Deadlock is getting a ranked mode, meaning relying on intuition for hero picks is no longer a viable strategy. This ONE Esports Deadlock hero tier list should help you climb through the 11 medals.
On October 15, 2024, competition in Valve’s MOBA-FPS will reach the next level with the addition of ranked mode. Previously, with little at stake, players often relied on quick, casual hero picks.
But that’s about to change. Ranked mode will be strictly solo. That means hero selection will require careful consideration.
Deadlock hero tier list for ranked mode
There aren’t enough professional Deadlock tournaments to create an esports-based tier list. However, we’ve based this one on the recently held Aurora tournament, which had a pub-like format, as well as hero popularity and overall in-game viability.
- S: Best meta heroes for ranked play.
- A: Excellent toolkits when appropriately used.
- B: Can be built into a game-winning hero.
- C: High pick rate, low win rate.
- D: Not viable for ranked mode.
Here is our ultimate Deadlock hero tier list:
- S-tier: Dynamo, Seven
- A-tier: Kelvin, Abrams, Viscous, Pocket, Ivy, Infernus, Haze
- B-tier: Shiv, Mo & Krill, Vindicta, Lash, Wraith, Paradox
- C-tier: Warden, Yamato, Bebop
- D-tier: Lady Geist, Grey Talon, McGinnis
Dynamo and Seven dominate in crowd control, securing them a spot in the S-tier of our Deadlock hero tier list.
Dynamo, in particular, stood out at the Aurora tournament with his area-of-effect knock-up, team-wide healing, and an ultimate that can lock down entire enemy squads, making him one of the most picked heroes. Seven, on the other hand, can be built in many ways, making him a versatile pick.
Crowd controllers are handy in late-team fight situations, but Tanks can help you win more games, especially if you’re confident in initiating team fights and peeling for allies. If that’s you, Kelvin, Abrams, and Viscous are ideal heroes to pick. Shiv and Mo&K, while considered the weaker tanks, were still picked since most teams at Aurora favored dual-tank compositions.
Ivy is an excellent hero to pick long-range fights, and offer aerial support during late game. However, it’s worth noting that Ivy has a fairly high learning curve. Still, she’s extremely rewarding through different game phases—specifically, her AirDrop, which helps tanky heroes escape chaotic duels.
Vindicta’s placement in B-tier instead of C might stem from the standout performance by Team MikaelS, who consistently prioritized her in their drafts and dominated the opposition. This success led other teams to scramble for her in subsequent games, though they failed to replicate the same impact. She will likely rise to A-tier as the meta evolves, as she can truly excel in an organized, fast-paced format where six players are on the same page.
Following the recent nerfs, Lash has become more situational but remains one of the most mobile characters in Deadlock, a crucial aspect of the game.
Wraith is a particularly excellent hero for the laning phase, but her impact wanes in the late game. She has an extremely high pick rate of 82% in standard Deadlock games, but only 40% of players manage to secure a win with her across all games.
Players don’t frequently pick Paradox, and his win rate is similarly unpromising. This is likely due to the steep learning curve of his toolkit, where the rewards may not justify the time spent in the Sandbox.
C-tier champions in Deadlock are fair picks but are not regarded as impactful enough to justify an early draft choice. Of all the heroes, Bebop is probably the only one that could be considered B-tier, were it not for his limited mobility and the recent nerfs in September.
His Hyper Beam cooldown has increased by 13 seconds, and its level one duration has decreased by eight seconds, resulting in significantly reduced uptime. Still, confident players can maximize the potential of their Hook to pull dangerous enemies away from teammates in peril and early round ganking.
Lady Geist, Grey Talon, and McGinnis all see decent playtime in standard Deadlock games, likely due to their low learning curve, but their win rates are not encouraging. However, we recommend them for newer players getting the hang of Deadlock, but they won’t get you far in ranked play. Even at the Aurora tournament, they were not selected by winning teams, contributing to their D-tier ranking.
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