Valve’s Deadlock combines third-person shooting, MOBA-style strategy, and supernatural storytelling in an alternate version of New York City. Its characters range from streetwise gunfighters and mysterious assassins to occult investigators, living machines, and powerful supernatural beings.
Unlike traditional shooters, Deadlock characters are designed around different combinations of weapons, abilities, mobility, survivability, and team utility. Some excel at close-range combat, while others specialize in controlling territory, protecting teammates, or disrupting enemy formations.
This guide explores 40 Deadlock characters and character concepts, including established playable heroes and characters associated with the game’s development. You’ll learn about their appearances, personalities, combat styles, signature abilities, and roles within Deadlock’s unusual setting.
Important: Deadlock is an evolving game. Its roster, ability names, character designs, and availability can change between updates. This directory distinguishes established heroes from development-era concepts and does not treat every listed character as currently playable.
Deadlock Characters At A Glance
The following directory covers 40 character names and concepts associated with Deadlock. The first group includes established heroes; later entries include characters introduced or discussed during development.
| Character | Combat Identity | Distinguishing Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Abrams | Frontline bruiser | Powerful close-range attacks |
| Bebop | Disruptor | Hook and explosive attacks |
| Dynamo | Teamfight controller | Gravity manipulation |
| Grey Talon | Ranged attacker | Magical archery |
| Haze | Assassin | Stealth and rapid gunfire |
| Infernus | Damage dealer | Fire-based attacks |
| Ivy | Support and mobility | Flight and stone transformation |
| Kelvin | Defensive controller | Ice abilities |
| Lady Geist | Risk-reward fighter | Health-sacrificing magic |
| Lash | Mobile initiator | Aerial combat |
| McGinnis | Defensive specialist | Turrets and barriers |
| Mirage | Mobile skirmisher | Djinn-inspired abilities |
| Mo & Krill | Close-range disruptor | Burrowing and lockdown |
| Paradox | Tactical controller | Time manipulation |
| Evasive attacker | Supernatural suitcase | |
| Seven | Area-damage specialist | Electrical attacks |
| Shiv | Aggressive duelist | Knives and rage |
| Vindicta | Aerial marksman | Flight and precision |
| Viscous | Defensive support | Goo-based abilities |
| Warden | Frontline controller | Binding and durability |
| Wraith | Mobile gunfighter | Card-based abilities |
| Yamato | Melee assassin | Sword combat |
| Holliday | Ranged gunslinger | Trick shots and mobility |
| Calico | Mobile assassin | Feline-themed abilities |
| Sinclair | Occult specialist | Magical deception |
| Vyper | Agile skirmisher | Slippery movement |
| The Doorman | Utility controller | Supernatural doorways |
| Victor | Durable fighter | Reanimation-inspired mechanics |
| Paige | Magical support | Book-based abilities |
| Drifter | Assassin | Hunting isolated targets |
| Billy | Close-range brawler | Aggressive melee combat |
| Mina | Supernatural attacker | Blood-themed magic |
| Apollo | Duelist | Fencing-inspired combat |
| Celeste | Development-era concept | Roster details may change |
| Cadence | Development-era concept | Music-related design ideas |
| Gunslinger | Development-era concept | Firearms-focused identity |
| Kali | Development-era concept | Experimental character design |
| Slork | Development-era concept | Creature-themed identity |
| Thumper | Development-era concept | Experimental combat identity |
| Tokamak | Development-era concept | Energy-themed identity |
The final six entries are development-era names rather than confirmed members of the same playable roster. Their descriptions should not be interpreted as finalized abilities or lore.
Understanding Deadlock Characters And Their World
Deadlock takes place in a supernatural version of New York, where occult forces, strange technology, and competing interests shape the city’s conflicts.
The game blends several character archetypes. Gunfighters use conventional or modified firearms, occult specialists manipulate supernatural forces, and frontline fighters rely on durability and disruption. Other heroes combine multiple styles.
How Deadlock Hero Abilities Work
A hero’s combat identity usually comes from four major elements:
- Weapon: The character’s primary method of dealing regular damage.
- Abilities: Distinctive skills used for movement, damage, control, protection, or utility.
- Ultimate ability: A particularly influential ability that can shape an engagement.
- Item builds: Purchasable upgrades that modify damage, survivability, cooldowns, and other characteristics.
These elements interact with movement mechanics, objectives, and team coordination. A character described as a support can still contribute significant damage, while an aggressive fighter may also provide important crowd control.
Are All Deadlock Characters Playable?
No. Deadlock has undergone extensive development, including public testing, hero additions, and character redesigns.
Some names associated with the project refer to experimental characters or earlier designs. A development-era character name does not necessarily represent a finished or currently selectable hero.
For that reason, this guide separates recognizable established heroes from concepts whose final status is uncertain.
Deadlock Frontline Fighters And Initiators
1. Abrams
Abrams is a powerful close-range fighter whose supernatural toughness makes him particularly effective at starting engagements. His imposing blue-skinned appearance, muscular build, and distinctive clothing give him the presence of an old-fashioned detective mixed with an occult enforcer.
His signature strength is Infernal Resilience, which helps him recover from damage. He can also charge into enemies, knock them into obstacles, and use seismic attacks to disrupt groups.
Abrams rewards players who understand positioning and timing. Charging recklessly into an entire enemy team can still be dangerous, but a well-timed initiation can create opportunities for allies to secure eliminations.
His personality combines stubborn determination with an investigative interest in supernatural mysteries. He is a good example of how Deadlock blends recognizable urban character archetypes with fantasy elements.
2. Bebop
Bebop is a mechanical fighter whose gameplay revolves around grabbing enemies and forcing them into unfavorable positions.
His most recognizable ability is Hook, which pulls a target toward him. This creates opportunities for follow-up attacks, especially when combined with his explosive abilities and powerful mechanical punches.
Bebop’s large robotic appearance makes him immediately recognizable. Although his body looks cumbersome, his abilities can create sudden changes in a fight.
His greatest value comes from disrupting enemy positioning. Pulling a vulnerable opponent away from teammates can be more valuable than simply dealing damage.
Bebop is especially threatening when paired with allies who can quickly capitalize on his crowd control.
3. Dynamo
Dynamo is a gravity-manipulating scientist who excels at team coordination.
His distinctive appearance includes a scientific, mechanical design that reflects the extraordinary changes to his physical existence. Rather than relying exclusively on weapon damage, he uses gravitational effects to influence the battlefield.
His ultimate, Singularity, draws nearby enemies into a concentrated area, making it particularly dangerous when combined with allied area-damage abilities.
Dynamo also provides mobility and healing utility, allowing him to contribute beyond initiating fights.
His character represents Deadlock’s unusual combination of scientific experimentation and supernatural phenomena. Players who enjoy supporting teammates while creating decisive opportunities often appreciate his strategic flexibility.
4. Lash
Lash is an aggressive, highly mobile fighter who specializes in attacking from above.
His abilities reward vertical positioning, aerial movement, and careful engagement timing. He can launch himself into the air, deliver devastating ground impacts, and reposition enemies with his ultimate ability.
Lash’s confident, arrogant personality is reflected in his fighting style. He prefers dramatic engagements and thrives when opponents struggle to track his movement.
Unlike straightforward frontline tanks, Lash depends heavily on mechanical execution. His effectiveness comes from finding the right angle of attack rather than simply absorbing damage.
He is particularly dangerous around buildings and elevated terrain, where his movement options become harder to predict.
5. Mo & Krill
Mo & Krill are two distinct individuals who function together as a single playable hero.
Their gameplay centers on close-range disruption, underground movement, and powerful enemy lockdown.
Burrow allows them to move beneath the battlefield, creating opportunities to approach opponents or escape danger. Their ultimate, Combo, can immobilize a target and make it vulnerable to coordinated attacks.
The pair’s unusual design is one of Deadlock’s most recognizable character concepts. Their contrasting physical appearances reinforce the idea that they operate as a partnership.
Mo & Krill are especially effective when helping teammates eliminate isolated opponents. Their strength lies in controlling encounters rather than winning every fight through direct damage alone.
6. Warden
Warden is a durable frontline fighter who uses binding abilities to restrict enemy movement.
His imposing appearance and authoritative personality suit a character focused on enforcement and control. His kit includes defensive tools, damaging attacks, and abilities that punish opponents who remain within restricted areas.
Binding Word is particularly important because it threatens enemies with immobilization if they fail to escape its effect.
Warden’s ultimate provides a powerful offensive and survival opportunity during extended fights.
His gameplay is most effective when he advances with teammates. Rather than chasing enemies indefinitely, he can establish threatening areas that make it difficult for opponents to hold their positions.
7. Billy
Billy brings a chaotic, punk-inspired fighting style to Deadlock.
His appearance and combat identity emphasize aggression, close-range pressure, and physical confrontation. He stands apart from more disciplined characters through his unruly personality and brawler-oriented mechanics.
Billy is most comfortable when engagements become messy and opponents have limited space to retreat.
His abilities encourage players to seek opportunities for direct confrontation, but that approach requires awareness of enemy control abilities and supporting teammates.
As a character, Billy contributes to Deadlock’s mixture of supernatural personalities and recognizable urban subcultures.
8. Victor
Victor is a durable supernatural fighter whose design draws on themes of reanimation and unnatural survival.
His appearance reflects a body that has undergone extraordinary changes, making him visually different from conventional human gunfighters.
Victor’s combat identity emphasizes endurance and persistence. He is designed to remain threatening during encounters where less durable heroes might be forced to retreat.
His supernatural theme also contributes to Deadlock’s broader portrayal of a city where death, magic, and experimental science are closely connected.
Players interested in characters who can withstand pressure and continue fighting may find Victor’s approach appealing.
Deadlock Assassins And Mobile Duelists
9. Haze
Haze is a stealth-oriented assassin who specializes in rapid attacks and eliminating vulnerable enemies.
Her sleek appearance and covert-operatives aesthetic match a combat style built around deception and positioning.
Smoke Bomb allows Haze to approach opponents without being easily detected, while Sleep Dagger creates opportunities to disable targets.
Her ultimate, Bullet Dance, unleashes rapid gunfire against nearby enemies and can become extremely dangerous under favorable conditions.
Haze is most effective when she approaches fights carefully rather than revealing her position too early.
Her personality and combat mechanics emphasize precision, secrecy, and controlled aggression.
10. Shiv
Shiv is an aggressive fighter whose gameplay emphasizes bleeding damage, close-range pressure, and building rage.
His recognizable appearance includes distinctive hair, a rugged outfit, and an intimidating street-fighter aesthetic.
Shiv can throw knives, dash through opponents, and exploit weakened enemies with finishing attacks.
His rage mechanics reward sustained aggression, allowing him to become increasingly threatening during extended engagements.
Although he can be difficult to eliminate, Shiv is not invulnerable. Poor positioning and coordinated enemy control can still punish reckless attacks.
His combat identity suits players who enjoy pursuing opponents and maintaining constant offensive pressure.
11. Pocket
Pocket is a supernatural trickster whose most distinctive equipment is a mysterious suitcase.
The character’s elegant appearance contrasts with an unpredictable fighting style based on evasion, sudden damage, and unconventional movement.
Flying Cloak provides an unusual mobility option, while Enchanter’s Satchel helps Pocket avoid danger and reposition during combat.
Pocket’s ultimate, Affliction, applies a damaging effect to enemies across an area.
The character rewards creativity and careful timing. Successful Pocket players frequently survive situations that initially appear impossible by combining movement abilities with defensive utility.
Pocket also illustrates Deadlock’s preference for memorable visual designs that communicate a character’s supernatural identity.
12. Calico
Calico is an agile assassin whose design incorporates feline themes and deceptive movement.
Her combat identity revolves around burst damage, evasiveness, and approaching opponents from unexpected directions.
Rather than relying on sustained frontline fighting, Calico seeks favorable opportunities to attack and retreat.
Her abilities make positioning especially important. A successful engagement can quickly pressure a vulnerable opponent, while a poorly timed approach can leave her exposed.
Calico’s character design fits naturally into Deadlock’s world of supernatural creatures and unusual urban personalities.
13. Vyper
Vyper is a highly mobile gunfighter whose movement mechanics make the character difficult to track.
The design emphasizes agility, rapid repositioning, and sustained weapon pressure.
Vyper can exploit terrain and movement opportunities to attack from angles that more conventional heroes struggle to reach.
This mobility makes Vyper particularly appealing to players who enjoy mechanically demanding characters.
However, movement alone does not guarantee survival. Effective Vyper play requires accurate shooting, awareness of enemy abilities, and intelligent decisions about when to disengage.
14. Drifter
Drifter is a sinister assassin associated with stalking and hunting vulnerable opponents.
His combat identity favors pursuing isolated targets rather than participating exclusively in large, coordinated engagements.
The character’s unsettling design reinforces a predatory personality, making him one of Deadlock’s darker supernatural figures.
Drifter rewards players who can identify enemies separated from their teams and recognize when an engagement is favorable.
His effectiveness is closely tied to awareness and timing. Attacking an isolated opponent can be advantageous, but approaching a prepared group can quickly reverse the situation.
15. Yamato
Yamato is a sword-wielding fighter who combines melee combat with supernatural mobility.
Her recognizable design draws on Japanese warrior imagery, featuring a prominent blade and an aggressive fighting style.
Yamato’s abilities include ranged slashes, movement tools, and attacks that reward fighting at close distance.
Her ultimate, Shadow Transformation, temporarily changes her combat capabilities and helps her maintain pressure during dangerous engagements.
Yamato is particularly effective when players understand the relationship between ability timing, movement, and melee range.
Her disciplined yet relentless combat identity distinguishes her from Deadlock’s firearm-focused characters.
16. Apollo
Apollo is a refined duelist whose combat identity draws on fencing and precise movement.
Unlike bruisers who rely on raw durability, Apollo emphasizes finesse, mobility, and carefully selected engagements.
His elegant visual presentation complements a fighting style centered on skillful attacks and controlling individual confrontations.
Apollo is especially suited to players who enjoy technical duels and rewarding mechanical execution.
His design contributes a different form of combat expertise to Deadlock, showing that melee-oriented heroes can emphasize precision rather than overwhelming force.
Deadlock Ranged Damage Dealers And Marksmen
17. Grey Talon
Grey Talon is an experienced supernatural archer who relies on accuracy and careful positioning.
His distinctive appearance includes traditional archery equipment and an older, battle-hardened character design.
Charged Shot allows him to deliver powerful ranged attacks, while his traps help restrict enemy movement.
His ultimate, Guided Owl, sends a controllable supernatural projectile across the battlefield.
Grey Talon is especially effective when he maintains distance from opponents and takes advantage of open sightlines.
His character represents a contrast between traditional hunting skills and the magical abilities found throughout Deadlock.
18. Vindicta
Vindicta is an aerial marksman who uses flight and long-range attacks to threaten enemies.
Her supernatural appearance reflects her association with witchcraft and vengeance.
Flight allows her to gain elevated positions, while Assassinate rewards accurate attacks against vulnerable targets.
Vindicta can create considerable pressure from distances that make retaliation difficult.
However, her effectiveness depends on maintaining favorable positioning. Enemies with strong mobility or reliable crowd control can punish careless aerial movement.
Her story and appearance contribute to Deadlock’s themes of occult history and supernatural conflict.
19. Wraith
Wraith is a stylish gunfighter whose abilities incorporate cards, teleportation, and telekinetic control.
Her appearance evokes a confident criminal-world personality, with a polished design that contrasts with more monstrous characters.
Card Trick adds additional offensive pressure, while Project Mind provides mobility.
Her ultimate, Telekinesis, can isolate an enemy and create an opportunity for concentrated attacks.
Wraith is effective at combining weapon damage with tactical repositioning.
She rewards players who can maintain accurate fire while using abilities to control the distance and timing of engagements.
20. Holliday
Holliday is a Western-inspired gunslinger who brings trick-shot mechanics to Deadlock.
Her recognizable appearance and confident personality draw on the imagery of frontier law enforcement and skilled sharpshooters.
Her combat style combines precision shooting, explosives, and movement utility.
Holliday is particularly effective when players understand how to combine her weapon with abilities that create favorable attack opportunities.
Although she can apply considerable pressure at range, she also benefits from clever positioning and terrain awareness.
Her inclusion demonstrates Deadlock’s willingness to reinterpret familiar genre archetypes within its supernatural New York setting.
21. McGinnis
McGinnis is an engineer and inventor who specializes in defensive structures and sustained pressure.
Her gameplay includes deploying Mini Turrets, creating barriers, and supporting allies with healing utility.
Spectral Wall can divide an engagement, block movement, or help teammates escape.
Her ultimate, Heavy Barrage, provides substantial area damage when opponents remain exposed.
McGinnis is especially useful when defending objectives or controlling important routes.
Her mechanical equipment and practical personality distinguish her from heroes who depend on supernatural powers alone.
She is a strong example of a character whose influence comes from preparation and battlefield control.
22. Infernus
Infernus is a fire-based damage dealer whose attacks can ignite enemies and apply continuing damage.
His striking appearance includes supernatural features that reinforce his connection to flames.
Catalyst helps increase pressure on targets, while Flame Dash provides offensive mobility.
His ultimate, Concussive Combustion, can disrupt nearby opponents with a powerful explosion.
Infernus is particularly threatening during extended fights because his burning effects can accumulate significant damage.
He rewards players who maintain offensive pressure while avoiding unnecessary exposure.
Deadlock Supernatural Specialists And Controllers
23. Lady Geist
Lady Geist is an occult fighter whose abilities revolve around sacrificing health to create offensive opportunities.
Her elegant appearance and sinister supernatural abilities make her one of Deadlock’s most distinctive characters.
Essence Bomb allows her to damage enemies at a personal cost, while other abilities help her sustain herself through combat.
Her ultimate, Soul Exchange, creates a dramatic interaction between her health and an opponent’s health.
This unusual mechanic makes Lady Geist a risk-reward character.
Successful players must understand when sacrificing health is worthwhile and when preserving survivability is more important.
Her character embodies Deadlock’s themes of dangerous supernatural bargains and personal ambition.
24. Seven
Seven is an electrical damage specialist whose abilities can threaten multiple enemies simultaneously.
His dark, imposing design gives him a sinister supernatural presence.
Lightning Ball provides ranged area pressure, while Static Charge can punish enemies who remain too close.
His ultimate, Storm Cloud, creates a powerful electrical threat across a wide area.
Seven is especially effective when opponents are forced to fight within restricted spaces.
However, positioning and timing remain essential because enemies can often respond by moving away or using defensive abilities.
25. Paradox
Paradox is a tactical fighter associated with time manipulation and carefully coordinated attacks.
Her recognizable appearance includes a distinctive mask and equipment connected to her unusual abilities.
Time Wall creates a defensive and disruptive barrier, while Kinetic Carbine rewards deliberate attack timing.
Her ultimate, Paradoxical Swap, exchanges her position with an enemy, creating potentially decisive opportunities.
Paradox is particularly effective when cooperating with teammates who can exploit the resulting positional advantage.
Her mechanics emphasize planning and precision rather than uncontrolled aggression.
26. Mirage
Mirage is a supernatural skirmisher whose design draws on djinn-related imagery.
His appearance combines elegant clothing with magical elements, reflecting a character connected to extraordinary forces.
His abilities include movement, enemy disruption, and attacks that reward repeated pressure.
Tornado provides an important mobility and control tool, while Djinn’s Mark contributes to his offensive identity.
Mirage can influence fights across different positions and distances.
His gameplay rewards players who understand when to initiate, when to pressure enemies, and when to reposition.
27. Sinclair
Sinclair is a magical trickster whose abilities revolve around deception and versatility.
The character’s theatrical occult presentation distinguishes Sinclair from conventional weapon specialists.
A particularly important part of Sinclair’s combat identity is the ability to imitate or borrow aspects of another hero’s abilities.
This creates unusual strategic possibilities because Sinclair’s effectiveness can depend on the opposing lineup.
Rather than following a single predictable combat pattern, Sinclair rewards adaptability and familiarity with multiple characters.
28. The Doorman
The Doorman is a supernatural utility specialist who manipulates doorways and unusual routes through the battlefield.
His distinctive visual identity reflects an enigmatic character associated with movement between spaces.
His abilities create opportunities for repositioning, disorientation, and strategic map control.
Unlike heroes whose primary purpose is direct damage, The Doorman can influence engagements by changing how characters move through an area.
His gameplay rewards creativity and knowledge of terrain.
The character is particularly interesting because his supernatural abilities translate an ordinary concept—opening doors—into an unconventional combat mechanic.
29. Mina
Mina is a supernatural attacker whose character design and combat identity incorporate vampiric and blood-related themes.
Her abilities emphasize magical damage and interactions that reward carefully timed aggression.
Mina’s appearance and supernatural background distinguish her from Deadlock’s human gunfighters.
Her gameplay encourages players to understand the relationship between offensive pressure, movement, and survivability.
She is especially representative of Deadlock’s darker fantasy influences, where supernatural creatures exist alongside modern technology and ordinary city residents.
30. Celeste
Celeste is a theatrical supernatural performer associated with Coney Island.
Her distinctive appearance combines a dazzling stage-performer aesthetic with her hidden identity as a unicorn.
Her abilities include Light Eater, Dazzling Trick, Radiant Daggers, and Shining Wonder. Together, they support an offensive style built around magical disruption, aerial movement, and coordinated engagements.
Celeste’s personality is closely connected to performance, spectacle, and loyalty to her found family.
Her story involves protecting someone close to her, even when doing so risks exposing her extraordinary identity.
Celeste became playable in February 2026, making her an established hero rather than merely an unreleased development concept.
Deadlock Defensive Supports And Team Specialists
31. Ivy
Ivy is a gargoyle-like supernatural creature who combines team support with impressive mobility.
Her small stone-bodied appearance makes her immediately recognizable.
Stone Form allows Ivy to become temporarily protected while creating a disruptive impact.
Her ultimate, Air Drop, enables aerial movement and can transport an allied character.
This ability creates unusual strategic possibilities, including repositioning teammates and approaching objectives from unexpected directions.
Ivy’s gameplay emphasizes cooperation, making her particularly valuable when paired with heroes who benefit from coordinated movement.
Her design demonstrates how Deadlock turns supernatural creature traits into meaningful gameplay mechanics.
32. Kelvin
Kelvin is an ice-based specialist who combines defensive utility with battlefield control.
His abilities can slow opponents, create obstacles, and help protect teammates.
Ice Path allows him to construct a temporary route through the air, creating movement opportunities for himself and allies.
His ultimate, Frozen Shelter, establishes a protected area that can significantly influence an engagement.
Kelvin is especially useful when a team needs to control movement or survive sustained pressure.
His abilities encourage strategic thinking because creating an obstacle can affect both enemies and teammates.
33. Viscous
Viscous is an unusual goo-based character whose abilities emphasize defense, disruption, and unconventional movement.
The character’s distinctive appearance includes a fluid, green, supernatural form.
The Cube can protect a target and provide defensive benefits, while Puddle Punch creates disruptive displacement.
Viscous can also transform into a rolling ball, allowing aggressive movement through enemy positions.
This combination makes the character difficult to categorize as purely offensive or defensive.
Viscous is most effective when players understand how to use protection and disruption at the correct moments.
34. Paige
Paige is a magical support character whose abilities incorporate books and supernatural knowledge.
Her recognizable design reflects a scholarly personality, emphasizing intelligence and protective magic.
Paige’s combat identity focuses on helping teammates, controlling engagements, and using magical abilities to influence enemy movement.
Rather than depending exclusively on direct eliminations, she contributes through utility and coordinated teamplay.
Her character also strengthens Deadlock’s broader theme of occult knowledge existing alongside everyday urban life.
Additional Deadlock Heroes Introduced In 2026
35. Rem
Rem is a supernatural support-oriented hero introduced on January 26, 2026, during the Old Gods, New Blood release sequence.
His inclusion expanded Deadlock’s range of unusual character designs and team-oriented playstyles.
Rem is particularly relevant when examining how the game’s newer heroes broaden its roster beyond conventional shooters and frontline fighters.
36. Graves
Graves joined the playable roster on January 29, 2026.
Her combat identity centers on necromancy and area denial, making her an example of Deadlock’s darker occult themes.
Rather than focusing only on weapon accuracy, Graves influences the battlefield through supernatural effects and controlling spaces that opponents must navigate.
Her design contributes to the game’s growing collection of characters inspired by folklore, magic, and the supernatural.
37. Silver
Silver became playable on February 2, 2026.
The character forms part of the Old Gods, New Blood additions, which introduced several new heroes across a short release period.
Silver’s inclusion is important when distinguishing the expanded 2026 roster from older Deadlock character lists that only cover the game’s original heroes.
38. Venator
Venator was released on February 5, 2026.
The character belongs to the same wave of roster expansions as Rem, Graves, Silver, Celeste, and Apollo.
Venator’s introduction illustrates how Deadlock continued adding distinct combat identities and supernatural character concepts throughout 2026.
The release dates for Rem, Graves, Silver, and Venator are documented in the game’s community-maintained release history.
39. Rat King
Rat King is a large humanoid rodent character introduced on October 2, 2026.
His appearance incorporates a monstrous rat-like form, while his abilities emphasize swarms and supernatural combat effects.
Rat Swarm releases rats that inflict spirit damage over time, making his combat identity especially unusual.
Rat King’s personality is reinforced through an extensive collection of voice lines, including dialogue directed at individual rats.
The character is notable for emerging from a fan-concept background before becoming part of Deadlock’s playable roster.
40. Baba
Baba is a supernatural character inspired by the image of an elderly woman associated with occult folklore.
Her design combines an everyday city archetype with magical and unsettling characteristics.
Baba was introduced on October 6, 2026, as part of the City Never Sleeps expansion.
Her inclusion reflects Deadlock’s distinctive approach to character design, where familiar New York personalities are reimagined through supernatural storytelling.
Baba is particularly memorable because her character concept moves away from the traditional soldier, assassin, or superhero archetypes common in competitive action games.
Deadlock Character Relationships Explained
Deadlock’s roster contains several kinds of relationships, ranging from established partnerships to temporary combat alliances.
| Characters | Connection | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Mo and Krill | Established partnership | Function together as one playable hero |
| Celeste and her found family | Personal loyalty | Central to Celeste’s motivation |
| Ivy and allied heroes | Gameplay cooperation | Can transport teammates |
| Dynamo and allied heroes | Teamfight coordination | Sets up combined attacks |
| Bebop and allied damage dealers | Tactical synergy | Hook creates elimination opportunities |
| Kelvin and allied heroes | Defensive cooperation | Can protect teammates and create routes |
| Wraith and allied heroes | Tactical coordination | Can isolate targets |
| Paradox and allied heroes | Tactical coordination | Can reposition an enemy |
Not every useful gameplay partnership represents a canonical friendship. Players can select heroes on the same team without those characters necessarily having a close relationship in Deadlock’s story.
Deadlock Character Powers And Abilities
| Character | Signature Ability | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Abrams | Infernal Resilience | Survivability |
| Bebop | Hook | Enemy displacement |
| Dynamo | Singularity | Group control |
| Grey Talon | Guided Owl | Long-range attack |
| Haze | Bullet Dance | Rapid area damage |
| Infernus | Flame Dash | Movement and burning damage |
| Ivy | Air Drop | Team transportation |
| Kelvin | Frozen Shelter | Defensive protection |
| Lady Geist | Soul Exchange | Health manipulation |
| Lash | Death Slam | Enemy displacement |
| McGinnis | Mini Turrets | Area control |
| Mirage | Tornado | Mobility and disruption |
| Mo & Krill | Combo | Target lockdown |
| Paradox | Paradoxical Swap | Position exchange |
| Affliction | Area damage | |
| Seven | Storm Cloud | Electrical area damage |
| Shiv | Killing Blow | Finishing weakened enemies |
| Vindicta | Assassinate | Precision damage |
| Viscous | The Cube | Protection |
| Warden | Binding Word | Immobilization threat |
| Wraith | Telekinesis | Target isolation |
| Yamato | Shadow Transformation | Combat enhancement |
| Celeste | Shining Wonder | Magical teamfight impact |
| Rat King | Rat Swarm | Damage over time |
These descriptions focus on the abilities’ primary purposes rather than patch-dependent numerical values.
Who Are The Main Deadlock Characters?
Deadlock differs from a traditional story-driven game because it does not revolve around one permanent playable protagonist.
Instead, players choose from a roster of heroes, each with a distinct background and gameplay identity.
Abrams, Haze, Bebop, Dynamo, Ivy, Seven, Wraith, and Yamato are among the recognizable characters associated with the game’s established roster.
However, recognition should not be confused with canonical importance. A character’s popularity among players does not automatically make that character the central protagonist of Deadlock’s story.
How Deadlock Characters Fit Into Different Playstyles
Frontline And Close-Range Fighters
Abrams, Mo & Krill, Warden, and Billy favor direct engagement, disruption, and sustained pressure.
Assassins And Duelists
Haze, Calico, Shiv, Drifter, and Yamato benefit from timing, target selection, and mobility.
Ranged Damage Specialists
Grey Talon, Vindicta, Wraith, and Infernus offer different combinations of sustained damage, precision, and pressure.
Support And Control Specialists
Ivy, Kelvin, Dynamo, McGinnis, and Paige can influence fights through protection, movement, healing, or battlefield control.
These categories are practical descriptions, not rigid in-game classes. Many heroes can perform multiple roles depending on their builds and team composition.
Deadlock Characters And Development-Era Concepts
Deadlock’s development history includes several character names that should not be confused with its current playable roster.
Examples include Cadence, Gunslinger, Kali, Thumper, and Tokamak. These names are associated with earlier development material, including the project’s Neon Prime era.
Other concepts appeared in experimental environments such as Hero Labs.
Development-era names can be useful for understanding how Deadlock evolved, but their unfinished abilities and appearances should not be presented as finalized character information.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Deadlock Characters Are There?
As of October 9, 2026, community-maintained roster references identify 40 playable heroes, with additional characters planned for release. The number can change as Valve adds new heroes.
Who Is The Main Character In Deadlock?
Deadlock does not have one fixed playable protagonist. Its matches feature multiple selectable heroes with individual identities and backgrounds.
Who Are The Best Deadlock Characters For Beginners?
Abrams, Warden, and McGinnis can be approachable starting points for learning fundamental combat and positioning. However, the easiest choice depends on a player’s experience with shooters and MOBAs.
Which Deadlock Characters Can Fly?
Vindicta can use flight during combat, while Ivy has an aerial transportation ability. Other heroes possess movement skills that allow temporary airborne positioning.
Which Deadlock Characters Use Magic?
Lady Geist, Seven, Kelvin, Mirage, Paradox, and Celeste are examples of heroes whose abilities incorporate supernatural or extraordinary effects.
Are Mo And Krill Two Different Characters?
Mo and Krill are two individuals who work together, but they function as a single selectable hero in gameplay.
Which Deadlock Characters Use Swords?
Yamato is particularly associated with sword combat. Apollo also uses a fencing-inspired dueling style.
Who Are The Newest Deadlock Characters?
Rat King and Baba were released on October 2 and October 6, 2026, respectively. Additional characters are scheduled for the ongoing City Never Sleeps rollout.
Are All Deadlock Characters Human?
No. The roster includes humans, supernatural beings, mechanical characters, and other unusual entities. Bebop, Ivy, and Rat King are recognizable examples of nonhuman character designs.
Do Deadlock Characters Have Official Ages And Birthdays?
Not every hero has a publicly established canonical age or birthday. These details should only be included when reliable franchise material confirms them.
Conclusion
Deadlock characters stand out because they combine recognizable personalities with unusual supernatural abilities and strategically varied gameplay.
From Abrams’ aggressive frontline combat and Haze’s stealth-oriented attacks to Ivy’s aerial support and Paradox’s time manipulation, each hero offers a different approach to movement, positioning, damage, and teamwork.
The roster also reflects Deadlock’s distinctive setting. Scientists, supernatural creatures, occult specialists, mechanical fighters, and unconventional urban personalities coexist within a world shaped by magic and technology.
Understanding these 40 Deadlock characters helps players recognize combat threats, choose heroes that suit their preferred playstyles, and appreciate the creative ideas behind the game’s expanding cast.
Because Deadlock remains in development, its roster and character mechanics will continue evolving. Distinguishing established heroes from experimental concepts, and checking current game information for mechanical changes, is essential for maintaining an accurate character reference.