• New Hero Added: Venator (Father Quinn Rourke), a Vatican-sanctioned monster hunter.
  • Hero Archetype: High-mobility weapon damage scaler with "Pure" damage capabilities.
  • Core Mechanic: Almost all abilities scale directly with Weapon Damage rather than Spirit Power.
  • Status of "Old Gods, New Blood" Update: Four out of six community-voted heroes (Rem, Graves, Silver, Venator) are now live.

The Vatican’s Finest: Venator Kit Analysis

Deadlock’s "Old Gods, New Blood" update is moving at a breakneck pace. After the community prioritized Rem, Graves, and the "drunk werewolf" Silver, we finally have our hands on Venator. Known formally as Father Quinn Rourke of the "Sword of St. Benedict," this hero brings a massive amount of "aura" to the lanes. He isn't just a priest; he’s a tactical powerhouse designed to punish supernatural threats with a kit that rewards aggressive weapon builds and precision aim.

Consecrating Grenade

This is your bread-and-butter utility tool. It’s a bouncing projectile that ignites enemies and deals weapon damage. The real kicker? It deals "pure" damage, meaning it ignores all resistances. In the current meta, where self-healing heroes like Victor can be a nightmare to shut down, the healing reduction on this grenade makes Venator a top-tier counter-pick. We recommend practicing the bank shots, though it detonates on impact if you’re looking for a more direct approach.

Gutshot and the Execute Meta

Gutshot is a nasty shotgun blast that provides much-needed self-peel via knockback. If you manage to pin an enemy against a wall, they’re stunned. At max level, this ability transitions Venator from a ranged harasser to a lethal finisher; a wall-stun "blesses" your next heavy melee, allowing it to deal pure damage and execute low-health targets. Given that melee damage scales with weapon damage in Deadlock, this is going to be a "one-tap" machine in the right hands.

Hex-Lined Snap Trap

This is Venator's highest skill-ceiling ability. You slide a trap across the floor that arms after a short delay. If triggered, the enemy is immobilized and revealed through walls for 30 seconds. At max rank, Venator gains a 20% damage buff against trapped targets. We’ve found the most effective way to use this is to combo it with Gutshot—knock them back into a pre-placed trap to guarantee the immobilization.

Ultimate: Ira Domini

The "Wrath of the Lord" involves a heavy-duty stake-firing crossbow. You get three shots of massive weapon damage. While only the final bolt is "blessed" initially, maxing this ultimate makes every shot blessed. We suggest prioritizing this upgrade early in the mid-game to ensure your burst potential doesn't fall off.

Early Meta Builds: The "Gun Catholic" Strategy

Because Venator is so heavily reliant on weapon scaling, the "Spirit" builds common on other heroes just won't cut it here. Our take on the current build browser trends—which include gems like "TOP 1 PRIEST NA"—shows a clear preference for raw ballistic power.

Early Game Essentials:

  • Fleetfoot: Essential for positioning those Gutshot knockbacks.
  • Titanic Magazine: You need the sustained fire to keep your weapon scaling relevant.
  • Bullet Lifesteal: Sustains you during trades since you’ll be in the thick of it for melee executes.

Late Game Power Spikes: As the match progresses, you want to lean into the "Glass Cannon" and "Lucky Shot" items. Combined with "Vampiric Burst," Venator becomes a high-risk, high-reward duelist who can delete tanks before they realize they’ve been hexed.

What’s Next for Deadlock?

With Venator now stalking the streets of New York, only two heroes from the initial six-hero vote remain: the fencer Apollo and the carnie Celeste. While some players are still reeling from Graves' oppressive "little zombies" and immobilizing walls, the addition of Father Quinn provides a refreshing, weapon-focused playstyle that rewards mechanical skill over ability spam. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the win rates as players seek absolution—and headshots—in the coming weeks.