Shiv is one of the most fun and challenging heroes in Deadlock, thanks to his mobility and ability to deal massive amounts of damage very quickly. We try to capitalize on his strengths in this build, aiming for survivability and lethality with Killing Blow. Best Shiv build for close-range DPS and finishing kills Build name […]

Shiv is one of the most fun and challenging heroes in Deadlock, thanks to his mobility and ability to deal massive amounts of damage very quickly. We try to capitalize on his strengths in this build, aiming for survivability and lethality with Killing Blow.

Warden build (Image via esports.gg)
Warden build (Image via esports.gg)

Best Shiv build for close-range DPS and finishing kills

Build name to search: Slicer and Dicer Shiv - esports.gg

This Shiv build in Deadlock is about balance and staying healthy in the early game, but once you unlock Killing Blow you are unleashed upon the lobby. Use Slice and Dice to set up Killing Blow, rinse, and repeat.

Early game

Focus on wave early on and poke with your knives.

Item Type
Item
Weapon
Restorative Shot
Spirit
Ammo Scavenger
Weapon
Close Quarters
Vitality
Extra Health
Spirit
Spirit Strike

Mid game

Once your ultimate is online, look to keep your rage bar full and take fights.

Item Type
Item
Vitality
Spirit Lifesteal
Vitality
Sprint Boots
Vitality
Enduring Spirit
Weapon
Mystic Shot
Weapon
Kinetic Dash
Spirit
Suppressor
Spirit
Mystic Vulnerability

Late game

Scale your spirit here and focus on making your ultimate as lethal as possible.

Item Type
Item
Spirit
Improved Cooldown
Spirit
Escalating Exposure
Vitality
Leech
Weapon
Point Blank
Vitality
Enduring Speed

Uber late game

Fill flex spots as needed.

Item Type
Item
Spirit
Torment Pulse
Spirit
Mystic slow
Spirit
Superior Cooldown
Weapon
Spiritual Overflow
Vitality
Unstoppable
Spirit
Diviner's Kevlar

Shivabilities and upgrades

Shiv scales here through Slice and Dice and Killing Blow primarily. Use these two abilities to keep Rage filled up and set yourself up late game.

  • Serrated Knives: Throw a knife that damages and bleeds an enemy. Each additional hit adds a stack and refreshes the bleed duration, causing the bleed to increase per stack.
  • Slice and Dice: Perform a dash forward, damaging enemies along the path.
    • Ultimate Unlock: While rage is full an echo of Shiv retraces the dash path after a short delay, damaging enemies again.
  • Blodletting: Take only a portion of incoming damage immediately and defer the rest to be taken over time. Activate to clear a portion of the deferred damage.
  • Killing Blow: Activate to leap towards an enemy hero and instantly kill them if their health is below the kill threshold, otherwise deal 200 damage to them.
    • Passive: Damaging enemies fills you with rage. While at full rage, Shiv gains increased damage and special properties on his other abilities.
Ability upgrade order (Image via esports.gg)
Ability upgrade order (Image via esports.gg)

Strengths and weaknesses of this Shiv build in Deadlock

As fun as this build is to play, it isn't perfect and you will run into some counter play. Here are the main strengths and weaknesses that we have encountered with this build.

Strengths
Weaknesses
Lots of mobility in fights
Weak at range
Can finish off any target
Rage bar can be tough to keep filled
Lethal at close range
Gun can feel weak late game

Be sure to check out our other Deadlock content at esports.gg!