with once the game opens up will give you a massive leg up on the competition.
Our Deadlock tier list is designed to help youpick the perfect character for your playstyle.
Keep in mind that any deadlock hero tier list is subject to change over time, especially in this alpha state.?
Key Takeaways
?Our Deadlock tier list ranks all the 21 available heroes from S to C tier.
?S-tier characters include Pocket and Warden.
?The Deadlock hero tier list is subject to change as the game is updated.
?Deadlock is being developed by Valve as a mixture of a hero shooter and MOBA.
We’ve organized our Deadlock tier list through an S-tier to a C-tier ranking system. We believe that every character is viable in their own way, but some have greater strengths than others.
S-tier characters are the ones we feel are currently unmatched on the battlefield. These characters have no obvious or massive weaknesses, powerful abilities and weapons that make them a danger even without the team supporting them, and multiple ways to upgrade them.
Pocket
Warden
Lady Geist
Paradox
?A-tier heroes are almost as good and can hold their own against S-tiers but have one or two faults that keep them from greatness. If you click with them and can compensate for whatever they lack, you can be just as lethal as an S-tier.
Seven
Mo & Krill
Grey Talon
Shiv
Yamato
Bebop
Abrams
Infernus
Ivy
Wraith
B tiers are middle of the road due to being less flexible. They typically have hard counters that can wipe them out, and only one area where they excel.
Kelvin
Yamato
Haze
Viscous
Vindicta
The C tier is reserved for any Deadlock characters that can’t do anything another hero could do better while also having massive weaknesses that are hard to compensate for. Even the most skilled players will have a hard time doing well using these heroes.
Lash
McGinnis
Deadlock Characters in Detail
While we’ve ranked all characters in our Deadlock hero tier list above, it’s time to go into more detail with everyone you can play as right now, and there’s a lot to go through.
Abrams
Abrams is a damage-dealing tank who prefers to get up close and personal. Source: Valve
Abrams is your go-to tank character who sacrifices range for health and damage. With his strong suit of abilities, large health pool, and respectful damage, he’s not someone to mess with.
1. Siphon Life – Drain health from enemies in front of you while they are in the radius.
Level 1: -20 second cooldown
Level 2: +2 second duration
Level 3: +40 damage per second
2. Shoulder Charge – Charge forward, colliding with enemies and dragging them along. Hitting a wall will Stun enemies caught by Abrams. Speed increased after colliding with enemy heroes.
Level 1: -20 second cooldown
Level 2: +0.5 second duration
Level 3: +5.5 weapon damage for 8 seconds after colliding with enemy
3. Infernal Resilience – Regenerate a portion of incoming damage over time.
Level 1: +1.5 health regen
Level 2: +150 HP
Level 3: +9% damage regenerated
4. Seismic Impact – Leap high into the air and choose a ground location to crash into. When you hit the ground, all enemies in the radius are damaged and stunned.
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Level 1: -40 second cooldown
Level 2: Gain 100 max HP and 15% fire rate per hero hit. Lasts 25 seconds
Level 3: On cast, become immune to Stun, Silence, Sleep, Root, and Disarm. Expires 3 seconds after landing
Bebop
The mechanized Bebop is purpose-built for support features with a range of traps. Source: Valve
Bebop is built as a support character. He is perfect if you enjoy picking off enemies that overextend.
1. Exploding Uppercut – Deal light melee damage to nearby units and send them flying back, causing area damage where they land. Does not damage allies but can knock them back.
Level 1: -11 second cooldown
Level 2: On Uppercutting enemy hero, gain fast spin-up time on your primary fire, 2x range, and +60% weapon damage for 12 seconds
Level 3: On Uppercutting enemy hero, set hook cooldown to 0 and instantly +100% bullets to your current clip
2. Sticky Bomb – Attach a Sticky Bomb to a nearby target that deals explosive damage after a short fuse time. Gain +2.5% bomb damage permanently for every enemy hero hit. You can cast Sticky Bomb on yourself.
Level 1: -8 second cooldown
Level 2: +80 damage
Level 3: On Attach, disarms the target for 3.5 seconds
3. Hook – Launch out a hook that grabs and reels in the first enemy or friendly hero it hits, dealing damage if the target is an enemy. Target will be placed where you’re facing.
Level 1: Bebop deals 30% more bullet damage against hooked enemies for 10 seconds
Level 2: +30 meter cast range
Level 3: -12 second cooldown
4. Hyper Beam – Charge up your laser to unleash a powerful torrent of energy that deals damage and slows enemies’ movement and dashes. You have slow movement and turn rate for the duration. If activated in the air, you hover while unleashing the beam.
Level 1: -40 second cooldown
Level 2: +100 DPS
Level 3: Hyper Bear heals Bebop for 100% of its damage on heroes, 33% for non-heroes
Dynamo
Dynamo isn’t the most powerful of the Deadlock heroes but he can be used in intelligent ways. Source: Valve
This Deadlock hero isn’t made to have a high K/D ratio but instead supports the rest of the team with some of the best buffs in the game.
1. Kinetic Pulse –? Release an energy pulse that knocks enemies up into the air.
Level 1: Hit enemies are fire rate and movement slowed by 40% for 4 seconds
Level 2: Dynamo deals 30% more weapon damage to enemies hit for 8 seconds
Level 3: +125 damage
2. Quantum Entanglement – Dynamo briefly disappears into the void and then reappears a short distance away. On reappearing, your weapon is reloaded and has a fire rate bonus for the next clip. Can be cast on nearby allies as well, giving them half the (25% base) fire rate bonus.
Level 1: +4 meter cast range
Level 2: +25% fire rate bonus
Level 3: On reappearing, +120% base ammo
3. Rejuvenating Aura – While channeling, restore health over time to you and any allies nearby.
Level 1: Gain +4 meters per second movement speed bonus for 8 seconds if Aurora is fully channeled. Gained instantly at Level 3 upgrade.
Level 2: -15 second cooldown
Level 3: Full move and ability use while channeling and additionally heals +4% max health per second
4. Singularity – Create a singularity in your hands that pulls in nearby enemies and damages them. Once it’s finished, enemies get knocked into the air.
Level 1: +2 meter Singularity radius
Level 2: +0.75 second duration
Level 3: Singularity takes 3.8% of enemies’ max health each second
Grey Talon
Grey Talon is the archer of Deadlock with some powerful attacks from a distance. Source: Valve
Every hero shooter needs a dedicated sniper, and Grey Talon fits that role perfectly in the Deadlock alpha.
1. Charged Shot – Charge up a powerful shot that pierces through enemies.
Level 1: +1 Charge
Level 2: +70 damage
Level 3: Improved damage scaling and -3 second charge delay
2. Rain of Arrows – Launches you high in the air, allowing you to glide slowly. While airborne, you gain weapon damage and multishot on your weapon.
Level 1: -15 second cooldown
Level 2: While airborne, +7 weapon damage and weapon applies 40% movement slow for 1.5 seconds.
Level 3: While airborne, +50% bullet lifesteal and +50% spirit lifesteal
3. Immobilizing Trap – Throw out a trap that begins to arm itself. Once armed, the trap will trigger when an enemy enters its radius, immobilizing them.
Level 1: -20 second cooldown
Level 2: +1 second immobilize duration
Level 3: Grey Talon deals +30% more bullet damage to enemies hit by immobilizing trap for 10 seconds
4. Guided Owl – After 1.5 second cast time, launch a spirit owl that you control that explodes on impact, damaging and stunning enemies. Gain 5 permanent spirit power for each hero killed with Guided Owl.
Level 1: +100 damage
Level 2: -50 second cooldown
Level 3: After hit, kills enemies that are below 22% health
Haze
Haze is a deceptive character focusing on stealth combat which can easily team wipe. Source: Valve
If you know how to use Haze, she can be the most annoying character to play against. This character is all about sneaking around and picking off solo enemies in one swift blitz.
1. Sleep Dagger – Throw a dagger that damages and sleeps the target. Sleeping targets wake up shortly after being damaged. Throwing a Dagger does not break your invisibility. Sleep dagger does not interrupt enemies’ channeling abilities.
Level 1: Removes 1 stamina
Level 2: -13 second cooldown
Level 3: Applies -12% bullet resist for 6 seconds on wake up
2. Smoke Bomb – ? Fade out of sight, becoming invisible and gaining sprint speed. Attacking removes invisibility. Close enemies can see through your invisibility.
Level 1: -15 second cooldown
Level 2: +6 meters per second invis sprint speed
Level 3: After invis, gain +30% bullet lifesteal for 8 seconds
3. Fixation – Shooting a target increases your bullet damage on that target. Gain one stack of +0.2 weapon damage per bullet hit, two if the hit is a headshot.
Level 1: 60 spirit damage and 15% slow for 2 seconds to target every 20 stacks
Level 2: +30 max stacks and +5 second duration
Level 3: +0.2 weapon damage per stack
4. Bullet Dance – Enter a flurry, firing your weapon at nearby enemies with perfect accuracy. During the flurry, Haze gains a fire rate bonus and will evade some of the bullets shot at her.
Level 1: +7 weapon damage
Level 2: -40 second cooldown
Level 3: +1 targets hit per shot
Infernus
Much like Pyro in Team Fortress 2, Infernus prefers to light enemies up rather than shoot them. Source: Valve
When in doubt about which of the 21 Deadlock characters to learn the game with, pick Infernus. He’s well-balanced and easy to understand but not necessarily exceptional in any category.
1. Catalyst – Spew napalm that slows enemy movement and amplifies damage Infernus does to them.
Level 1: +1 Charge
Level 2: Infernus gains 20% Lifesteal against victims
Level 3: +10% damage amp and -40% heal/regen
2. Flame Dash – Move forward at high speed and leave a flame trail that burns enemies.
Level 1: +30% fire rate slow for 7 seconds
Level 2: +45 DPS
Level 3: -20 second cooldown
3. Afterburn – Your bullets build up to apply a burning effect on enemies. Infernus’ bullets and abilities refresh the duration.
Level 1: Victims deal -30% spirit damage.
Level 2: +1 second burn duration
Level 3: +30 DPS
4. Concussive Combustion – Turns you into a living bomb that explodes after a short delay, stunning all enemies in its radius.
Level 1: -40 second cooldown
Level 2: +0.5 second stun duration and +4 meter radius
Level 3: +115 damage and 100% lifesteal from enemy heroes hit
Ivy
Ivy can take to the air to deliver pain from above, causing problems for her enemies. Source: Valve
If you want a support character that can hold their own in a fight, Ivy has some great tools to own her lane.
1. Kudzu Bomb – Summon a patch of choking vines that damage and slow enemies in their radius.
Level 1: +1 charge
Level 2: +2 second duration
Level 3: +60 DPS
2. Watcher’s Covenant –? Gain bonuses and automatically connect with a nearby ally to share them. Healing is replicated among all those connected. Connection requires line of sight.
Level 1: +10% fire rate
Level 2: +3 meters per second movement speed
Level 3: +1 Tether count
3. Stone Form – Turn yourself into impervious stone and smash into the ground, stunning and damaging nearby enemies. Heals you for 10% of your max health. You have some air control before falling.
Level 1: -20 second cooldown
Level 2: +80 damage and stuns for 0.5 seconds
Level 3: +20% max heal
4. Air Drop – Take flight with an ally or a bomb. Ally gains bullet resist but cannot attack or use abilities while lifted. Drop your ally or bomb to cause a large explosion that inflicts movement slow. Ivy and ally gain a bullet shield when flying ends.
Level 1: -20% bullet resist on enemies hit for 12 seconds
Level 2: +300 Bullet Shield and +5 meter explosion radius
Level 3: Applies silence on enemies hit for +4.5 seconds
Kelvin
Kelvin, similar to Mei from Overwatch 2, can freeze enemies in place and use ice attacks. Source: Valve
Kelvin also falls into the support category of Deadlock heroes, but has a set of abilities that are a bit harder to utilize than others in that category.
1. Frost Grenade – Throw a grenade that explodes into a cloud of freezing ice, damaging and slowing enemies.
Level 1: +1 Charge
Level 2: Frost Grenade now heals 135 HP to friendly targets. Scales with spirit
Level 3: +175 damage
2. Ice Path – Kelvin creates a floating trail of ice and snow that gives movement speed bonuses to him and his allies. Kelvin gains 60% slow resistance for the duration. Enemies can also walk on the floating trail.
Level 1: +4 meters per second sprint speed
Level 2: -16 second cooldown
Level 3: While active, gain +1 spirit power per meter of ice trail created. Max 55 spirit power
3. Arctic Beam – Shoot freezing cold energy out in front of you, damaging targets and building up movement and fire rate slow against them the longer you sustain the beam on them. You have reduced movement speed while using Arctic Beam.
Level 1: -8 second cooldown
Level 2: +40 DPS
Level 3: Fires 2 additional Arctic Beams toward enemies within 15 meters of the last target hit
4. Frozen Shelter – Kelvin freezes the air around him, creating an impenetrable dome around himself. While in the dome, allies rapidly regenerate health and enemies are slowed by 35%.
Level 1: +40% fire rate slow
Level 2: -40 second cooldown
Level 3: +70 health regen and now scales with spirit power
Lady Geist
Lady Geist is essentially an energy vampire with special abilities around bleeding foes dry. Source: Valve
Lady Geist is very adaptable depending on whether you build her towards weapon damage or spirit damage, but either way, her utility will all depend on your ability to land headshots.
1. Essence Bomb – Sacrifice some of your health to launch a bomb that deals damage after a brief arm time. Self damage type is spirit and can be mitigated.
Level 1: +2 meter radius
Level 2: +60 damage
Level 3: Bombs leave a toxic mess on the ground, dealing 22% of the original damage per second for 6 seconds
2. Life Drain – Create a tether that drains enemy health over time and heals you. Target must be in line of sight and within max range to drain. You can shoot and use other abilities during the drain, but your movement speed is reduced by half.
Level 1: +20 damage per second
Level 2: +2 second duration
Level 3: Enemy is silenced while being life drained
3. Malice – Sacrifice some of your health to launch blood shards that apply a stack of Malice. Each stack slows the victim and increases damage they take from you. The slow effect decreases over time.
Level 1: -3 second cooldown
Level 2: +40 health to damage
Level 3: +6 blood shards
4. Soul Exchange – Swap health levels with an enemy target. There is a minimum health percentage that enemies can be brought down to and a minimum amount of health received based on victim’s current health.
Level 1: -40 second cooldown
Level 2: -10% minimum enemy health
Level 3: On cast, +40% fire rate and +40% spirit resist for 8 seconds
Lash
Lash isn’t the easiest of the Deadlock characters to play, but he offers some serious versatility. Source: Valve
This is a high-skill character to play even in the Deadlock playtest, but mastering Lash’s playstyle will allow you to pull off touch-of-death combos on almost anyone.
1. Ground Strike – Stomp the ground beneath you, damaging enemies in front of you. If you perform Ground Strike while airborne, you quickly dive toward the ground. Damage scales with height but grows slower after 25 meters.
Level 1: -10 second cooldown
Level 2: Struck enemies are popped into the air and slowed by 50% for 3 seconds
Level 3: +110% damage per meter and improved scaling
2. Grapple – Pull yourself through the air toward a target. Using Grapple also restores one stamina charge, as well as all air jumps and dashes.
Level 1: -20 second cooldown
Level 2: +20 meter cast range and gain +6 weapon damage for 10 seconds
Level 3: +20% fire rate to weapon bonus buff
3. Flog – Strike enemies with your whip, stealing life from them.
Level 1: Apply 35% movement speed slow for 3 seconds
Level 2: -15 second cooldown
Level 3: +105 damage and applies 35% fire rate slow
4. Death Slam – Focus on enemies to connect whips to them. After channeling, connected enemies are lifted and stunned, followed by being slammed into the ground. Your victims and any enemies in the landing zone will be damaged and slowed.
Level 1: +8 meter max throw distance
Level 2: +100 damage
Level 3: -60 second cooldown
McGinnis
armed with turrets and healing zones, McGinnis is an excellent all-rounder for any team setup. Source: Valve
McGinnis can lock down a zone better than almost anyone else in Deadlock, thanks to deployable turrets and healing spirits for support.
1. Mini Turret – Deploy a Mini Turret that automatically shoots enemies. The turret expires after a limited lifetime. Turrets gain 30% of McGinnis’ max HP and have 60% spirit resist. They deal reduced damage to troopers and objectives.
Level 1: +1 Charge and turrets apply +25% movement speed slow
Level 2: +10 meter attack range and +10% turret fire rate
Level 3: +45 turret DPS
2. Medicinal Specter – Deploy a spirit that heals nearby units.
Level 1: +35% fire rate on units being healed by Medicinal Specter
Level 2: -18 second cooldown
Level 3: +5% max health regen per second
3. Spectral Wall – Creates a wall that divides the terrain in half. On creation, the wall deals damage and applies a 25% slow to enemies hit.
Level 1: Removes 1 stamina and amps McGinnis’ damage by 25% on hit enemies for 7 seconds
Level 2: -15 second cooldown
Level 3: Adds a 1-second stun to enemies hit by Spectral Wall
4. Heavy Barrage – Unleashes a volley of rockets that home in on a targeted location.
Level 1: Applies 35% movement slow
Level 2: -50 second cooldown
Level 3: +30 damage per rocket
Mo & Krill
Mo & Krill give off Ferra & Torr energy with a smarter, smaller character piloting a brute. Source: Valve
This duo of characters is an odd one to wrap your head around and an easy target but can be a powerful Jungler-type roaming around and supporting lanes.
1. Scorn – Deal damage to nearby enemies and heal yourself based on damage done. Heal is stronger against enemy heroes.
Level 1: -4 second cooldown
Level 2: +25 damage
Level 3: Adds a debuff to enemies that lets Mo & Krill deal +15% damage to them. Debuff lasts for 16 seconds and can be stacked.
2. Burrow – Burrow underground, moving faster and gaining spirit and bullet armor. Damage from enemy heroes will reduce the speed bonus. When you jump out, knock enemies into the air and perform a spin attack that damages and slows.
Level 1: +3 second burrow time
Level 2: +140 spin DPS and +2 radius
Level 3: -20 second cooldown and +3 meters per second movement speed
3. Sand Blast – Spray sand that disarms enemies in front of you and deals damage.
Level 1: +1.5 second duration
Level 2: -20 second cooldown
Level 3: Slow targets by 50%
4. Combo – Hold the target in place, stunning them and dealing damage during the channel. If they die during combo, you permanently gain 30 max health.
Level 1: -30 second cooldown
Level 2: Combo duration +1 second
Level 3: +40 damage per second and 100% lifesteal
Paradox
Paradox can zip around the map like Tracer from Overwatch 2. She’s fast and deadly. Source Valve
In the DPS class, Paradox is among the best Deadlock heroes. Whether in a 1-on-1 or team fight, she is a total menace.
1. Pulze Grenade – Throw a grenade that begins pulsing when it lands. Each pulse applies damage, movement slow, and stacking damage amplification for Paradox against the victim.
Level 1: +1 Pulse
Level 2: -8 second cooldown
Level 3: +45 Pulse damage
2. Time Wall – Create a time warping wall that stops time for all enemy projectiles and bullets that touch it. Enemies that touch the wall take damage for 10% of their max health and are slowed by 80% for 1 second.
Level 1: +2 meter width, +1 meter height
Level 2: +1 Charge
Level 3: Enemies that touch Time Wall will be silenced for 3 seconds
3. Kinetic Carbine – Start charging your weapon and gain increased movement speed once it’s fully charged. Your next shot will release the energy, dealing spirit damage and applying a time stop to the enemy hit. The damage dealt is an amplification of your current weapon damage. You can slow time on yourself by pressing right click while an empowered shot is available.
Level 1: +0.5 second max stop duration
Level 2: -10 second cooldown and +2 second speed boost duration
Level 3: +50% max damage amp
4. Paradoxical Swap – Fire a projectile that swaps your position with the target enemy hero. While the effect occurs, you gain 100% spirit lifesteal and the enemy takes damage over time.
Level 1: +15 meter cast range
Level 2: +100 swap damage
Level 3: -15 second cooldown
Pocket
Pocket is all about finding gaps and plugging them before the enemies even know what’s happening. Source: Valve
If you prefer your DPS characters to get up close and personal, put Pocket in your pocket. He has all the tools you need to swoop in, snag a kill, and escape before the enemy team can punish you.
1. Barrage – Channel to start launching projectiles that deal damage and apply movement slow around their impact point. Each projectile landed on a hero grants you a stacking buff that amps all your damage. If you cast it while in the air, you’ll float and maintain any horizontal momentum you started with.
Level 1: +15 damage per projectile
Level 2: -15 second cooldown
Level 3: +5% amp per stack
2. Flying Cloak – Launch a sentient cloak that travels forward and damages enemies. You can activate the ability again to teleport to its location.
Level 1: -15 second cooldown
Level 2: +80 damage
Level 3: +7 weapon damage for 10 seconds after teleporting
3. Enchanter’s Satchel – Escape into your suitcase. When the duration ends, deal damage to nearby enemies. Duration can be ended early by performing any action.
Level 1: -5 second cooldown
Level 2: +80 damage
Level 3: Applies 40% fire rate slow for 4 seconds
4. Affliction – Apply damage over time to all enemies nearby. Affliction’s damage is non-lethal and does not apply item procs.
Level 1: 30 second cooldown
Level 2: Suppress targets’ healing by -60%
Level 3: +27 DPS
Seven
Seven is essentially a giant battery on legs with powerful energy-based moves to fry your opposition. Source: Valve
Alongside Infurnus, Seven is one of the best starting heroes to use in the Deadlock alpha. His abilities are all easy to understand but also easy to land.
1. Lightning Ball – Shoot a ball of lightning that travels in a straight line. Does damage to all targets in its radius. Slows down when damaging enemies and stops if it hits the world.
Level 1: +1 Charge
Level 2: +40% movement slow
Level 3: +70 DPS
2. Static Charge – Apply a charge to a target enemy hero. After a short duration, the static charge stuns and damages enemies within the radius.
Level 1: -20 second cooldown
Level 2: +7 meter radius
Level 3: +1.1 second stun duration
3. Power Surge – Power up your weapon with a shock effect, making your bullet proc shock damage on your target. This shock damage bounces to enemies near your target. Occurs once per burst shot.
Level 3: +12 shock damage, improve spirit scaling, and +3 max jumps
4. Storm Cloud – Channel an expanding storm cloud around you that damages all enemies within its radius. Enemies do not take damage when they are out of line of sight.
Level 1: +35% bullet resist while channeling Storm Cloud
Level 2: +7 second channel time and +10 meter radius
Level 3: +75 DPS
Shiv
Shiv is an assassin character who prefers to be a blade in the crowd. Source: Valve
With a name like Shiv, you can probably guess that this character is based around knives and high damage output, but he is also surprisingly great at range.
1. Serrated Knives – Throw a knife that damages and slows an enemy. Each additional hit adds a stack and refreshes the debuff duration, causing the damage to increase per stack. While rage is full, knives will ricochet to another enemy and apply a 35% slow to enemies they bleed.
Level 1: +1 Charge
Level 2: +2 second debuff duration
Level 3: +40 damage and +5 bleed DPS
2. Slice and Dice – Perform a dash forward, damaging enemies along the path.
Level 1: -4 second cooldown
Level 2: +100 damage
Level 3: Reduce cooldown by 2 seconds per enemy hit. Max 6 seconds per dash
3. Bloodletting – Take only a portion of incoming damage immediately and defer 35% of the damage to be taken over time. Activate to clear a portion of the deferred damage.
Level 1: +5 second deferred damage duration
Level 2: -5 second cooldown
Level 3: +25% deferred damage cleared
4. Killing Blow – Activate to leap toward an enemy hero and instantly kill them if their health is below the kill threshold (20% HP). Otherwise, deal 200 damage to them. Passive: Damaging enemies fills you with rage. While at full rage, Shiv gains 25% increased damage and special properties on his other abilities.
Level 1: Gain +2 meters per second movement speed while at full rage
Level 2: +8% health execute threshold
Level 3: Finishing off an enemy with Killing Blow resets its cooldown
Vindicta
Vindicta may not be the best sniping character in Deadlock, but she has some cool abilities. Source: Valve
Unfortunately, Vindicta falls behind the other sniper options in Deadlock since she really has to rely on her Assassinate skill, but charging that up is still a struggle.
1. Stake – Throw a stake that tethers enemies to the location where the stake lands. Enemy movement is restricted to the length of the tether.
Level 1: +0.75 Tether duration
Level 2: -20 second cooldown
Level 3: Tethered enemies are also disarmed
2. Flight – Leap into the air and fly. While in flight, your weapon deals bonus spirit damage.
Level 1: +50% base ammo while flying
Level 2: -15 second cooldown
Level 3: +12 spirit damage per bullet
3. Crow Familiar – Your crow familiar deals impact damage and applies a bleed that deals damage for 3% of the target’s current health per second.
Level 1: Crow Ricochets up to 2 times toward other enemies within 15 meters
Level 2: -17 second cooldown
Level 3: +3% bleed and suppresses healing by -40%
4. Assassinate – Use your scoped rifle to fire a powerful shot over long distances. Deal only partial damage until fully charged after 1 second of being scoped. Does bonus damage to enemies with less than 50% health remaining. Landing a killing blow on a player with Assassinate grants 250 bonus souls.
Level 1: -20 second cooldown
Level 2: +140 bonus damage
Level 3: +600 souls per Assassination
Viscous
Viscous is a slippery character based on deflection and goop. Source: Valve
As a tank, Viscous takes some getting used to thanks to their abilities not always working like you think they should. Still, he has good support and enemy denial options.
1. Splatter – Throw a ball of goo that deals damage and leaves puddles of goo behind that apply movement slow to enemies in the radius.
Level 1: -6 second duration
Level 2: +70 damage and +1 meter radius
Level 3: Bounces 2 times
2. The Cube – Encase the target in a cube of restorative goo that purges debuffs, protects from damage, and increases health regen. Target is unable to take any new actions while cubed. Can be used on self.
Level 1: Increases movement speed and stamina recovery
Level 2: -22 second cooldown
Level 3: +60 health regen
3. Puddle Punch – Materialize a fist in the world that punches units in the area and sends them flying. Enemies will be dealt damage, have their dash distance reduced for a brief moment, and have their movement speed slowed. This is considered a light melee attack.
Level 1: +1 Charges
Level 2: -10 second cooldown
Level 3: +80 damage and +20% movement slow
4. Goo Ball – Morph into a large goo ball that deals damage and stuns enemies on impact. The ball grants large amounts of Bullet and Spirit resist, bounces off walls, and can double jump.
Level 1: +5 second duration
Level 2: +120 damage on impact
Level 3: Can cast abilities and use items while rolling
Warden
In many ways, Warden is Deadlock’s Solider stand-in and can be a savage brute. Source: Valve
If you want to dominate any 1-on-1 in the Deadlock playtest, Warden is an absolute beast. In the right hands, he can single-handedly turn the tide of a match.
1. Alchemical Flask – Throw a flask that damages, slows, and reduces the weapon damage and stamina of enemies it hits.
Level 1: +40 damage
Level 2: +1 stamina reduction
Level 3: -7 second cooldown and applies 35% fire rate slow
2. Willpower – Gain a spirit shield and bonus movement speed.
Level 1: +20% movement speed bonus
Level 2: -20 second cooldown
Level 3: +200 spirit shield health and now scales with spirit power
3. Binding Word – Curse an enemy hero. If they don’t move away from their initial position within the escape time, they will be damaged and immobilized.
Level 1: +1 second immobilize duration
Level 2: -20 second cooldown
Level 3: Warden deals +20% more bullet damage to trapped heroes for 6 seconds
4. Last Stand – After charging for 2.2 seconds, release pulses that damage enemies and heal you based on the damage done.
Level 1: +3 meter radius
Level 2: +70 DPS
Level 3: -60 second cooldown
Wraith
Armed with a Chicago typewriter, Wraith can do some serious damage on the playing field. Source: Valve
If you want a simple character that lets you translate your other FPS skills into Deadlock, start with Wraith. However, this isn’t a character you can rely on once you face stiffer competition.
1. Card Trick – Deal weapon damage to summon cards. Activate to throw a card that flies toward the enemy or point under your crosshair.
Level 1: +1 Charge
Level 2: +50 damage
Level 3: +50% card summon rate
2. Project Mind – Teleport to the target location.
Level 1: +15 meter cast range
Level 2: Provides a 300 bullet shield for 8 seconds on teleport. Shield amount scales with spirit power
Level 3: -30 second cooldown
3. Full Auto – Temporarily boosts your fire rate by 20%. Nearby allies receive half the bonus.
Level 1: -15 second cooldown
Level 2: +5 spirit damage per bullet
Level 3: +35% bullet lifesteal
4. Telekinesis – Lift an enemy hero into the air, stunning them for a short time. When the lift ends, the target receives Telekinesis damage.
Level 1: -30 second cooldown
Level 2: +0.5 second duration
Level 3: Telekinesis will target enemies in an area around Wraith
Yamato
Yamato is a samurai-inspired character preferring swift blade attacks to firepower. Source: Valve
Yamato might be the most skill-dependent hero on our Deadlock tier list. Even mastering her basic attack is tough, let alone her skills. Put in the work, though, and she’s one of the best picks in the game.
1. Power Slash – Channel to increase damage over 1.5 seconds, then release a fully charged sword strike. Can be released early to deal partial damage.
Level 1: Gain +60 bullet resist while channeling
Level 2: Apply 40% movement slow for 3 seconds
Level 3: +200 full charge damage
2. Flying Strike – Throw a grappling hook to reel yourself toward an enemy, damage and slowing the target when you arrive.
Level 1: +25% movement slow
Level 2: +20 meter cast range
Level 3: +6 weapon damage for 10 seconds after striking the target
3. Crimson Slash – Slash enemies in front of you, damaging them and slowing their fire rate. If any enemy heroes are hit, you heal.
Level 1: +30% fire rate slow
Level 2: +10% max health healed on hero hit
Level 3: -6 second cooldown
4. Shadow Transformation – Become infused with Yamato’s shadow soul. After an initial invincible transformation, your abilities are refreshed and are 60% faster, your weapon has infinite ammo, and you gain damage resistance and immunity to negative status effects. You are unable to die in this mode.
Level 1: -30 second cooldown
Level 2: +4 meters per second move speed
Level 3: +1.5 second duration
How to Pick the Best Deadlock Hero for You
The best way for you to find the right character for you comes down to two parts. First, consulting a Deadlock tier list such as this one will help you narrow down your choices. 21 characters is a lot, and picking the wrong one to start off might sour you on the entire game.
Once you have a shortlist of characters you want to try in the Deadlock alpha, it then becomes a matter of preference. Do you like DPS characters? Perhaps a support role is more your style? Sometimes picking a lower-tier character ends up being the better option if it means you’ll have more fun.
Steps to Choose the Best Deadlock Hero
Consult a tier list.
Determine your play style.
Experiment with a shortlist.
Consider fun over tier.
All Deadlock Characters in the Playtest
Click here for the full list of Deadlock characters
Abrams
Bebop
Dynamo
Grey Talon
Haze
Infernus
IIvy
Kelvin
Lady Geist
Lash
McGinnis
Mo & Krill
Paradox
Pocket
Seven
Shiv
Vindicta
Viscous
Warden
Wreath
Yamato
FAQs
Is Deadlock on Steam?
Yes, Deadlock is exclusively on Steam, but is currently in a closed alpha state.
How to get access to the Deadlock game?
The only way to play the Deadlock playtest is to get an invite from a player who currently has access.
Is Deadlock available to play now?
Yes, if you have an invite to play Deadlock then you can start playing immediately.
Is Deadlock in early access?
Technically, Deadlock is in what Valve calls an “early development build” – but it is functionally the same as an invite-only early access game.
How many Deadlock characters are there?
There are currently 21 Deadlock heroes, but we expect that number to grow over time.
Where do I find Deadlock game keys?
The only way to get a Deadlock alpha key is to be given one by a player already in the playtest.
Is Deadlock a MOBA or a hero shooter?
Deadlock has elements of both an MOBA and a hero shooter, such as lanes and creep, but also distinct heroes with unique abilities.
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Jesse Lennox has been a games journalist for over 10 years. He began writing as a volunteer for enthusiast sites before going full-time to contribute to outlets like Digital Trends, Pocket-Lint, Classic Nerd, and many more. When he isn't grinding in the latest 100-hour JRPG you can find him at the gym or on the trails.
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