Deadlock’s Paradox is distinguished by her time-based skills and steampunk aesthetic, offering players a blend of tactical gameplay and impactful maneuvers – especially when utilizing the right build.
Paradox excels when configured as a single-target damage dealer, emphasizing cooldown reductions and maximizing weapon damage enhancements. To fully leverage this character, we present the ultimate build for her.
Top Paradox Abilities in Deadlock
Discover the optimal ability paths for Paradox here.
Paradox manipulates time and space with her abilities, including Kinetic Carbine, which charges for a powerful shot that can stop time, Pulse Grenade for area denial and damage enhancement, Time Wall to obstruct and slow enemies, and Paradoxical Swap, her ultimate ability that allows her to switch places with an enemy, disrupting their positioning.
The order of abilities is critical due to the significant cooldown reduction at level 2 of Kinetic Carbine, followed by a substantial cooldown decrease at level 3 for her ultimate, which is vital for her effectiveness.
Among these abilities, Paradoxical Swap is paramount as it can drastically alter the game dynamics through both offensive and defensive maneuvers, greatly affecting the battlefield outcome by repositioning either Paradox or her foes during crucial moments.
Explaining Deadlock Paradox Abilities
Here’s a summary of Paradox’s abilities:
- 1: Pulse Grenade
- Throws a grenade that pulses upon landing. Each pulse inflicts damage, slows movement, and stacks damage amplification against the affected target.
- Level 1: +1 Pulses
- Level 2: -8s Cooldown
- Level 3: +45 Pulse Damage
- Throws a grenade that pulses upon landing. Each pulse inflicts damage, slows movement, and stacks damage amplification against the affected target.
- 2: Time Wall
- Constructs a wall that halts time for enemy projectiles and bullets that come into contact with it. Enemies colliding with the wall take damage based on a percentage of their maximum health and are briefly slowed.
- Level 1: +2m Width, +1m Height
- Level 2: +1 Charges
- Level 3: Enemies touching Time Wall are Silenced for 3s
- Constructs a wall that halts time for enemy projectiles and bullets that come into contact with it. Enemies colliding with the wall take damage based on a percentage of their maximum health and are briefly slowed.
- 3: Kinetic Carbine
- Begin charging your weapon and gain increased movement speed once charged. The next shot will unleash energy, dealing spirit damage and applying a time stop to the hit enemy. Damage is amplified based on current weapon damage. You can slow time on yourself by pressing right-click with an empowered shot.
- Level 1: +0.5s Max Stop Duration
- Level 2: -10s Cooldown and +2s Speed Boost Duration
- Level 3: +50% Max Damage Amp
- Begin charging your weapon and gain increased movement speed once charged. The next shot will unleash energy, dealing spirit damage and applying a time stop to the hit enemy. Damage is amplified based on current weapon damage. You can slow time on yourself by pressing right-click with an empowered shot.
- 4: Paradoxical Swap
- Launch a projectile that swaps your position with a target enemy hero. During the exchange, you gain spirit lifesteal, while the enemy takes damage over time.
- Level 1: +15m Cast Range
- Level 2: +100 Swap Damage
- Level 3: -15s Cooldown
- Launch a projectile that swaps your position with a target enemy hero. During the exchange, you gain spirit lifesteal, while the enemy takes damage over time.
The Best Build for Paradox in Deadlock
Early Game Items
Start with High-Velocity Mag to enhance Paradox’s weapon damage, making her poke more threatening and discouraging the opposing hero from early aggression.
Critical hits are essential for this character, and Headshot Booster increases the damage dealt with both her gun and Kinetic Carbine. While at full health, Hollow Point Ward boosts your Spirit power while dealing an additional 20% Weapon Damage passively.
To optimize her mobility, increasing her Sprint Speed is crucial as it allows her to maneuver effectively. Since Paradox is strategy-driven, acquiring Extra Health and Healing Rite is recommended to maintain her survivability while disrupting foes.
Also, consider purchasing Mystic Burst and Mystic Reach to enhance your Bullet and Melee Damage, expanding the radius and the Spirit Damage in your attacks. Lastly, Extra Charge ensures you always have an ability ready during chaotic moments.
Mid Game Items
Mystic Shot is invaluable in the mid-game for augmenting Paradox’s weapon with Spirit damage. Pairing it with Headhunter facilitates healing with each headshot while dealing damage.
Warp Stone allows for a forward teleport, granting temporary resistance to various damage types. Enduring Speed and Extra Stamina contribute to enhanced sprint speed, enabling aggressive plays while pushing the enemy lines.
Additionally, Improved Burst and Improved Cooldown significantly boost Bullet Damage and reduce cooldowns for all of Paradox’s abilities.
Late Game/Luxury Items
At this stage, maintaining consistent damage output while ensuring your armor and health remain robust is critical. Items like Crippling Headshot, Siphon Bullets, Improved Bullet Armor, Improved Spirit Armor, and Fortitude work synergistically for optimal performance.
Moreover, Superior Stamina ensures you can continuously pressure enemy formations, while Superior Cooldown further shortens your ability cooldowns.
Diviner’s Kevlar and Mystic Reverb enhance spirit lifesteal, spirit damage, and spirit shield, while Boundless Spirit bolsters Paradox’s Spirit powers.
Situational Items
These situational items have specific use cases, which are outlined below:
- Kinetic Dash: Use to swiftly reposition yourself in battle, escape ganks, or pursue low-health enemies.
- Spiritual Overflow: Ideal for extended fights where consistent skill usage is crucial, especially during sieges.
- Soul Rebirth: Best used when needing an early focus, such as engaging in battles or risky tower dives, for a second chance.
- Debuff Remover: Activate if hit with critical debuffs like stuns or silences that hinder your actions or escape.
- Divine Barrier: Trigger when anticipating heavy incoming damage, such as during an opponent’s ultimate or when surrounded.
- Metal Skin: Use in melee encounters or when dealing significant physical damage to enhance survivability.
- Phantom Strike: Ideal for executing surprise attacks or evading obstacles when traditional routes are compromised.
- Slowing Hex: Effective for kiting enemies or during chases to hinder their escape or advance.
- Ethereal Shift: Utilize to phase through pivotal skill shots or swiftly reposition for a tactical advantage.
- Knockdown: Best employed to disrupt opponents’ abilities that might turn the tide or to halt a fleeing enemy.
- Silence Glyph: Deploy against ability-reliant enemies early in combat or to intercept their escape abilities.
- Curse: Cast it on crucial targets in team fights to diminish their impact or on a carry to lessen their threat during critical moments.
As one of the most strategic heroes, mastering her takes effort, but the rewards are certainly worthwhile.
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