Deadlock: Warden Build Guide

Deadlock: Warden Build Guide

As a seasoned Warden player with countless hours under my belt, I can confidently guide you through the art of mastering this versatile Champion.


For over five decades, the Warden hailed from a lineage that had honed their skills to combat the unknown supernatural forces. However, with no occurrences of the supernatural in sight, tales of their family’s ancient battles became more like folklore than urgent warnings. That is, until an unexpected supernatural gateway emerged, prompting Warden’s parents to recognize their oversight and resume teaching their son.

In the game, Warden is a tough-as-nails warrior who thrives on the front lines, assisting his teammates in vanquishing any supernatural threats they may encounter. His abilities primarily aim to manage enemy movement, while his Ultimate skill has the power to eliminate opponents from existence. Mastering Warden’s potent weaponry requires practice and a keen understanding of how best to construct him throughout each phase of the game. This guide will walk you through the recommended items for this law enforcer and provide tips on playing him effectively.

Deadlock Warden Overview

Deadlock: Warden Build Guide

Pros Cons
+ Bulky – Long cooldowns
+ Amazing CC ability – Long channel time for Last Stand
+ Self-speed buff – Projectile weapon with some bullet drop
+ Spirit modifier for fire rate – Best used at mid- to close-range
+ Willpower makes you tanky against ability-based heroes

Warden is a bruiser who prefers getting up close to opponents and leverages his self-buff for approach. By employing Alchemist Flask and Binding Word, he can manage combat’s pace. His abilities are particularly potent at penalizing enemies who push too far ahead. In battle, his weapon is powerful enough for poking enemies and boasts a generous magazine capacity to effortlessly farm minions while preventing them from last-hitting. Moreover, the fire rate of his weapon scales with any spirit you construct, enabling Warden to dish out more damage as the game progresses.

After ten minutes have elapsed and players are scattered across the map accomplishing tasks, the Warden can activate his ultimate, Last Stand, to either instigate a group fight or penalize a team for huddling together excessively. Adept navigation skills in Deadlock will enhance the Warden’s ultimate’s effectiveness in dispersing crowds.

Warden Abilities

Ability Name Effects Level Ups
Alchemical Flask Throw a flask that damages, slows, and reduces the weapon damage and stamina of enemies it hits.

  • Duration: 7s
  • Cooldown: 13s.
  • Range: 7m
  • Damage: 55 (x0.8 Spirit scaling modifier)
  • Slow: 20%
  • Weapon Damage: -30%
  • 1AP: +40 damage
  • 2AP: Removes an additional Stamina from enemies
  • 5AP: -7 second cooldown and applies -35% Fire Rate to enemies
Willpower Gain a Spirit Shield and bonus movement speed.

  • Duration: 7s
  • Cooldown: 40s
  • Spirit Shield Health: 150 HP
  • Speed: +15% movement speed bonus
  • 1AP: +20% movement speed
  • 2AP: -20s cooldown
  • 5AP: +200 Spirit Shield health and Spirit Shield health now gains 3.9x spirit scaling.
Binding Word Curse an enemy hero. If they don’t move away from their initial position within the escape time, they will be damaged and immobilized.

  • Duration: 1.75s
  • Cooldown: 35s
  • Range: 20m
  • Damage: 120 (x2.6 Spirit modifier)
  • Escape Time: 2.5s
  • Escape Range: 16m
  • 1AP: +1s Immobilize duration
  • 2AP: -20s Cooldown
  • 5AP: Warden deals +20% more bullet damage to trapped heroes for 6s.
Last Stand After charging for 2.2s, Warden releases pulses that damage enemies and heals him based on the damage done.

  • Duration: 6s
  • Cooldown: 130s
  • Range: 12m
  • Damage: 100 (x0.9 Spirit modifier)
  • Pulse Interval: 0.5s
  • Hero Lifesteal: 100%
  • Non-Hero Lifesteal: 50%
  • 1AP: +3m radius
  • 2AP: +70 damage
  • 5AP: -60s cooldown

Deadlock Warden Build Guide

Deadlock: Warden Build Guide
Deadlock: Warden Build Guide

Right now, an effective approach for strengthening Warden involves reducing the cooldowns of his potent skills to maximize their usage, and enhancing the strength and versatility of his primary weapon to gain an edge over opponents. To achieve this, we’ll prioritize exiting the laning phase with most of our abilities ready, and in the late game, shift our focus towards our weapon.

Skill Leveling Order

  • Skill Priority: Binding Word > Last Stand > Alchemical Flask > Willpower
  • Skill Order:
    • Souls Skill to Unlock/Upgrade
      0 Unlock Alchemical Flask
      400 Unlock and upgrade Binding Word(T1)
      1.5k Unlock Willpower
      2.2k Binding Word (T2)
      3k Unlock Last Stand
      7.5k Binding Word (T3)
      8k Last Stand (T1)
      9.7k Last Stand (T2)
      18k Last Stand (T3)
      20k Alchemical Flask (T1) or Willpower (T1)
      22k Alchemical Flask (T1) or Willpower (T1)
      26k Alchemical Flask (T2)

At the onset of the game, consider initiating with the Alchemical Flask already unlocked. This early flask can assist in clearing enemies regardless of your primary weapon and serves as a useful tool for dealing damage to enemy heroes if they are positioned too near their own minions, aiming to hinder their progression.

Once that’s done, maximize the use of the Binding Word skill and store any extra ability points for immediate optimization. This key ability is the backbone of a Warden’s formidable 1v1 prowess in the lane. Aim to strike first with an Alchemical Flask, swiftly followed by the Binding Word. This tactic compels the opponent to either remain in the lane and become immobilized, or retreat and let you farm uninterrupted.

Once the ability, Last Stand, becomes accessible at the 3,000 soul level, it’s highly recommended that you focus on upgrading it next. This powerful ability requires minimal investment, but once you fully upgrade Binding Word, Last Stand should be your primary concern. For optimal results, aim to completely level Last Stand, as well as acquire Superior Cooldown and Superior Duration items. This setup allows you to use your ultimate every 48 seconds with a duration of 7.92 seconds.

Willpower is a useful skill to have because it makes you a little tankier and move faster, but you’ll rarely want more than a single point into it. There may be some tank builds that will want to maximize this skill, but if you want to focus on team utility and solo carry potential, save this skill for last.

Item Progression

Early game

  • High Velocity Mag
  • Extra Regen
  • Extra Health
  • Basic Magazine
  • If you’re struggling in lane: Extra Stamina and Sprint Boots.

Mid-game

  • Improved Cooldown
  • Duration Extender
  • Slowing Bullets
  • Enduring Speed
  • If you need more damage: Swift Striker, but sell later for Intensifying Magazine

Late Game

  • Titanic Magazine
  • Intensifying Magazine
  • Headhunter
  • Superior Cooldown (Last Stand)
  • Superior Duration (Last Stand)
  • Superior Stamina
  • Mystic Slow
  • Torment Pulse
  • Silencer

End Game

  • Silencer
  • Inhibitor – sell Extra Health for this

Flex Slots

  • Siphon Bullets
  • Diviner’s Kevlar
  • Surge of Power
  • Leech – sell Extra Regen

At the beginning of the game, I’d suggest going for the High Velocity Mag and Basic Magazine to boost my damage output and provide extra ammo for farming and securing last hits. For added durability, grab Extra Regen and Extra Health items. If I find myself having trouble with farming, I might opt for Extra Stamina and Speed Boots, as they’ll be part of later builds and can offer more survivability in the laning phase.

When a steady influx of souls is achieved and the count exceeds 1250 at a good pace, consider purchasing mid-game items. Items such as Improved Cooldown and Duration Extender will enhance abilities like Last Stand and Binding Word for Warden, boosting their effectiveness. Slowing Bullets will make Binding Word more reliable, while Enduring Speed will provide additional health, speed, and resistance to slowdowns, helping you dodge more effectively. Swift Striker can be obtained if damage output is an issue, but keep in mind that it will eventually need to be replaced with Intensifying Magazine.

As the match nears its end, focus on enhancing your existing gear, aiming to create a powerful combination between Mystic Slow and Torment Pulse. To amplify your attack power even more, acquire Intensifying Magazine. You can craft Titanic Magazine and Headhunter from Basic Magazine and High-velocity Mag, while Superior Cooldown and Superior Duration are derived from Improved Cooldown and Duration Extender. Additionally, it’s beneficial to place Torment Pulse and Mystic Slow nearby as they both intensify the Warden’s damage output and significantly reduce its chances of escaping after casting Binding Word.

Ultimately, when you have extra souls available, consider constructing the Silencer to temporarily disable enemy abilities and enhance Binding Word’s ability to immobilize them. The Inhibitor serves a dual purpose by providing extra survivability and a slow effect, while Diviner’s Kevlar and Unstoppable are built to bolster Last Stand even further. If you’re facing a team with high crowd control (CC), Unstoppable will prove particularly useful because it can be utilized during Last Stand, making you invincible while using your ultimate ability.

How To Play Warden

Deadlock: Warden Build Guide

Initially, concentrate on using your gun and Alchemical Flasks to cut through the waves of enemies. The flasks are particularly useful here as they reduce the strain on your weapon’s ammunition capacity. The Warden’s gun has a considerable range, so don’t hesitate to take potshots from afar against certain opponents. Additionally, focus on denying enemies to gain an advantage in your lane and the Warden’s ammo supply allows you to farm and deny without using too much ammo.

With Alchemical Flask now serving dual purposes – for mob control and setting up your adversary for Binding Word – simply cast Binding Word on the slowed enemy, then gather the kill. If your opponent manages a timely escape, swiftly secure a last hit on a minion before they can regain position to challenge your souls acquisition.

From that point forward, you can increase your aggression once you acquire your ultimate ability. Use it to start fights or force opponents out of specific zones such as near an enemy guardian. If you’ve crafted bullets with a slowing effect, you won’t need to depend as much on throwing Alchemical Flasks for a successful Binding Word. Additionally, when teaming up with another player, the sluggishness caused by your gunfire can assist in setting up a kill for them.

During later stages of the game, when you’re moving around or engaging in team fights, look for vulnerable opponents to attack. You can either use Last Stand combined with Willpower to quickly eliminate them, or apply Binding Word on a slowed enemy so your team can concentrate their fire. Your Torment Pulse and Mystic Slow abilities will slow nearby enemies every 1.6 seconds, providing an advantage for you to stay close to groups of enemies. Last Stand’s high damage output and sustain capabilities equip you with the necessary tools to keep up with groups of enemies, allowing you to either set your team up for success or finish off enemies yourself.

If you manage to ensnare an opponent with the Binding Word, utilize the ping system to summon nearby teammates and coordinate a focused attack on that target.

1. Hiring agencies such as Headhunter, Intensifying Magazine, and Titanic Magazine make it simple for you or your team to take down opponents who are vulnerable or not in optimal positions. However, be mindful of your own positioning. Although Warden is more durable than many other characters, if everyone focuses their abilities on you, you’ll still succumb – just at a slower pace than others. In tough scenarios like that, leverage the extra stamina from Superior Stamina and the movement speed bonus from Willpower and Enduring Speed to outsmart your adversaries.

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2024-09-01 09:04