Is Graves the strongest hero in Deadlock?

Graves commands the highest empirical win rate across all tracked matchmaking heroes at 56.7% over 511,133 matches, anchoring the absolute pinnacle of S-Tier due to exceptional close-range flak damage and unmatched boon health scaling.

What is the optimal ability leveling priority for Graves?

Prioritize your primary Flak Blast for laning wave clear, allocate AP to your Explosive Ordnance second for objective burst, and max your defensive kinetic shield to out-sustain enemy carries in close-quarters skirmishes.

Which core items should Graves rush first in the shop?

Rush Point Blank and Close Quarters in the Weapon tree for direct flak amplification, pair with Extra Stamina and Enduring Speed in Vitality, and pick up Mystic Burst in Spirit for devastating early skirmish trades.

How does the boon economy make Graves so durable?

Graves gains 35 health per collected boon compared to 33 health prior to the balance patch, converting ambient map farm and neutral camps into massive effective health pools that scale naturally into late-game teamfights.

Deadlock Graves Build Guide: Meta Items & Strategy

Graves stands at the apex of Deadlock combat, commanding an overwhelming 56.7% win rate across 511,133 tracked matches. While agile marksmen and stealth flankers require precarious positioning, Graves dominates through sheer territorial presence: devastating point-blank shotgun flak bursts, oppressive lane shoving, and unrivaled health scaling through the boon economy.

Whether breaching enemy Guardian gates, securing contested Mid Boss captures, or holding choke points around the Patron pit, mastering Graves’ ability timing and hybrid weapon-vitality itemization is the single most reliable way to dominate high-MMR lobbies.

Graves Performance Summary & Core Match Metrics

Empirical statistics demonstrate why Graves represents the highest win-rate anchor in Deadlock:

Metric / Characteristic	Live Tracked Value	Strategic Implication
Tracked Win Rate	56.7%	Rank #1 among all tracked heroes in global competitive matchmaking
Total Tracked Matches	511,133 matches	Massive statistical sample proving consistency across all MMR brackets
Primary Combat Role	Frontline Shotgun Brawler / Bruiser	Punishes squishy dive assassins while melting frontline structures
Health Per Boon Scaling	35 HP / Boon	Highest passive health return in the game, up from 33 in earlier tuning
Optimal Engagement Range	Point-Blank Range	Maximum pellet density and armor-shredding weapon procs

Ability Progression & AP Allocation Path

Graves’ combat identity revolves around close-range kinetic enforcement and heavy explosive area denial. Distributing your Ability Points (AP) correctly dictates your laning dominance and late-game survivability:

Graves Ability Leveling Priority:
  1. Heavy Flak Blast (Ability 1) -> Max first for wave shove and close-quarters dueling
  2. Sticky Demolition Shell (Ability 2) -> Max second for zoning Walker towers and patron pits
  3. Kinetic Reactive Armor (Ability 3) -> Value point early, max third for mid-game survivability
  4. Apocalypse Salvo (Ultimate) -> Invest at every threshold for teamfight initiation

1. Heavy Flak Blast (Primary Weapon Skill)

Fires a concussive spread of heavy iron pellets that penetrate through minions and deal bonus kinetic damage at close range.

Laning Technique: Use the spread cone to hit both opposing troopers and the enemy laner simultaneously, securing last-hits while denying unsecure soul orbs.
Point-Blank Execution: At point-blank range, all pellets connect, applying instantaneous armor shred when paired with items like Hunter’s Aura.

2. Sticky Demolition Shell (Zoning & Objective Tool)

Hurls an incendiary canister that adheres to terrain, enemy heroes, or objectives before detonating with heavy spirit damage and a lingering knockback.

Mid Boss Pit Control: Cast into narrow doorways leading into the pit, forcing the enemy team to path through heavy explosive damage or abandon the steal attempt.

3. Kinetic Reactive Armor (Durability Engine)

Passively converts incoming damage into temporary bullet and spirit shields, granting tenacity and crowd-control resistance when taking sustained fire.

4. Apocalypse Salvo (Ultimate Initiation)

Graves locks down into an fortified firing stance, unleashing a continuous volley of long-range mortar shells that carpet-bomb the target sector, breaking defensive formations and staggering channeling heroes like Seven and Vindicta.

Core Itemization Across All Match Phases

Graves thrives on a hybrid itemization curve: early weapon flat damage transitioning into overwhelming mid-game vitality and spirit utility.

1. Early Game Laning Phase (Tier 1 Items)

Focus on winning the raw DPS race and securing unsecured soul spheres:

Point Blank (Weapon): Crucial first purchase. Increases bullet damage substantially against targets in close quarters.
Close Quarters (Weapon): Grants additional weapon damage and bullet shield capacity on close hits.
Extra Stamina (Vitality): Essential for double-dash shotgun repositioning and dodging skillshots.
Mystic Burst (Spirit): Adds instant burst damage to your Sticky Shell upon landing direct hits.

2. Mid Game Skirmish & Walker Siege (Tier 2 & Tier 3 Items)

Transition from a solo laner into an unkillable frontline teamfight bruiser:

Pristine Emblem (Weapon): Amplifies weapon damage against enemies with over half health, accelerating pick-offs.
Torment Pulse (Spirit): Emits periodic spirit damage pulses to all nearby targets, synergizing with your close-range brawler playstyle.
Enduring Speed (Vitality): Prevents high-mobility targets like Haze and Pocket from kiting your shotgun range.
Bullet Armor / Spirit Armor (Vitality): Build reactively based on whether the opposing carries are physical marksmen (Wraith, Infernus) or spirit casters (Seven, Dynamo).

3. Late Game Decisive Power Spikes (Tier 4 Endgame Items)

Close out the match by becoming an unstoppable structural demolition engine:

Siphon Bullets (Weapon): Steals permanent maximum health and weapon damage with every shotgun pellet hit.
Unstoppable (Vitality): Grants complete crowd-control immunity for several seconds, allowing you to walk directly into the Patron pit without fear of stuns or silences.
Diviner’s Kevlar (Vitality): Grants massive bullet and spirit shielding whenever you channel your Apocalypse Salvo.
Curse (Spirit): Instantly silences, disarms, and prevents item usage on enemy carries trying to dive your backline.

Mastering the 35 HP Boon Economy

The single most overlooked factor behind Graves’ 56.7% win rate is his unique Boon Efficiency:

The Mechanics: While standard heroes receive thirty health per collected boon, Graves gains thirty-five health per boon, a direct durability increase introduced in the September 16 balance patch.
Neutral Camp Routing: Clear Tier 1 and Tier 2 jungle camps on cooldown between creep waves. Never leave souls on the ground; Graves’ health pool grows dramatically with economy.
Comeback Resilience: Even if your squad falls behind in kills, Graves can absorb incoming burst during defensive base holds, stalling until your carries complete their high-tier item spikes.

Tactical Positioning in High-Stakes Teamfights

The High-Low Flank: Avoid charging in straight down mid lane where snipers can chip your health before you reach effective range. Use dash-slide mechanics through indoor corridors to emerge within close proximity of opposing squishies.
Peeling for Secondary Carries: If your team drafts Seven or Infernus, position yourself directly ahead of them. Your shotgun flak forces enemy divers (Abrams, Lash) to focus you, allowing your ranged allies to deal uninterrupted DPS.
Objective Meltdown: Graves’ shotgun shreds Guardian weakpoints faster than almost any other hero in Deadlock. Once a teamfight is won, immediately target the nearest Walker or base shrine rather than chasing low-health stragglers.