Deadlock: Viscous Build

Deadlock is a new project by Valve that continues to actively evolve, receive updates, and gain popularity among players. Deadlock is a third-person multiplayer shooter that stands out from other games in the genre by integrating mechanics from various genres, making it one of the most notable games of 2024. Since Deadlock is still in development, the game is constantly improving, with developers actively working on new patches, heroes, and balance adjustments to enhance the gameplay. Currently, the game features 22 heroes, each with unique abilities and attributes, requiring specific item builds to perform at their best. In this article, we will provide a Viscous build guide, thoroughly examining his abilities and characteristics.

Viscous Overview

Viscous stands out as a formidable hero in Deadlock, known for his game-changing abilities and sheer power. Viscous possesses unique crowd control skills and offers multiple build options to suit different playstyles. His versatility allows him to enhance his abilities, move effectively across the map, remain strong at all stages of the game, and easily eliminate enemies.

Viscous was added to the game on August 1, 2024, and quickly became one of the most popular heroes, with even professional esports players from other disciplines highlighting the hero's intrigue. Viscous is quite challenging for beginners and requires a high level of skill in managing his abilities, but once mastered and paired with the right Deadlock item build, he can deal massive damage and turn the tide of a match, leading his team to victory. If you're looking to add more excitement to your games, we highly recommend trying out this hero. We’ve compiled a list of the best items for Viscous in Deadlock and will explain how to play him effectively to achieve success.

Viscous Item Build

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Viscous is an extremely versatile and powerful hero, standing out from other tank heroes and capable of performing multiple roles in the game. However, to achieve this, you need to play skillfully and have the right item build. Viscous' gameplay focuses on enhancing his abilities and disrupting the enemy team's farm and play, making his playstyle quite interesting. He is highly mobile, capable of striking unexpectedly, and difficult to hit due to his agility. Additionally, Viscous can easily break through waves and towers. Like all Deadlock heroes, Viscous has 4 abilities, each of which is useful in specific situations.

It’s crucial to understand all of Viscous' strengths and weaknesses and use this knowledge to define your playstyle and item choices. We’ve compiled a list of the best Deadlock items for Viscous at every stage of the game. By following this build, you'll increase your win rate and quickly achieve success in the game.

Viscous early game items

At the start of the game, Viscous has 550 health, 2 health regeneration, 60 DPS, and is a melee fighter. At first glance, he may seem easy to kill, but that's not the case. Thanks to his mobility and regeneration abilities, he is difficult to catch. Viscous gains strength as he levels up and with the right item build, he becomes highly effective. He works well in any lane, so it’s crucial to position yourself properly and focus on farming early in the game to upgrade your items. Viscous is a very mobile hero, so make sure to position yourself well and gather items that enhance your abilities and deal damage, allowing you to ambush enemies.

It's best to start with Extra Charge and Melee Lifesteal to increase your ability damage and survivability in the lane. Next, you should get Spirit Strike to deal extra spirit damage when attacking and reduce your target's spirit resistance. To help with last-hitting creeps, you can collect High Velocity Mag, which will boost your farming speed. Here are the best early-game items for Viscous build:

• Extra Charge
• Spirit Strike
• Melee Lifesteal
• Mystic Reach
• Mystic Burst
• High Velocity Mag
• Extra Health

Viscous mid-game build

Viscous has powerful abilities that allow him to deal significant damage, but he also needs the right items to fully realize his potential. In the mid-game, focus on building items that increase your health and ability damage. You should continue farming and pushing lanes, destroying enemy towers. It's also important to move efficiently around the map, hunting down enemies and setting ambushes. We recommend taking down the mid-boss to acquire artifacts and upgrades. Gradually enhance your abilities and focus on team fights to fully leverage his skills. Here are the best items for this stage of the game:

• Divine Barrier: Provides the target with Bullet Shield, Spirit Shield, and Movement Speed. Can be self-cast.
• Kinetic Dash: Your next Dash-Jump doesn't cost extra stamina, and you gain Fire Rate and Bonus Ammo until your next reload. Lasts up to 8 seconds.
• Healing Booster: Increases healing efficiency and boosts your resistance to healing reduction, adding to the hero's survivability.
• Berserker: Your weapon damage increases as you take sustained damage.
• Lifestrike: When you attack, your strike slows the enemy and heals you for 65% of the damage dealt plus an additional 110.
• Rapid Recharge: Adds damage to your weapon and reduces ability cooldown times.
• Bullet Resist Shredder: Reduces Bullet Resist on enemies when you deal Spirit Damage.
• Hunter's Aura: Reduces nearby enemies' Bullet Resist and Fire Rate. If only one enemy hero is nearby, this effect is tripled.

Viscous final build in late-game

When the game reaches the late stage, Viscous becomes a formidable opponent who is elusive and capable of quickly eliminating enemies. He has great potential for initiating team fights and can deal significant area-of-effect damage. Additionally, Viscous excels at disrupting the enemy team's positioning, allowing his own team to gain control of the battlefield. To master Viscous, you need to understand when to engage and when to retreat, as well as learn to use his abilities properly. This will help you regenerate quickly, deal consistent damage, and make his gameplay more effective and dynamic. Here are the best late-game items:

• Colossus
• Phantom Strike
• Headhunter
• Improved Burst
• Superior Duration
• Improved Spirit Armor
• Improved Bullet Armor

Most of the items for Viscous are either spirit items or vitality items, as you need to increase the hero's survivability and boost ability damage. Situational items, such as Reactive Barrier, Healbane, Debuff Reducer, and Duration Extender, can also be useful and enhance the hero's abilities and performance. In general, you should build some early-game items, upgrade them in the mid-game, and then acquire even stronger items in the late game. Following this strategy will help you understand how to play Viscous and create the best Viscous item build.

Viscous skillbuild

Proper ability upgrades and effective usage are just as important as building the right items. Viscous' first ability is Splatter—the hero throws a slime orb that deals damage and leaves a pool of slime that slows enemies. This is one of Viscous' most versatile abilities, as you can use it to poke, deter enemies from approaching, or block their escape path.

The next ability is The Cube, where Viscous can encase himself or a target in a cube of restorative slime that protects from damage and boosts health regeneration. This ability greatly enhances Viscous' survivability.

Viscous' third ability is Puddle Punch—the hero materializes a massive fist and strikes enemies in an area, sending them flying. Enemies take damage, have their dash distance briefly reduced, and their movement speed slowed. This is considered a Light Melee attack.

Viscous' ultimate ability is Goo Ball. All players fear this ability, as a poorly skilled ally using it can ruin the game, but if used by an enemy, it could turn the tide in their favor. The hero transforms into a large goo ball that deals damage and stuns enemies on impact. The ball grants significant Bullet and Spirit resistance, bounces off walls, and can perform a double jump.

In our recommended build, you should first upgrade Splatter, followed by Puddle Punch, then The Cube, and unlock Goo Ball at level four. After that, continue upgrading your abilities based on the flow of the game. For more detailed information, check out the Deadlock Meta Guide, where you'll find valuable insights into the current meta strategies in Deadlock.

How To Play Viscous

We’ve discussed Viscous’ abilities and items, so now let’s explain how to play him effectively. Success in Deadlock depends on the right strategy, farming, map movement, and item build. At the start of the game, focus on farming creeps, securing last hits, dealing damage to enemies, and regenerating with Splatter and The Cube. Move across the map to assist your team in destroying towers and eliminating enemies. Gather the recommended items and position yourself in the lane to farm efficiently.

As you level up and collect souls, buy and upgrade items according to your playstyle and the Deadlock Item build. Roam the map, initiate team fights, and take down enemies. Improve your abilities and use them for farming and combat. Utilize Puddle Punch to stun enemies and engage in battles quickly, while maintaining your survivability. Be cautious when facing heroes with high mobility and long-range attacks, as they counter Viscous effectively. Additionally, it’s recommended to kill the mid-boss to obtain an artifact and its benefits. To achieve optimal gameplay and item builds for Viscous, it’s crucial to understand his strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

• High Self-Sustain.
• Hard to kill due to his mobility, which allows him to move in and out of fights.
• Great for Split Pushing.
• Engaging and dynamic gameplay.

Weaknesses:

• Very Item Dependent—hard to perform well if you fall behind in souls.
• Struggles against Vindicta and Grey Talon due to their long-range attacks.
• Mechanically Difficult—requires a high skill level to play effectively.

By understanding these factors, building the right items, and following our tips, you’ll be able to reach a high level of play with Viscous.

Best Matchups for Viscous

Viscous can perform exceptionally well both on his own and in a team. Typically, this hero plays the role of a tank, making him a perfect fit alongside support or carry heroes. It’s crucial to select teammates who can compensate for Viscous' weaknesses and amplify his strengths. The best options are heroes who can provide cover during fights and deal high damage. We recommend checking out the Deadlock Hero Tier List, as it will help you better understand the heroes and their abilities. Given Viscous' high health pool and powerful abilities, the best allies for him are Wraith, Yamato, Grey Talon, and Ivy. These heroes can highlight Viscous' strengths and help secure victories.

Conclusion

In this text, we covered the Viscous guide, describing his abilities, attributes, best item and skill builds, as well as his playstyle. By understanding this hero’s strengths and weaknesses, learning to play effectively with him, and coordinating well with your team, you can maximize his potential and lead your team to victory. Viscous has powerful abilities and is a very exciting hero to play, so we highly recommend mastering him. If you're a fan of esports and Deadlock, we recommend checking out our other articles, such as Best Deadlock Item Builds, Valve Deadlock Tips & Tricks and Deadlock: Shiv Build.