What Roles Do Characters Have in Deadlock?

In team-based games, it’s common to see a clear division of roles in Deadlock — for example, tanks, damage dealers, and support. In Deadlock, however, heroes don't always fit neatly into one position. But some Deadlock roles do start to show clear positions as players develop strategies.

Recently, in a ranked update, there was a priority added for Dynamo and Ivy to be played in a dual lane. We’ve noticed that they are often paired with heroes who need to farm, and they tend to achieve strong results by collecting souls. These heroes are typically referred to as "carries," and as a result, they are often supported by other heroes with specific Deadlock roles designed to assist them in their mission.

"1. What Roles Do Characters Have in Deadlock?","1.1. The Best  Heroes in Deadlock","1.2. Heroes With Multiple Roles"

The Best  Heroes in Deadlock

Two less obvious positions are tank and initiator, which usually play for the team. The tank distracts the opponent, survives with shields and high HP, while the initiator goes after supports or squishy carries, starting fights with spells and chasing down retreating enemies. Initiators can have various positions in a battle.

We analyzed the most popular builds, professional matches, and divided Deadlock heroes into groups. Here's the breakdown:

Carry (High Damage Dealers):

• Grey Talon

• Haze

• Vindicta

• Wraith

• Shiv

• Seven

Tank (High Survivability):

• Abrams

• Lady Geist

• Mo & Krill

• Warden

Initiation (Fight Starters):

• Bebop

• Infernus

• Lash

• Paradox

• Yamato

• Pocket

Support (Team Support):

• Dynamo

• Ivy

• Kelvin

• McGinnis

• Viscous

• Mirage

So, Haze, Wraith, and Seven currently hold the carry position in this patch. Early in the game, they are weak, but as they build up items, they become the strongest. It’s essential for them to move carefully across the Deadlock map, push lanes, fight alongside their teammates when possible, but most importantly, they need to buy key items.

The tank role is straightforward as well. Watch them in the late game. They can be countered by the right item builds, and their durability (a defining trait) starts to fade against lifesteal and healing buffs from others.

The initiator role is a bit more complex. Initiators need items too, but not as many as carries. While they lose some of their impact in the late game, they shine in the mid-game, leading their team with powerful abilities.

Supports, however, are always important. Even if they don’t have healing abilities by default, they can still help their team since there are plenty of useful team-based upgrades available in the shop.

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Heroes With Multiple Roles

Zatochka used to take on the role of an initiator but remains useful in the late game. Vindicta and Grey Talon currently have a lower win rate, but they’re essentially carries. They don’t quite fit into other categories. Some consider them snipers, but that’s more about positioning.

Infernus and Yamato play like carries, but only as long as their damage is sufficient. Eventually, they hit a ceiling with their damage output. We saw a standout Yamato initiator in the FISSURE Underworld finals.

Mirage and McGinnis excel at pushing lanes and starting fights. The turret operator walls off enemies and fires her ultimate, while the Djinn Bodyguard plays around double tornadoes. Kelvin, thanks to his healing and slowing abilities, can act both as a tank and an initiator.

In Deadlock, there is a highly dynamic balance of power not only between teams but also within them. You don’t necessarily have to stick to the roles in Deadlock outlined in this guide — these are just general guidelines. Analyze the needs of your draft, communicate with your teammates, and distribute responsibilities evenly — this is the path to victory!