Deadlock CoachDeadlock Coach
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 REWORKED WITH 4.8K POWERSPIKES!
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.
(v3.4 - 12/24/25)

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 Spirit Lifesteal/Infuser late.

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

Healbane

Great for consistent anti-heal, and synergy on your ult! May want to buy early against Kelvin or Geist.

Deadlock Item

II

Enduring Speed

Great against movement slows when you want to chase or escape!

Lane Optionals

Situational lane items.

Deadlock Item

I

Active

Healing Rite

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

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

I

Monster Rounds

May want if your wave keeps getting pushed in.

Deadlock Item

I

Active

Rusted Barrel

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

#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! May want to buy Spirit Snatch instead if against debuff remover/DB or Victor and Viscous.

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

III

Rapid Recharge

More knives, and more spirt on those knifes.

Deadlock Item

III

Fortitude

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

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Debuff Remover

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

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_LateGame

Other items to buy to round out our build! After TCD, don't buy Left to Right, buy according to game state.

Deadlock Item

IV

Transcendent Cooldown

Broken item. Reduces cooldown of all abilites, actives, and passives! Amazing value for our active filled build!

Deadlock Item

IV

Boundless Spirit

MOR SPIRIT POWAAAAAAAA (Buy early if no slots!)

Deadlock Item

IV

Plated Armor

Amazing pickup to hybrid damage dealers! Infernus, Mina, Mirage, etc.

Deadlock Item

IV

Spellbreaker

Great for charcters that have high burst damage! Also great for the raw stats it gives! Replace Enchanter's Emblem.

Deadlock Item

IV

Juggernaut

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

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Infuser

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

Early-Mid Optionals

Deadlock Item

II

Mystic Shot

Great poke in lane, aim at enemy every 8s!

Deadlock Item

II

Reactive Barrier

Buy most games. Broken against hard CC heavy comps, and will help you in the mid game as well! (holy nerf, but still a great pickup none the less!)

Deadlock Item

II

Weapon Shielding

Actually a pretty good pickup since its easier to proc than Spirit Shielding! (Especially in hybrid meta rn)

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Return Fire

Decent early-mid game option against bullet heavy comps!

Mid-Late Optionals

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Metal Skin

The best anti-gun item! A must against AP rounds. Also pairs well with TCD.

Deadlock Item

III

Bullet Resilience

THE DAMN ENTIRE TEAM HAS BULLET ONLY INVESTMENT

Deadlock Item

III

Spirit Resilience

THE DAMN ENTIRE TEAM HAS SPIRIT ONLY INVESTMENT

Deadlock Item

III

Counterspell

BUY IF NAH ID WIN (Buy against telegraphed abilites & ults. Lash, Wraith, Abrams, Infernus etc.)

Great Options

See annotations.

Deadlock Item

III

Torment Pulse

Broken item, does lots of damage (even better when amped with rage) when close and maintains rage indefintely. But this is a knife build :)

Deadlock Item

III

Spirit Snatch

Very great item if you can build rage by weaving in light melees. Sub for Decay.

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.

Late / Luxury Optionals

Buy as needed. See annotations.

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

Great spirit resist and more damage on prolonged fights, great against high spirit resist! Also works with your team.

Deadlock Item

IV

Spirit Burn

Buy against super late game massive healing!

Situational Counters

See annotations.

Deadlock Item

II

Suppressor

Broken against bullet heroes!

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Slowing Hex

Buy against characters with escape tools. Like Mo & Krill, Pocket, Wraith, etc.

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Knockdown

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

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Curse

Bully that one hard-carry on the team (although you probably shouldn't be the one buying this)

Situational Preferences

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

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Spirit Sap

Buy with a spirit laner and against spirit heroes.

Deadlock Item

II

Spirit Shielding

Only good if the enemy is spirit only, and not shooting their gun like some Grey Talon, Pocket, and Lash builds.

Deadlock Item

III

Veil Walker

Fast roaming speed, great heal, and stealth to catch enemies offguard! Sub for Fortitude.

Deadlock Item

III

Stamina Mastery

MOVEMENT GOD

Deadlock Item

IV

Leech

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

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Focus Lens

become a pick hero for some reason lol

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Cultist Sacrifice

I NEED TO CARRY (If you're getting this, combo with a tier 2 weapon to get 4.8K investment)

Deadlock Item

II

Kinetic Dash

INFINITE RIGHT CLICK

Ability Point Order

Serrated Knives

Slice and Dice

Bloodletting

Killing Blow

1

2

5

1

2

1

2

5

1

2

5

5