◈ Navigation Index ▼
- 01 Introduction to Deadlock and Tier Lists
- 02 Understanding Deadlock Tier List Criteria
- 03 Deadlock Hero Tier List (July 2026)
- 04 Spotlight on Top-Tier Heroes
- 05 Navigating the Meta: Tips for Using the Tier List
Introduction to Deadlock and Tier Lists
Deadlock is Valve's upcoming MOBA-hero shooter, currently in closed beta, blending lane-dominating, creep-farming gameplay with hero shooter action. With a vibrant cast of heroes, understanding which characters excel in the current meta is crucial for competitive play. Tier lists serve as valuable guides, ranking heroes based on their performance, impact, and overall effectiveness in the game. As Deadlock is still in its beta phase, the meta is dynamic, with hero performances shifting due to ongoing patches and community discoveries.
Understanding Deadlock Tier List Criteria
Deadlock tier lists are typically calculated by analyzing various in-game metrics and expert observations. Key criteria include:
Win Rate (WR): The percentage of games a hero wins.
Pick Rate (PR): How often a hero is selected in matches.
Meta Performance and Team Impact: A hero's overall effectiveness in the current game environment and their ability to influence the outcome of a match.
Patch Testing and Itemization Trends: How heroes perform after balance changes and with different item builds.
Community Reputation: Insights from players and competitive scenes.
Tiers are generally structured with S-tier representing the best, A-tier comfortably above average, B-tier balanced, and C or D-tier below average. It's important to note that a hero's win rate across a large sample size is often prioritized over a high win rate with fewer matches. These lists are frequently updated to reflect the latest patch changes.
Deadlock Hero Tier List (July 2026)
Based on recent analyses and patch updates from late June and early July 2026, here's a consolidated overview of the Deadlock hero tier list. The game currently features over 38 playable heroes.
S-Tier (Top Picks)
S-tier characters consistently perform well above the average win rate and have a significant impact on games. They are often considered safe first picks or ban targets due to their strong presence in the meta.
Seven: Boasts a high win rate (54.9% - 55.6%) with a moderate pick rate (3.5% - 36.6%), making them an underpicked but overperforming hero or a strong top pick depending on the source. Seven is described as a carry, excelling in late-game impact.
Drifter: Consistently ranks with a high win rate (54.3% - 54.9%) and pick rate (4.5% - 64.4%), establishing them as a dominant force. Drifter thrives on isolating targets and snowballing damage, scaling hard into the late game.
Ivy: Shows a strong win rate (53.8%) and a good pick rate (2.8% - 36.5%).
A-Tier (Strong Choices)
A-tier heroes are comfortably above average and can significantly contribute to a team's success.
Paige: Noted with a 53.2% win rate and 30.9% pick rate.
Warden: Has a 53.2% win rate and 24.6% pick rate, and has seen significant gains recently (+1.3 pp). Warden is known for controlling areas and annoying opponents with walls and turrets.
Kelvin: While experiencing a slight drop (-1.2 pp), Kelvin still maintains a strong 53.3% win rate and 1.4% pick rate, also listed in A-Tier by Mobalytics. Kelvin is an annoyance with slowing abilities and can gain verticality with Ice Path, making him effective against airborne characters. Kelvin can act as a support with his ice-focused abilities and ultimate that creates an impenetrable dome.
McGinnis: Identified with a 53.0% win rate and 16.7% pick rate. McGinnis is a control character who can heal the team, shape fights with a wall, and deploy turrets.
Graves: Listed with a 52.6% win rate and 18.9% pick rate. Graves is among the best performing heroes in 2026.
Lady Geist: A-Tier. Lady Geist trades health for power and can flip fights with her ultimate by swapping health pools with a target.
Wraith: A-Tier. Wraith is considered one of the best and most popular Deadlock characters.
Calico: A-Tier. Calico is a highly mobile roaming assassin who can traverse the map using tunnels and excels at finding isolated targets. She uses Gloom Bombs and Leaping Slash, and can transform into her cat Ava for increased speed and stealth.
Mo & Krill: A-Tier. This duo acts as a tank/initiator, dealing damage and healing themselves with Scorn, and can burrow underground for speed and armor.
Lash: A-Tier. Lash is described as an assassin and specialist, known for being annoying to play against with high-flying stomps and fog abilities.
B-Tier (Balanced & Situational)
B-tier heroes are balanced and can be effective in the right hands and team compositions.
Infernus: Listed in B-Tier. Infernus applies burn damage and excels in sustained fights, with a wave dash for mobility and an AoE ultimate that stuns enemies. He's considered one of the easier heroes to play.
Vindicta: B-Tier. Vindicta's ultimate is powerful for finishing low-health opponents, and her kit includes tethering, flight, and a crow minion.
Paradox: B-Tier. Paradox is a strong counter-pick, especially against ability-focused heroes, with silence on walls, high damage, and outplay potential.
Dynamo: B-Tier. Dynamo is also recommended for beginners.
Holliday: B-Tier.
Bebop: B-Tier. Bebop has a hook, can plant bombs, and uses a laser beam ultimate.
Warden: B-Tier.
Viscous: B-Tier.
Pocket: B-Tier.
Drifter: B-Tier.
Venator: B-Tier.
The Doorman: B-Tier.
Rem: B-Tier.
Mirage: B-Tier. Mirage is a split pusher with burst damage and map traversal abilities.
Haze: B-Tier. Haze is a classic gun carry who excels with attack speed and has an AoE ultimate.
Victor: B-Tier. Victor is considered a dominant frontliner.
C/D-Tier (Niche or Below Average)
These heroes may require specific team compositions or advanced skill to be effective, or they might be underperforming in the current meta.
Shiv: D-Tier. Despite being a most contested hero and a biggest riser (+1.8 pp) in pick rate, Shiv's win rate is currently 49.1%.
Mirage: D-Tier.
Sinclair: D-Tier. Sinclair offers utility, special resistance, and can copy enemy ultimates.
Apollo: D-Tier. Apollo is a spirit nuker focused on precise execution and timing, with a long-range dash ultimate. He is quick and hard to pin down.
Celeste: D-Tier.
Grey Talon: Has been a biggest dropper recently (-1.3 pp) with a 46.7% win rate.
Yamato: Also a biggest dropper (-1.1 pp) with a 50.3% win rate. Yamato possesses core lane strength.
Sleeper Picks & Most Contested (Additional Meta Insights)
Sleeper Picks (Under 5% pick rate, 52%+ WR): Seven (54.9% WR, 3.5% PR), Drifter (54.9% WR, 4.5% PR), Ivy (53.8% WR, 2.8% PR).
Most Contested (Highest pick rate): Shiv (49.1% WR, 4.7% PR), Drifter (54.9% WR, 4.5% PR), Venator (46.1% WR, 3.9% PR).
Spotlight on Top-Tier Heroes
Here's a closer look at some of the heroes frequently ranked at the top:
Seven: This hero consistently shows up with high win rates. Their kit enables significant late-game impact, making them a strong carry choice.
Drifter: A powerful carry who excels at isolating targets and snowballing their damage throughout the match. Drifter's impact grows significantly as the game progresses.
Ivy: Known for a strong performance in the current meta, contributing reliably to team victories.
Abrams: Described as a tank, brawler, and bullheaded character, Abrams is ideal for the frontline, initiating fights, and soaking damage. His abilities like Siphon Life and Shoulder Charge allow him to sustain and control engagements, while Seismic Impact provides a powerful AoE stun.
Infernus: An easier-to-play hero whose power defies his low skill ceiling. Infernus applies burn damage, excels in sustained fights, and has abilities like Catalyst to slow enemies and Flame Dash for high-speed movement.
Kelvin: A disruptive support character who can slow enemies with Frost Grenade and Arctic Beam. His Ice Path ability grants him and allies movement speed and verticality, making him effective against airborne threats. His ultimate, Frozen Shelter, creates a dome that blocks entry/exit and heals allies.
Mina: Described as a nimble harasser, assassin, and controller. Mina excels at burst damage with her rake and gun, and has high mobility with a double teleport, making her hard to pin down and effective at denying space with her ultimate.
Navigating the Meta: Tips for Using the Tier List
Tier Lists as Guides: Remember that tier lists are tools to inform your choices, not rigid rules. Individual skill, team coordination, and specific match dynamics can often outweigh a hero's tier placement.
Personal Playstyle: Choose heroes you genuinely enjoy and feel comfortable playing. Mastering a lower-tier hero can be more effective than struggling with a top-tier one.
Team Composition and Synergy: Deadlock is a MOBA, so character synergies are vital. Consider how a hero fits into your team's overall strategy and how their abilities complement those of your allies.
Adapt to Changes: The game is in closed beta, meaning balance changes are frequent. Stay updated with the latest patch notes and observe how the meta evolves. Win rates and pick rates can refresh every 15 minutes on some tracking sites, and tier lists automatically filter to the newest patch.
Practice and Experimentation: Don't hesitate to experiment with different heroes and archetypes. Developing a broader understanding of various characters will make you a more versatile and adaptable player, especially since some heroes might be banned in matches.