Shiv is a hero with a penchant for making his own opportunities in Deadlock. His kit revolves around bleeding enemies out before swooping in for the kill. This character is fairly flexible with many potential build paths that focus on his different strengths and weaknesses.
The following is a build that capitalizes on the pressure Shiv can apply in-lane with his Bleed DoT, which can keep the enemy's HP just low enough for Shiv to pounce on them. This is what makes him one of the best heroes in Deadlock, and this build should serve as a good starting point for players who have just started trying him out.
Deadlock: 15 Best Items
Crafting a hero build using the best items in Deadlock can be the difference between an epic victory and a quick defeat.
Best Items For Shiv In Deadlock
Shiv's playstyle is all about weakening the enemy before diving in hard for the kill. He does this by pelting his opponents with his Serrated Knives and dashing into their faces with Slice and Dice before blasting them with his shotgun. If that isn't enough, he can finish off any survivors with his Ultimate, Killing Blow, to secure the kill. The following focuses more on stacking Spirit Power and cooldown reduction so Shiv can spam his knives all game.
Laning Phase
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Get Extra Charge as your first item for the extra throwing knife, then follow up with Mystic Vulnerability, so your knives deal more damage. Get Mystic Burst as your third item to make Slice and Dice hit harder.
Close Quarters improves your all-in potential by granting more damage while at close range, and it's great if you're fighting another close-ranged Deadlock character like Pocket. Meanwhile, the Vitality items provide you with the means to stay alive during the laning phase.
Core Items
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This is what your item build is expected to look like come mid-game. Sell any of the laning items if you need additional slots, or upgrade them if possible. The order in which you buy these items mainly depends on how the game is going:
- If you're winning, purchase the Spirit items first.
- If you're losing, get Spirit Lifesteal and Soul Shredder Bullets.
Healbane is a great item on Shiv even if the enemy team doesn't have heroes with strong healing. Since Shiv tends to take a lot of damage, the heal-on-kill portion of Healbane can come in handy in clutch situations, especially since his third skill, Bloodletting, defers a portion of the damage Shiv takes. Healbane and lifesteal can keep Bloodletting from killing you.
Luxury Items and Flex Slots
In the late game, a fed Shiv should be able to quickly burst down priority Deadlock heroes like Infernus or anyone else who has low health. Many of the items players should buy at this stage of the game are upgraded versions of Core items or ones that improve Shiv's survivability.
- Point Blank: Deal even more damage when in close range, and apply Slow with your bullets within that range.
- Siphon Bullets: Gain max HP when hitting enemies with your bullets. Gain a stack of max HP when you defeat a target, and lose two stacks if you die.
- Leech: Grants 35% increased Bullet and Spirit Lifesteal, along with bonus Weapon Damage, Spirit Power, and Health.
- Superior Stamina: Purchase this if you want more dodge charges.
- Bullet/Spirit Armor: Buy and upgrade according to whoever hurts the most in the enemy team.
- Mystic Slow: Slows enemy movement speed and fire rate when they take Spirit damage.
- Escalating Exposure: Dealing Spirit damage applies a stacking Spirit Amp, increasing the Spirit damage taken by your target.
- Mystic Reverb: Imbue an ability to inflict Slow and deal a second burst of Spirit damage to your target after a short while. Use this on Slice and Dice.
- Improved Spirit: More Spirit, Health Regen, Sprint Speed, and Health. Can be upgraded to Boundless Spirit for even more stats.
Since this build mainly focuses on Spirit Power, players should get the Spirit items on this list first if they're winning the game. If not, save up for Leech and Armor items.
Shiv Skill Priorities
Unlock Serrated Knife first, then put one upgrade point into it for an extra knife charge. After that, get Slice and Dice and upgrade it twice for the extra burst damage. Put your next two points into Bloodletting and Killing Blow, then save the rest for either Serrated Knife or Slice and Dice.
Shiv's skill priorities are pretty versatile, but if you want to establish early-mid-game dominance, max out Serrated Knife after getting the second Slice and Dice upgrade. This increases both the impact damage and DoT of your knives, softening enemies up quicker for Slice and Dice and Killing Blow.
Deadlock
- Developer(s)
- Valve
