Deadlock characters tier list in 2025: Who are the best heroes to use?

Valve’s Deadlock is one of the most unique MOBAs around because, first and foremost, it’s a third-person shooter. It features a large cast of heroes that fill various roles, and the gameplay will feel very familiar to those who enjoy MOBAs such as League of Legends and DOTA 2. In a three-lane map, two teams of six face off to destroy their enemy’s base. To do so, they must clear pathways for their minions by destroying fire-spitting steampunk mechs.

In our Deadlock tier list, we’re going to analyse the best performing heroes of the roster and, based on pick-rates, win-rates and personal testing, determine which ones are the best to get better at to win more games. As Deadlock is currently in closed beta, however, it’s not guaranteed that a hero will be as it is now at release.

Presenting Esports Insider’s definitive ranking of the Deadlock hero tier list in 2025. 

Our Deadlock heroes ranking is based on personal testing conducted during the current closed beta and on publicly available data from Steam. Deadlock is a complex MOBA, so when choosing a character to start mastering, it’s also essential to have a connection with them: to perform at the highest levels, you’re going to need to know cooldown timings, synergies, builds and strategies, so consider carefully which hero to study.   

To create this Deadlock heroes tier list, we’re using the tried-and-true SABC tier system, so defining an S-Tier character and what makes it so is essential.

In summary, the best Deadlock heroes in 2025 are Wraith, Seven and Warden. They have the highest win rates, but their playstyles may not be suitable for everyone. All of our A-Tier picks (Dynamo, Haze and Lash) are almost as valuable because of how well balanced this game is, so do not shy away from them as almost every hero type (tanks, glass cannon, melee) is covered.

Seven dominated the metagame in the early days of the closed Deadlock beta, then got nerfed. Now he’s back on top of the charts, boasting a simplicity-to-effectiveness ratio unrivalled in the game. He has a medium-range primary weapon, an area denial grenade, a stun, a stim (that powers him up), and an area denial ultimate that, if buffed properly, makes the entire enemy base a living hell. He’s easy to use and powerful; that’s why he remains the best.

Wraith is great for duelling, especially in the early game. She has excellent mobility, plenty of burst damage and a long stun that can isolate enemies for your partner to finish off. With the correct support, Wraith can farm plenty of souls in the early game and give a concrete advantage to the team. 

Warden is the third S-Tier character in our Deadlock tier list because he’s a crowd control master. His cage stun is very powerful and allows for very good solo eliminations. His ultimate, in the final phases of a match, can give a struggling team the necessary boost and heal him, so it is perfect for sustaining. 

The most versatile character in the Deadlock roster is Dynamo, as he can be built towards being a great healer, an undying tank or a magnet to guaranteed success in ultimate fights. He has it all, a gun that can rapid fire minions and adversaries to oblivion, a self/team heal that is great for sustain, a short-range stun and an ultimate that keeps opponents in place for others to kill. He’s best played in a duo as he can heal and create opportunities, but thanks to his survivability, he can manage a lane on his own.

Haze is the assassin/glass cannon type character that consistently fascinates a significant portion of the player base: her 82% pick rate is proof. She can become invisible, sleep enemies, boost her damage and unleash an area-damage ultimate that, if well built, can wipe entire teams. She’s very fragile health-wise, so she’s not great in long skirmishes, but if you roleplay as an assassin, you’ll get a lot of wins out of her. 

Lash is the hero to get up close and personal: he’s melee and stun-focused with life-steal and plenty of mobility. He’s hard to play as the combos need to be split-second perfect, but with mastery comes a lot of satisfaction and won games. 

Infernus has the unofficial role of mascot for Valve’s Deadlock, so he’s very popular thanks to his rad looks as a firespitting demon. His kit is very straightforward and easy to learn. Unfortunately, while he’s consistent with his DPS, he’s outshone, especially in the late game, by Seven and Wraith. His team-wide stun, however, can have a lot of value, especially against a good Lash or Warden.

Yamato is another Deadlock character for those who enjoy close-range duels. Her main bonus is the damage spike she can achieve through her ultimate, one so high that even the tankiest of Dynamos must be fearful. It comes, however, as a trade-off because she must build towards damage, foregoing survivability and damage reduction. If you’re looking for a high-risk and high-reward glass cannon, you’re much better off with Haze. 

McGinnis is in B-Tier because her max damage output is hard to reach, but her turrets, team heals and wall (those skilled enough can counter entire ultimates with it) work in perfect unison to create the sturdiest support character available.

C-Tier Deadlock characters should be your priority only if you find them particularly resonant with your play style or personality. If mastered, they can indeed secure a win, but there is an evident disadvantage to picking them. Vindicta is the only sniper character worth playing, and she can be a lot of fun with her glide and rifle. 

Shiv delivers a lot of overall fun because he’s a gunslinging monkey. His abilities are mostly outclassed in the close to medium range by other characters in this list, but the overall experience in his shoes is great.

Viscous not only has very unique abilities because he’s made of goo, but he has some of the funniest lines of dialogue in the hero shooter space. He has nice survivability, damage and area denial, just not on par with his colleagues at the medium range.

The Deadlock beta is still invite-only, so the easiest way to get in is to know someone who’s playing and ask for an invite. If you don’t know anybody in the closed beta, you can head to the Deadlock Invites Megathread on Reddit, where moderators and players often post their Steam friend codes so that someone can invite them.

If you’re looking for the best and most played heroes in Deadlock, they are Seven, Wraith, and Warden. If their playstyles don’t align with yours, all the A-Tier options are great for increasing wins, especially Dynamo. B-Tier characters are fun but have better counterparts, while C-Tier heroes are only advised for the fun they provide. 

Deadlock, however, is a game of builds and experimentation; nothing is set in stone forever. There’s always the opportunity to make a character work thanks to the right build, so don’t be afraid to try even those who didn’t make this list, as they could be the right fit for you.