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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 REWORKED AND FULLY ANNOTATED!
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.
(v3.1 - 10/23/25)

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 Rapid Recharge.

Deadlock Item

I

Restorative Shot

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

Deadlock Item

I

Extra Charge

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

Deadlock Item

I

Mystic Regeneration

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

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

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 sell really late into the game if out of slots, choose this or decay, your choice.

Deadlock Item

II

Imbue [E]

Compress Cooldown

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

Deadlock Item

III

Rapid Recharge

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

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

II

Mystic Shot

Great poke in lane if you can aim it! Also triggers mystic regen! (Buy after extra charge)

Pick 1

or none because you're him frfr

Deadlock Item

II

Reactive Barrier

Broken against hard CC heavy comps, and will help you in the mid game as well! Bugged on him rn, rage amps shield value.

Deadlock Item

II

Spirit Shielding

Buy if lots of spirit burst!

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_MidGame

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

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Decay

Always use to maintain rage uptime!

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

IV

Active

Ethereal Shift

Holy e-shift nerf?? Now transcend right after is more valuable.

Deadlock Item

IV

Transcendent Cooldown

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

Mid-Late Defensives

Green items you may need.

Deadlock Item

II

Enduring Speed

If you don't want to be a damn snail lol

Deadlock Item

III

Counterspell

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

Deadlock Item

III

Bullet Resilience

Buy if the team is mostly comprised of bullet characters. (Consider Plated Armor if hybrid damage dealer)

Deadlock Item

III

Spirit Resilience

Not recommended as spirit resist will come from raw stats of items, but can be useful if you need instant value.

#Citadel_HeroBuilds_LateGame

We build into more damage and sustain and wilttle down their health in the back line then ult in for the kill.

Deadlock Item

II

Mystic Vulnerability

Decent resist and shred! Builds into Escalating Exposure next.

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

Active

Infuser

Insane burst healing when you're low, and more spirit resist! GET LEECH INSTEAD IF AGAINST CAPACITOR!

Deadlock Item

IV

Boundless Spirit

MOR SPIRIT POWAAAAAAAA

Luxury Defensives

Pick 2 Greens. See annotations.

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! Lash, Yamato, Pocket, etc. Also great for the raw stats it gives! Replace Enchanter's Emblem.

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Colossus

Need to be more tanky? Colossus is your item. Don't buy against Capacitor!

Deadlock Item

IV

Juggernaut

Buy against fast firerate characters and huge slows!

Situational Offensives

Deadlock Item

IV

Spirit Burn

Buy against super late game massive healing!

Deadlock Item

IV

Crippling Headshot

Need more easy shred?

Deadlock Item

III

Spirit Snatch

Broken item if you plan to be a main frontliner, and massive spirit resist.

Situational Preferences

Preferences or something you need to buy at the stage of the game.

Deadlock Item

II

Active

Return Fire

Decent against bullet heavy comps!

Deadlock Item

III

Active

Warp Stone

Great and consistent escape / traverse tool.

Deadlock Item

IV

Leech

If you need a more consistent heal rather than a burst heal infuser provides, or countered by capacitor.

Deadlock Item

IV

Active

Unstoppable

If you get hard cc'd 24/7 by a mo and krill (NERF MO AND KRILL)

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

Silence Wave

May be useful against spirit heavy comps. Can be used as a upgraded slowing hex. (Broken item rn)

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

Roaming

Be more active on the map!

Deadlock Item

III

Fortitude

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

Deadlock Item

III

Veil Walker

Faster roaming speed, and invis to catch enemies offguard!

Deadlock Item

III

Stamina Mastery

MOVEMENT GOD

Greed

CARRY PLZ

Ability Point Order

Serrated Knives

Slice and Dice

Bloodletting

Killing Blow

1

2

5

1

2

1

2

5

1

2

5

5

Best Shiv Builds – Deadlock Hero Guide | Deadlock Coach