Ultimate Deadlock Viscous Build: Top Items, Abilities, and Strategies

Despite Viscous being one of the most challenging heroes to master in Deadlock, if you build the green goo man correctly and invest the time, you can enjoy significant rewards.

Viscous shines as a Tank-style unit, making it difficult for enemies to take him down due to his strong movement and healing abilities. Even with a full damage build, he remains tough to eliminate.

This character is best utilized as a support hero, providing substantial crowd control (CC) and disruption without neglecting his ability to deal damage.

Here’s the ultimate build for Viscous in Deadlock, featuring his best items and the optimal way to maximize his abilities.

Best Viscous Abilities in Deadlock

Below is the recommended order for upgrading your abilities:

The top ability to prioritize for Viscous in Deadlock is Splatter. Aim to max this ability right after you have invested in Puddle Punch. Since Puddle Punch scales with melee damage rather than spirit, maxing out Splatter is key.

After maxing out Splatter, focus on upgrading ability 3 and then allocate all remaining points into Goo Ball. You might put an extra point in The Cube if you’re struggling in lane, but generally, max this ability last.

While it’s important to utilize abilities during Goo Ball, ensuring those abilities deal sufficient damage is a higher priority. Although some players aim for a maxed-out ultimate, it’s better to spread power spikes evenly by saving those points for later.

Here are Viscous’s abilities and their upgrades:

1. Splatter
   • Throw a ball of goo that damages enemies and creates puddles that slow their movement.
   • Subsequent hits on the same target deal reduced damage.
   • Goo puddles linger, applying a movement slow to enemies that walk on them.
     • Level 1: -6s Cooldown
     • Level 2: +70 Damage and +1m Radius
     • Level 3: Bounces 2 times
2. The Cube
   • Encases the target in a cube of restorative goo that removes debuffs and increases health regeneration, rendering the target unable to act. Can be used on yourself.
   • After exiting, the target gains temporary increased movement speed and stamina recovery.
     • Level 1: Increases movement speed and stamina recovery
     • Level 2: -22s cooldown
     • Level 3: +60 health Regen
3. Puddle Punch
   • Summon a fist that punches units in the area, sending enemies flying. It deals damage, reduces their dash distance temporarily, and slows their movement.
   • This is classified as a Light Melee attack.
     • Level 1: +1 Charge
     • Level 2: +35 Damage and +20% Movement Slow
     • Level 3: -12s Cooldown
4. Goo Ball
   • Morph into a large goo ball that deals damage and stuns enemies on impact. The ball grants significant bullet and spirit resist, bounces off walls, and allows double jumps.
     • Level 1: +5s Duration
     • Level 2: +120 Damage
     • Level 3: Can cast abilities and use items while rolling

Best Build for Viscous: Deadlock Items Explained

Your item choices during matches should focus on enhancing damage over time, crowd control, and survivability. Below is a breakdown of what to prioritize during the Early, Mid, and Late Game, along with specific items to purchase when needed:

Early Game Items

You won’t require extensive weapon damage on Viscous apart from a few specific items, but Close Quarters is a must-have early on.

Melee Lifesteal is excellent for sustain, particularly as it proc’s on Puddle Punch, and you’ll benefit from Sprint Boots and Extra Stamina for improved mobility.

Focusing on spirit items is essential, with Spirit Strike working well with Viscous’s kit. Make sure to pick up Mystic Burst, Extra Spirit, and Extra Charge in that order as you progress.

Mid Game Items

Consider acquiring Mystic Shot if you’re struggling to land punches or want to maintain pressure with poke, along with Soul Shredder Bullets for bonus lifesteal and penetration, and Point Blank for increased movement speed in close engagements. However, weapon damage items remain a lower priority.

Lifestrike is essential, providing lifesteal and additional melee damage. Upgrade your movement items, while Bullet Armor and Spirit Armor are good defensive options if you face significant burst damage. Spirit Lifesteal also serves as an excellent sustain tool.

In the mid-game, focus on acquiring Improved Spirit, Reach, and Cooldown items as soon as possible. Rapid Recharge is beneficial at this stage for more Puddle Punch charges, but can be saved for late game if needed.

Late Game/Luxury Items

The last significant weapon damage item to acquire is Pristine Emblem, offering bonus spirit damage alongside its damage boost against healthier enemies—an excellent option if you need flexibility in your slots.

For additional flexibility, Improved Spirit and Bullet Armor make great purchases for tankiness. Leech is awesome for sustain if you’re looking to carry in matches, while Colossus is ideal for charging through opponents with Goo Ball.

Boundless Spirit is a top-tier luxury item, also useful in the mid-game if rushed. The extra stats it provides are hard to resist. Mystic Reverb synergized with Splatter makes it one of the strongest abilities, which will easily activate Improved Burst. Prioritize placing Superior Cooldown on Splatter as well.

Situational Items

At times, you may need to adjust your upgrade path to counter specific abilities or boost your survivability. Here are several scenarios and the corresponding items you may need:

• Warp Stone: Ideal for quick repositioning or escape, allowing instant teleportation to a nearby location.
• Debuff Remover: Essential in certain matchups, particularly to cleanse silences.
• Healbane: Offers the ability to anti-heal enemies, especially useful against teams stacking lifesteal.
• Phantom Strike: Effective for gap closing, allowing you to launch into the backline and quickly combo abilities for high damage.
• Unstoppable: Works exceptionally well against heavy crowd control situations.
• Slowing Hex: Aiding in hitting airborne enemies, it’s a valuable item to bring them back down.
• Ethereal Shift: Useful for staying alive and making it more challenging for enemies to kill you.
• Knockdown: Excellent for interrupting enemy actions or temporarily immobilizing them.
• Silence Glyph: Disables enemy abilities for a short duration, especially effective against ability-reliant heroes.
• Curse: Great for targeting a specific enemy carrying your opponent’s team.
• Echo Shard: Provides substantial control in team fights and can lead to effective burst damage.

Stick to the build, and once you master the unique mechanics of Viscous, you will be able to inflict significant damage.