Deadlock Shiv Build Guide

Making the best Deadlock Shiv Build can be extremely difficult to figure out. This hero has an interesting blend of fast movements and a high-damage close combat style. He is one of the most underrated characters in Deadlock, and has the potential to make you seemingly untouchable on the server if you can utilize all of his abilities well.

As per the in-game lore, Shiv is an ally of Grey Talon and has been working in the Baxter Society for a long time. He kills monsters all around North America for a living. However, he comes from a criminal background, making his colleagues suspicious of him.

Note: This article is subjective and solely based on the writer's opinions. The values and abilities mentioned in this guide are valid as of the major patch dated September 12, 2024. Things are likely to change with the official public release.

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How to play Shiv in Deadlock?

Shiv in Deadlock (Image via Valve)

Here are all the abilities of this hero:

• Serrated Knives: Throws a knife that damages and slows an enemy. Each additional hit adds a stack and refreshes the debuff duration, causing the damage to increase per stack. (Cooldown time is 18s)
• Slice and Dice: Performs a dash forward, damaging enemies along the path. (Cooldown time is 15s)
• Bloodletting: Takes only a portion of incoming damage immediately and defers the rest to be taken over time. Can be activated to clear a portion of the deferred damage. (Cooldown time is 20s)
• Killing Blow: Leaps towards an enemy hero and instantly kills them if their health is below the kill threshold, otherwise deals 200 damage to them. (Cooldown time is 90s)

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Deadlock Shiv build: Best items

Best Deadlock Shiv Build (Image via Valve)

You need to strategize and pick multiple abilities depending on your situation. Buying the right affordable items from The Curiosity Shop at the start and eventually upgrading to the stronger ones is the key.

Here are the recommended items for a strong Deadlock Shiv Build:

1) Early game

These are the basic items you should buy during the early game:

• Close Quarters: +85 Bullet Shield Health and close range Buff.
• Enduring Spirit: +75 Bonus Health, +10% Spirit Lifesteal, +4 Spirit Power.
• Extra Charge: +1 Bonus Ability Charge, +10% Cooldown Reduction for Charged Abilities, +6% Weapon Damage.
• Extra Stamina: +1 Stamina, +10% Stamina Recovery, +7% Fire Rate.
• Quicksilver Reload: 65 Spirit Damage, 15% Fire Rate Bonus, 12s Max Frequency.

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2) Mid game

These are the items you should buy during the mid-game:

• Spirit Lifesteal: +23% Spirit Lifesteal, +75 Bonus Health.
• Kinetic Dash: +100 Bonus Health, +1.5 Health Regen.
• Point Blank: +15% Bullet Resist, +1 Stamina.
• Improved Cooldown: +16% Cooldown Reduction, +1.5 Health Regen.
• Slowing Bullets: +16% Weapon Damage, +5 Spirit Power.
• Soul Shredder Bullets: +6% Weapon Damage.
• Pristine Emblem: +25% Weapon Damage, +12 Spirit Power.

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3) End game

These are the items you should buy during the end game:

• Rapid Recharge: +2 Bonus Ability Charges, +55% Faster Time Between Charges, +25% Charged Ability Cooldown Reduction, +12% Weapon Damage.
• Mystic Slow: +100 Bonus health, +3 Health regen, +6 Spirit Power.
• Superior Cooldown: +32% Imbued Ability Cooldown Reduction, +24% Non-Imbued Ability Cooldown Reduction, +4 Health Regen.
• Superior Duration: +32% Imbued Ability Duration, +26% Non-Imbued Ability Duration, +175 Bonus Health, +15% Weapon Damage+4 Health Regen.
• Glass Cannon: +70% Weapon Damage, +10% Fire Rate, +1 m/s Move Speed, -15% Max Health.
• Escalating Exposure: +15% Spirit Resist, +125 Bonus Health, -15% Spirit Resist on Spirit Damage.
• Superior Stamina: +3 Stamina, +20% Stamina Recovery, +30% Air Jump/Dash Distance, +7% Fire Rate, +8 Spirit Power.

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If you have some extra Spirits or just want to replace some specific items, these are the best optional items for your Deadlock Shiv Build:

• Bullet Armor: +20% Bullet Resist, +6% Weapon Damage.
• Improved Bullet Armor: +45% Bullet Resist, +10% Weapon Damage.
• Divine Barrier (Active): +1m/s Sprint Speed, +75 Health, +8% Ability Range. Upon activation, 260 Bullet Shield, 260 Spirit Shield, +2m/s Move Speed (5s Duration).
• Infuser (Active): +50 Bonus Health, +10% Ammo. Upon activation, +16 Spirit Power, +20% Spirit Lifesteal (6s Duration).
• Slowing Hex (Active): +1m/s Sprint Speed, +5 Spirit Power. Upon activation, 70 + (0.59 * Spirit Power) Spirit Damage, 30% Movement Slow, 25m Cast Range (3s Duration).

It's important to note that the prices of all the items vary, depending on how powerful they are. You can sell your early-bought items and buy new ones at any point in the game, giving you complete control over your Deadlock Shiv Build.

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Read more Deadlock guides here:

• Deadlock Seven Build Guide
• Deadlock Infernus Build Guide
• Deadlock Yamato build guide
• How to add custom crosshair in Deadlock
• How to change Server Region in Deadlock