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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!!!!
Knife shiv got nerfed to oblivion sadly, refer to together's build.
A full bleed Shiv that focuses on lots of sustain and anti-heal, then cleaning up with ultimate right after.
Message 'starlyn.' on discord for suggestions/questions. Thank you.
(v3.7.2 - 2/5/26)

Item Build

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_EarlyGame

Focus on staying back and poking with knifes early. Look to fight once you have rage up! Very strong after Radiant Regeneration, 4.8k powerspike.

Deadlock Item

I

Restorative Shot

Best tier 1 sustain item! Try to always shoot enemies when up! Can skip if good lane.

Deadlock Item

I

Extra Spirit

SPIRIT POWAAAA

Deadlock Item

I

Extra Charge

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

Deadlock Item

III

Radiant Regeneration

Core sustain item, but falls off mid-late game. Your significant powerspike in early/laning phase and for the mid-game. Swap out with Mystic Reverb/Infuser late.

Deadlock Item

II

Healbane

Great for consistent anti-heal, and synergy on your ult! Allows you to "all in" more in lane. May want to buy early against Kelvin or Geist.

Deadlock Item

II

Enchanter's Emblem

Amazing value for spirit resist and stats! Still works great in mid-late game! May want to sell for spellbreaker late game.

Deadlock Item

II

Enduring Speed

Great against movement slows when you want to chase or escape! Can sub for Debuff Reducer.

4.8k gun + need to carry

Buy as needed.

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Cultist Sacrifice

Great item for soul generation and weapon damage! Since jungle is nerfed by 30%, this is now less valuable but conisder if you have slots and need to carry!

Deadlock Item

III

Point Blank

Great option for consistent weapon damage!

Deadlock Item

II

Kinetic Dash

Paried with Cultist, you get decent damage from your gun and extra stamina recovery to aid your movement.

Deadlock Item

II

Mystic Shot

Great for a more poke playstyle.

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_MidGame

Look for fights in the mid-game, as you have your 4.8k powerspikes.

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Decay

Always use to maintain rage uptime! Amazing single target bleed & heal reduction! May want to buy Torment Pulse instead if against debuff remover/DB or Victor and Viscous.

Deadlock Item

III

Spirit Resilience

Great value against spirit comps!

Deadlock Item

III

Rapid Recharge

More knives, a little bit of spirit, and an extra source of CDR on those knives!

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Warp Stone

Great consistent movement & escape tool, while also providing bullet resist! Use to extend range on your ULT or escape!

Deadlock Item

II

Imbue

Compress Cooldown

With rapid, you'll have knives up in no time.

Deadlock Item

III

Bullet Resilience

Resiliences are crazy, buy metal skin if you prefer.

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_LateGame

Buy accordingly to enemy & item lineup. If you are a beginner, buy left --> right.

Deadlock Item

IV

Boundless Spirit

MOR SPIRIT POWAAAAAAAA (Buy early if no slots!)

Deadlock Item

IV

Transcendent Cooldown

Broken item. Reduces cooldown of all abilites, actives, and passives! Amazing value if you have a lot of actives!

Deadlock Item

IV

Spellbreaker

Great for charcters that have high burst damage! Also great for the raw stats it gives! Replace Enchanter's Emblem if no slots.

Deadlock Item

IV

Plated Armor

Amazing pickup to hybrid damage dealers/debuff heavy gun! Infernus, Mina, Haze, etc.

Deadlock Item

IV

Juggernaut

Buy against fast firerate characters and huge slows! (Buy early if no slots!)

Early-Mid Optionals

Deadlock Item

I

Active

Healing Rite

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

Deadlock Item

I

Active

Rusted Barrel

lowkey OVERSTATED and so good against gun heroes its not even funny

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Spirit Sap

Buy with a spirit laner and against spirit heroes.

Deadlock Item

II

Reactive Barrier

Great against hard CC heavy comps!

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Return Fire

Decent early-mid game option against bullet heavy comps!

Mid-Late Optionals

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Metal Skin

Broken af, get into any gun carry.

Deadlock Item

III

Counterspell

NAH I'D WIN (Can slot in a different T3 in options if you need)

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Dispel Magic

Decay, slowing hex, silences, etc.

Great Options

Buy as needed.

Deadlock Item

III

Torment Pulse

Broken item, does lots of damage (even better when amped with rage) when close and maintains rage indefintely.

Deadlock Item

III

Tankbuster

Very good burst for over 2.5k hp and scales well into tanky late game. Especially great against high spirit resist.

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Arctic Blast

Insane burst on your dash, and is affected by rage!

Other Late / Luxury Optionals

Buy as needed in the late game.

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Ethereal Shift

A great item that you can use to get out of trouble or cleanse bloodletting and come back with lots of buffs!

Deadlock Item

IV

Witchmail

Great item against spirit heavy comps, lots of dash resets/knives!

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Colossus

BIG BACK BIG BACK HP HOLY

Deadlock Item

IV

Escalating Exposure

A great option now that the impact on knives got nerfed, and also another source of spirit resist.

Deadlock Item

IV

Spirit Burn

Buy against super late game massive healing! (Replace healbane unless against Victor)

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Infuser

Insane burst healing when you're low, and more spirit resist!

Deadlock Item

IV

Leech

If you need a more consistent heal rather than a burst heal infuser provides.

Situational Preferences

Items you may want to buy or switch out depending on game state.

Deadlock Item

I

Rebuttal

Broken against meele characters like Abrams, Billy, Calico, and Viscious! Meele Resist & low parry cooldown will catch enemies offguard!

Deadlock Item

II

Suppressor

Great against bullet heroes!

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Cold Front

Great if you want to go 2 points in dash first.

Deadlock Item

III

Veil Walker

Fast roaming speed, great heal, and stealth to catch enemies offguard!

Deadlock Item

III

Fortitude

Great for bonus health and roaming! Scales well into late game.

Deadlock Item

III

Stamina Mastery

MOVEMENT GOD

Deadlock Item

III

Imbue

Surge of Power

Buy if you want more presence in the midgame!

Deadlock Item

III

Superior Duration

Shiv knife nerfs so bad we started building duration lol

Ability Point Order

Serrated Knives

Slice and Dice

Bloodletting

Killing Blow

1

2

5

1

2

1

2

5

1

2

5

5