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Shiv
Bleeds out foes, then goes in for a kill

Shiv has zero interest in playing fair, which is why he relies on hit and run tactics to weaken enemies before he dives in for the kill.

Shiv
Bleeds out foes, then goes in for a kill

Shiv has zero interest in playing fair, which is why he relies on hit and run tactics to weaken enemies before he dives in for the kill.

Description

STICKIN EM!!!!
NOW FULLY ANNOTATED!
A bleed-focused Shiv that focuses on lots of sustain and cleaning up with ultimate right after.
Message 'starlyn.' on discord for suggestions/questions. Thank you.
(v2.3 - 9/6/25)

Item Build

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_EarlyGame

Focus on poking the enemies with knifes early. Once 2 points into slice and dice is put into, you can be aggressive, and look to dive with your ult when low.

Deadlock Item

I

Restorative Shot

Best tier 1 sustain item! Try to always shoot enemies when up!

Deadlock Item

I

Mystic Regeneration

Paired with restorative shot, you will sustain decently well in lane. Builds into Radiant Regeneration!

Deadlock Item

I

Extra Charge

An extra knife to poke in lane! Builds into Rapid Recharge.

Deadlock Item

III

Radiant Regeneration

Best sustain item and tops healing charts everytime. Your significant powerspike in early/laning phase and for the rest of the game.

Deadlock Item

II

Healbane

Great for consistent anti-heal, and synergy on your ult! May want to sell really late into the game if out of slots, choose this or decay, your choice.

Optional Sustain/Counter

If struggling to survive in lane, try one of these.

Deadlock Item

I

Active

Healing Rite

If you can't reset and need a quick burst of healing at the moment.

Deadlock Item

I

Extra Health

More health and if you plan on building into fortitude.

Deadlock Item

I

Rebuttal

May be helpful against Abrams/Calico if you can succesfully parry.

Deadlock Item

II

Enchanter's Emblem

Amazing value for mid-game fights!

Deadlock Item

II

Suppressor

Broken against bullet heroes!

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_MidGame

In the mid game, you get two powerspikes: Rapid Recharge & Decay. Look to creep into team fights after these powerspikes.

Deadlock Item

III

Rapid Recharge

More knives, and more spirt on those knifes. Great item to farm after laning phase!

Deadlock Item

II

Enduring Speed

So you don't move like a damn snail lol

Deadlock Item

II

Debuff Reducer

Reduce slows and debuffs that might impact you.

Deadlock Item

II

Improved Spirit

MOR SPIRIT POWAAAA

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Decay

Always use to maintain rage uptime! Now even better with the recent patch!

Deadlock Item

II

Imbue

Compress Cooldown

Reduces cooldown of knives, being able to throw more consistently.

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Debuff Remover

Amazing value for the debuff resist, reduces stuns, DoTs, anti-heal! Also great when slowing hexes & decay counter you. Buy early against DoT heavy comps like Infernus, or Spirit Burn.

Deadlock Item

III

Superior Cooldown

Reduces cooldown of dash & bloodletting, allowing more consistent damage.

GREED

Deadlock Item

III

Trophy Collector

A great snowball item to gain lots of souls and raw stats!

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Cultist Sacrifice

If matchmaking is bad and need to carry, it might be worth picking up.

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_LateGame

In the late game, we build into lots of sustain, then use anti-heal and shreds to get close then ult for the kill.

Deadlock Item

IV

Spirit Burn

Crazy amount of anti-heal when proc'd!

Deadlock Item

IV

Leech

Leech to survive more prolonged encounters!

Deadlock Item

III

Spirit Resilience

You can skip either resiliences if the enemy lineup doesn't have spirit/bullet, and opt to buy escalating instead.

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Ethereal Shift

Use to get out of sticky situations, can use dash after ends.

Deadlock Item

IV

Transcendent Cooldown

Broken item. Reduces cooldown of all abilites, actives, and passives!

Deadlock Item

IV

Boundless Spirit

MOR SPIRIT POWAAAAAAAA

Deadlock Item

IV

Juggernaut

Buy eariler if need slow resist or bullet heavy comps.

PARRY MASTER

YOU'D WIN

Deadlock Item

III

Counterspell

BUY IF NAH ID WIN

Situational

See annotations.

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Cold Front

Great close quarters slow!

Deadlock Item

II

Reactive Barrier

Buy against Bebop, Sinclair, or Wraith!

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Return Fire

Buy against Haze or Vyper! As well as other bullet heavy builds.

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Slowing Hex

Buy against Calico, Pocket, or Lash! As well as enemies with a escape tool.

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Silence Wave

Buy against Geist or Yamato! Or for general utility.

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Knockdown

Buy against Talon or Vindicta! Also great to cancel channeling ults.

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Metal Skin

Buy against Haze or Vyper! Or against bullet heavy comps. Now has crazy value in the new patch!

Deadlock Item

IV

Plated Armor

Could be a more consistent pickup then metal skin or Bullet Resilience against hybrid gun damage dealers. But mostly infernus.

Deadlock Item

IV

Spellbreaker

Great for charcters that have high burst damage! Also great for the resists.

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Divine Barrier

Fighting, all day everyday!

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Unstoppable

Great if the enemy has lots of hard cc to counter you!

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Curse

Buy against Yamato. Very powerful item against channeling ultimates.

Deadlock Item

III

Fortitude

Could be great if frequently fighting on the map, as well as extra health!

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Arctic Blast

Great to do massive dash damage!

Deadlock Item

IV

Imbue

Mystic Reverb

Replace with rapid recharge if you prefer a dash build. Very good slow.

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Infuser

Generally great if you're more focused on dash for burst damage rather than a prolonged fight.

Deadlock Item

IV

Escalating Exposure

If you need more damage rather than sustain!

Ability Point Order

Serrated Knives

Slice and Dice

Bloodletting

Killing Blow

1

2

1

2

5

1

2

5

1

2

5

5