Deadlock Vindicta Build Guide

Vindicta is known as one of Deadlock’s most skilled long-range fighters, making her an excellent option for those seeking to eliminate enemies from a distance. However, in order to not only gain momentum but also survive, it is crucial to have the proper build in place.

When it comes to carry potential, Vindicta possesses some of the strongest damage in Deadlock. Her capability to fly beyond reach can be quite frustrating for your opponent to handle, but do not allow that distance to give you a false sense of security.

This guide not only covers how to effectively play Vindicta, but also discusses the strategies your opponents may use to counter your playstyle. Despite being one of the most easily countered characters in Deadlock, Vindicta also possesses great potential as a powerful carry.

As the number of players continues to increase daily, an increasing number of individuals will become familiar with how to play against you.

The most effective build for Vindicta in Deadlock, including recommended items and ability maxing strategies, is outlined below.

Best abilities to use on Vindicta

If you are not familiar with Vindicta’s abilities, here is a summary of them:

1: Stake
- Throw a stake that tethers enemies to the location where the stake lands. Enemy movement is restricted to the length of the tether.
  - Level 1: +0.75 Tether duration
  - Level 2: -20 second cooldown
  - Level 3: Tethered enemies are also disarmed
2: Flight
- Leap into the air and fly. While in flight, your weapon deals bonus spirit damage.
  - Level 1: +50% base ammo while flying
  - Level 2: -15 second cooldown
  - Level 3: +12 spirit damage per bullet
3: Crow Familiar
- Your crow familiar deals impact damage and applies a bleed that deals damage for 3% of the target’s current health per second
  - Level 1: Crow Ricochets up to 2 times toward other enemies within 15 meters
  - Level 2: -17 second cooldown
  - Level 3: +3% bleed and suppresses healing by -40%
4: Assassinate
- Use your scoped rifle to fire a powerful shot over long distances. Deal only partial damage until fully charged after 1 second of being scoped. Does bonus damage to enemies with less than 50% health remaining. Landing a killing blow on a player with Assassinate grants 250 bonus souls.
  - Level 1: -20 second cooldown
  - Level 2: +140 bonus damage
  - Level 3: +600 souls per Assassination

Vindicta’s ability has both a starting and max order. While there is a path that is objectively the most effective, it requires playing to her strengths. Despite being marketed as an easy character to start with, Vindicta is actually quite challenging. In order to excel in higher-level gameplay, she must establish an early lead.

Here’s what you should start with and aim for as a maximum:

Ability starting path: 1>3>2
- Note: You can go 3>1>2 if you’re confident, but starting with Stake is a good choice if you’re learning the game for the sake of not getting rushed down in lane.
Ability max path: 4>2>1>3
- Note: If you can help it, don’t put points in any other abilities until you’ve got your ult maxed out. You should be saving those points, even in the early game where you’ve got access to them. Also, maxing Crow Familiar before Stake is good if you need the anti-heal.

Assassinate is Vindicta’s primary source of success. Utilizing Quicksilver Reload on this ability is highly beneficial due to its multiple charges. The execute damage is effective against weaker targets, and the consistent bonus souls gained per kill sets her apart from others. In the early stages of Deadlock, kills hold minimal value, but as the game progresses, their significance increases.

While other players may receive 300-500 souls per kill in the early stages of the game, you have the advantage of earning almost 1500. This allows you to gain a significant lead with just one successful battle, which is unmatched by any other character in Deadlock. If you prefer a safe and simple sniper, Grey Talon is the best choice. However, if you opt for Vindicta, you must be willing to take risks in order to gain an advantage.

Regarding her other skills, it is wise to reserve Stake as a powerful crowd control tool for when you use her ultimate. Flight can be utilized to catch opponents off guard and weaken them in the lane, while Crow Familiar is a reliable method for breaking through tank defenses and also has the added benefit of providing anti-healing when necessary.

Understanding the Best Build for Vindicta with Deadlock Items

The items will be categorized into four groups: early-game, mid-game, late-game luxury items, and situational options.

The first three sections are easy to understand, but it is acceptable to purchase a late-game item earlier if you have a surplus of souls. In fact, there are a few instances where it is recommended to do so. Vindicta’s Assassinate can lead to a lot of variability, which can make explaining her optimal build path more complicated compared to other heroes.

In Deadlock, there is no definitive correct build for any character, but this is especially true for this particular hero. Nevertheless, it can serve as a solid starting point.

Early Game Items:

As always, Monster Rounds is available for those struggling to manage their ammo and maintain pressure in the lane. While Vindicta doesn’t require it as much as low early damage heroes like Haze or Wraith, it still serves as a useful set of training wheels. For the best results, purchase Headshot Booster after obtaining High-Velocity Mag.

If Vindicta gets too close to the enemy too early, her chances of survival are slim. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize purchasing damage and using abilities to slowly chip away at opponents during laning phase. However, if needed, Extra Health and Healing Rite can serve as effective defensive measures for Vindicta.

Extra Charge is essential in the early stages of the game, but it is not necessary to upgrade it immediately. It is recommended to purchase it after obtaining your ultimate ability. On the other hand, Extra Spirit is optional. If you have an extra 500 souls and want a small boost in power, then it is worth buying.

Mid Game Items

If you are able to acquire enough kills early on, Glass Cannon is the optimal choice to kickstart your game. Fully stacking the extra weapon damage will allow you to easily take down enemies. In the event that you do not gain a significant lead, Long Range is a dependable option. Additionally, Active Reload is a useful tool for sustainability and maximizing your Flight ability by allowing you to fire two magazines.

Warp Stone is typically classified as a situational item, but it is essential for Vindicta. It allows for uninterrupted use during Flight, making it a superior choice for mobility over Extra Stamina.

If you are having trouble with your item slots and do not have any Flex slots yet, consider selling the Headshot Booster/Monster Rounds. However, it is recommended to hold onto the High-Velocity Mag for a little longer.

If you are still taking a lot of damage even with the use of Active Reload, Bullet Lifesteal is a reliable way to sustain yourself. Additionally, both Bullet Armor and Spirit Armor are worthwhile choices to consider at this point. As the game progresses, it is recommended to focus on acquiring more tank items.

Quicksilver Reload is the essential spirit item to have here, as it can be incredibly useful when you require just a few more bullets to secure a kill. Equip this on Assassinate, quickly aim and shoot at your target, and then switch to a new magazine to finish them off.

Late Game/Luxury

Your top option for gaining an advantage is Lucky Shot. If you are not comfortable with the high risk of Glass Cannon or if you already have it, Lucky Shot is an excellent alternative. Consider choosing Vampiric Burst for additional ammunition and lifesteal, or Crippling Headshot to effectively take down tanky opponents.

Leech is a good choice for additional sustain and to counter anti-healing, but Fortitude is the superior option for sustain if you are not being heavily focused. The added HP regen will be useful in extended fights. Consider purchasing Improved Bullet Armor and Improved Spirit Armor for added defense. Soul Rebirth is a valuable choice if you are the carry and are concerned about losing the game from one death.

While Ethereal Shift may not always be necessary, its effectiveness as a counter-dive tool makes it a valuable choice in most games. Boundless Spirit provides a significant boost to your spirit damage, and Magic Carpet is often overlooked but can catch opponents off guard if chosen.

Situational items

Each of these items has a specific use case, so we will break them down one by one.

Toxic Bullets: If you require anti-healing before your 3 is fully upgraded, this is the most effective choice for anti-healing.
The Sharpshooter upgrade is similar to Long Range, but it can only be used in certain situations. The increased zoom level may actually be a hindrance, so consider this before making a purchase.
Silencer: This is an effective choice when facing agile opponents such as Lash, as it prevents them from escaping. It also serves as a countermeasure against characters like Wraith, who can use crowd control abilities against you.
Enduring Speed and Sprint Boots: These items are not necessary but can be useful if you require extra movement speed for rotations.
Divine Barrier: If you find yourself falling behind and unable to purchase other defensive items, consider buying this instead. It can serve as a lifeline to help you recover from a deficit.
A reactive barrier is an excellent choice for withstanding heavy CC teams and absorbing multiple hits.
Unstoppable: In certain situations where you are facing a team with specific compositions or individuals who are determined to dive and incapacitate you, Unstoppable may be a necessary choice. However, it should be noted that this item comes at a high cost. It should only be purchased as a last resort when there are no other options to prevent your opponent from completely disabling you with crowd control.
Curse: Curse can be a lifesaver when facing a strong carry attempting to attack you. It can provide valuable time for you to deal damage and for your teammates to assist in protecting you. However, it is quite expensive, so only consider purchasing it if it is absolutely necessary. Curse can be a valuable ally in difficult situations.