Deadlock Patch Analysis - 2026-06-30


Patch Date	2026-06-30
Commits	`f3531ce` -> `6444a30`
Source Data	`deadlock-data` commit `f3531ce45ceb478a`
Target Data	`deadlock-data` commit `6444a309422e`

The exact numbers below come from the requested hero-data.json, ability-data.json, and item-data.json diffs. The high-level change feed named Holliday and Dynamo, but the raw commit diff contains a much broader balance pass across hero health scaling, ultimate cooldowns, and several live items.

Executive Summary

This patch broadly slows fight-winning buttons and lowers mid/late durability by reducing health gained per boon on nearly every released hero. Holliday, Dynamo, Haze, Shiv, Seven, Rem, Billy, Warden, and Celeste receive the most strategically visible changes, while several items shift toward either longer cooldown gates or better scaling with spirit/power progression.

The direction is slower objective fights and more punishable failed engages: many ultimates are up less often, late-game health totals are lower, and several mobility or reset tools have longer downtime. A smaller set of targeted buffs improves healing, spirit scaling, or reliability for Dynamo, Drifter, Apollo, Lash, Ivy, Celeste, Mina, Vyper, and some item builds.

Gameplay Changes

Global Hero Health Scaling

The largest systemic change is a broad reduction to LevelScaling.MaxHealth. Base health is unchanged, so lane starting HP is not hit directly. The practical effect appears after boon thresholds: at 20 boons, each -1 health-per-boon is -20 max HP before item multipliers.

Hero	Health per boon	Approx HP delta at 20 boons	Commentary
Holliday	`43 -> 41`	`-40 HP`	Slightly easier to punish between Bounce Pad/Lasso windows.
Abrams	`52 -> 49`	`-60 HP`	Tank profile is still high, but late dives have less free EHP.
Bebop	`55 -> 52`	`-60 HP`	Less forgiving when channeling or exposing himself for Hyper Beam angles.
Paige	`29 -> 31`	`+40 HP`	One of the few durability buffs; helps her survive poke while setting up.
Paradox	`48 -> 46`	`-40 HP`	Swap plays carry more personal risk.
The Doorman	`44 -> 42`	`-40 HP`	Doorway/Hotel playmaking is slightly more punishable.
Drifter	`43 -> 41`	`-40 HP`	Lower durability offsets his stronger Bloodscent/Rend flow.
Dynamo	`64 -> 61`	`-60 HP`	Lower durability offsets his stronger Aurora healing.
Rem	`29 -> 28`	`-20 HP`	Minor durability loss on an already fragile support profile.
Apollo	`47 -> 45`	`-40 HP`	Slightly lower baseline durability, partially offset by ability buffs.
McGinnis	`55 -> 52`	`-60 HP`	Makes static setup positions easier to force.
Victor	`36 -> 34`	`-40 HP`	Lower survivability before self-revive can matter.
Lady Geist	`54 -> 51`	`-60 HP`	Soul Exchange cooldown is also longer, so risk windows widen.
Seven	`43 -> 41`	`-40 HP`	Lower durability compounds Storm Cloud nerfs.
Haze	`35 -> 33`	`-40 HP`	Squishy carry builds need defensive timing even more.
Vindicta	`29 -> 28`	`-20 HP`	Small durability loss, partly offset by stronger Assassinate scaling.
Infernus	`41 -> 39`	`-40 HP`	Concussive Combustion is also less frequent.
Kelvin	`63 -> 60`	`-60 HP`	Frozen Shelter uptime also falls, reducing fight control frequency.
Mo & Krill	`68 -> 65`	`-60 HP`	Still durable, but Combo has a longer cooldown.
Lash	`53 -> 50`	`-60 HP`	More fragile, but Ground Strike and Flog get reliability buffs.
Sinclair	`40 -> 38`	`-40 HP`	Less durable around clone/ultimate setup windows.
Mirage	`47 -> 45`	`-40 HP`	Traveler cooldown increase also slows global pressure.
Calico	`39 -> 37`	`-40 HP`	Return to Shadows cooldown increase makes escape timing stricter.
Graves	`35 -> 33`	`-40 HP`	Lower durability with longer Borrowed Decree downtime.
Grey Talon	`40 -> 38`	`-40 HP`	Lower durability alongside Guided Owl/Rain of Arrows cooldown nerfs.
Venator	`45 -> 43`	`-40 HP`	Ira Domini downtime is also longer.
Billy	`56 -> 53`	`-60 HP`	Durability and weapon scaling both fall; max-health scaling rises.
Shiv	`48 -> 46`	`-40 HP`	Durability loss stacks with heavy Slice and Dice/Killing Blow nerfs.
Pocket	`38 -> 36`	`-40 HP`	Loses durability and weapon scaling.
Ivy	`47 -> 45`	`-40 HP`	Lower durability offset by better healing/thorn scaling.
Celeste	`35 -> 33`	`-40 HP`	Durability down, but her ability numbers are broadly buffed.
Mina	`28 -> 27`	`-20 HP`	Minor durability loss; Rake/Nox Nostra damage improve.
Vyper	`37 -> 35`	`-40 HP`	Lower baseline durability; Slither barrier scaling improves.
Viscous	`47 -> 45`	`-40 HP`	Goo Ball uptime falls but duration at max upgrade rises.
Warden	`63 -> 60`	`-60 HP`	Lower durability and weapon scaling, offset by defensive scaling buffs.
Silver	`29 -> 28`	`-20 HP`	Minor durability loss; transformed-state cooldown data also lengthened.
Wraith	`37 -> 35`	`-40 HP`	Telekinesis cooldown increase makes pick attempts less frequent.
Yamato	`47 -> 45`	`-40 HP`	Shadow Transformation cooldown increase widens punish windows.

Weapon Scaling Changes

Three released heroes also have direct weapon-growth reductions beyond the global health pass.

Hero	Exact change	Gameplay impact
Billy	Bullet damage per boon `0.142 -> 0.127`; DPS per boon `1.6706 -> 1.4942`; sustained DPS per boon `0.78166 -> 0.69909`.	Weapon scaling is lower, pushing Billy toward ability/CC value unless Bashdown and Rising Ram compensate.
Pocket	Bullet damage per boon `0.16 -> 0.14`; DPS per boon `2.1334 -> 1.8667`; sustained DPS per boon `1.4334 -> 1.2542`.	Late weapon pressure is weaker; Pocket leans harder on ability timing and Affliction windows.
Warden	Bullet damage per boon `0.34 -> 0.28`; DPS per boon `1.2952 -> 1.0667`; sustained DPS per boon `0.78357 -> 0.64529`.	A large late weapon-scaling hit; Warden needs Last Stand/Willpower value instead of pure gun growth.
Shiv	Alt-fire ammo consumed per shot `3 -> 5`; alt-fire bullet damage scaling added `absent -> 0.2` per boon.	Alt-fire pressure costs substantially more magazine economy, but that attack path now has explicit scaling.

Released Hero Ability Changes

Abrams

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Siphon Life	T3 radius `3m -> 2m`.	Smaller max-upgrade sustain zone; enemies have more room to disengage.
Shoulder Charge	T3 cooldown reduction `-20s -> -18s`.	Slightly less uptime after maxing.
Seismic Impact	Cooldown `185s -> 215s`; T1 cooldown `-35s -> -30s`.	Major ultimate cadence nerf; even upgraded, fight-starting windows are less frequent.

Bebop

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Hyper Beam	Cooldown `105s -> 120s`; T1 cooldown `-25s -> -20s`.	Beam is less available for repeated objective fights and pick attempts.

Paige

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Plot Armor	T1 fire-rate spirit scaling `0.13 -> 0.16`; T3 extra-target barrier percentage `75% -> 100%`.	Better scaling and full-value shielding on extra targets; team save potential improves.
Rallying Charge	Cooldown `190s -> 220s`; T2 cooldown reduction `-50s -> -45s`; T3 max amp `50 -> 70`.	Less frequent, but higher max payoff when fully upgraded and executed well.

Paradox

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Paradoxical Swap	Cooldown `95s -> 110s`; T2 cooldown `-35s -> -30s`.	Pick attempts are more committed and failed swaps are more punishable.

The Doorman

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Doorway	Cooldown `40s -> 45s`.	Fewer frequent repositioning and escape windows.
Hotel Guest	Cooldown `120s -> 140s`; T1 cooldown `-25s -> -20s`.	Longer downtime on one of his biggest fight-control tools.

Drifter

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Bloodscent	T1 move speed `+2 -> +3`; T2 heal on kill `18% -> 24%`.	Stronger chase and reset payoff when Drifter secures kills.
Rend	Cast delay `0.5s -> 0.4s`; post-cast duration `0.5s -> 0.4s`; T2 cooldown `-7s -> -8s`.	Faster and smoother damage pattern; easier to weave into fights.
Eternal Night	Cooldown `125s -> 145s`; T2 cooldown `-45s -> -40s`.	Stronger basic flow is offset by less frequent ultimate pressure.

Dynamo

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Rejuvenating Aurora	Healing per second `25 -> 30`.	Clear sustain buff in grouped fights and lane recovery.
Singularity	Cooldown `230s -> 265s`.	Major ultimate uptime nerf; teams get fewer forced-wombo windows from Dynamo.

Dynamo is more reliable in extended healing situations, but his headline engage/counter-engage button is available far less often. The patch pushes him toward sustained team support instead of repeated Singularity-centered fights.

Rem

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Naptime	Cooldown `175s -> 200s`; T3 cooldown `-65s -> -55s`.	Less frequent long-cooldown control.
Tag Along	Healing-per-second spirit scaling `0.66 -> 0.4`; T3 missing-health burst scaling `0.02 -> 0.016`.	Spirit-scaling sustain is sharply reduced.
Lil Helpers	Tech armor gain `15 -> 12`; T3 helper count `2 -> 1`.	Less defensive value and lower max-upgrade saturation.

Apollo

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Flawless Advance	T1 heal spirit scaling `1.0 -> 1.3`.	Stronger spirit-scaling self-sustain on the early upgrade.
Riposte	Dash grace window `1.0s -> 1.3s`; T1 cooldown reduction `-7s -> -8s`; internal target-select range `25m -> 35m`.	More forgiving and more reliable counterattack flow.
Itani Lo Sahn	Cooldown `125s -> 145s`; T2 cooldown reduction `-40s -> -35s`; T3 bonus damage `40% -> 50%`.	Less frequent ultimate, but higher max-upgrade payoff.

McGinnis

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Heavy Barrage	Cooldown `175s -> 200s`; T2 cooldown `-55s -> -45s`.	Rocket fight windows are less frequent, especially before deep upgrades.

Victor

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Shocking Reanimation	Cooldown `240s -> 275s`; T3 cooldown `-110s -> -95s`.	Self-revive is much less available; killing Victor should create longer real advantage windows.

Lady Geist

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Soul Exchange	Cooldown `190s -> 220s`; T1 cooldown `-60s -> -50s`.	Her panic-swap/swing-turnaround tool is more punishable on cooldown.

Seven

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Lightning Ball	Cooldown between charges `7s -> 6s`.	Slightly smoother charge cadence.
Storm Cloud	Cooldown `180s -> 205s`; damage interval `0.25s -> 0.3s`; expand time `1.5s -> 3.5s`.	Major ultimate nerf: less uptime, slower expansion, and less frequent damage ticks.

Haze

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Sleep Dagger	T1 bullet resist reduction `-8% -> -10%`; T2 cooldown reduction `-17s -> -18s`.	Better pick setup and slightly better uptime after upgrades.
Smoke Bomb	T3 bullet lifesteal `40% -> 50%`.	Stronger max-upgrade sustain for committed gun fights.
Bullet Dance	Cooldown `145s -> 165s`; T3 cooldown reduction `-75s -> -65s`.	Ultimate windows are much less frequent even after maxing; defensive item timing matters more.

Vindicta

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Stake	T2 cooldown reduction `-20s -> -22s`.	Slightly better upgraded control uptime.
Crow Familiar	T2 cooldown reduction `-12s -> -16s`.	Better upgraded harassment/control cadence.
Assassinate	Cooldown `50s -> 55s`; low-health damage bonus spirit scaling `2.0 -> 2.3`; T1 cooldown `-20s -> -15s`.	Less frequent snipes, but spirit-invested execute damage scales harder.

Infernus

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Concussive Combustion	Cooldown `165s -> 190s`; T2 cooldown `-75s -> -65s`.	Fewer big fight detonations and longer punishment windows.

Kelvin

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Frozen Shelter	Cooldown `170s -> 195s`; T1 cooldown `-25s -> -20s`.	Dome is much less frequent, reducing objective-stall and save cadence.

Mo & Krill

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Sand Blast	T2 ground-dash reduction `-25% -> -30%`; T2 slow `25% -> 30%`; T3 cooldown `-20s -> -25s`.	Stronger upgraded catch and better max-upgrade uptime.
Combo	Cooldown `130s -> 150s`; bonus health on kill `30 + 1.0 spirit -> 40 + 2.0 spirit`; T2 cooldown `-35s -> -30s`.	Less frequent lockdown, but kill rewards scale much harder.

Lash

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Flog	Targeting cone angle `30 -> 38`.	Easier to connect in close/mid fights.
Ground Strike	Cooldown `21s -> 18s`.	More frequent core damage/mobility pattern.
Death Slam	Cooldown `150s -> 170s`; T2 cooldown `-40s -> -35s`.	Big teamfight displacement is available less often.

Sinclair

Ability	Exact change	Impact
The Great Homonculus!	Cooldown `127s -> 145s`.	Less frequent high-impact clone ultimate windows.

Mirage

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Traveler	Cooldown `120s -> 140s`; T3 cooldown `-80s -> -70s`.	Slower cross-map tempo and less frequent late-game repositioning.

Calico

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Return to Shadows	Cooldown `100s -> 115s`; T1 cooldown `-25s -> -20s`.	Escape/re-engage tool is less available.

Graves

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Borrowed Decree	Cooldown `120s -> 140s`; T1 cooldown `-20s -> -15s`.	Longer downtime on a major pressure and utility tool.

Grey Talon

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Rain of Arrows	Cooldown `23s -> 25s`.	Slightly less frequent aerial pressure.
Guided Owl	Cooldown `110s -> 125s`; spirit power per kill `10 -> 8`; T2 cooldown `-45s -> -40s`.	Ultimate is less frequent and snowballs less hard from kills.

Venator

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Ira Domini	Cooldown `140s -> 160s`.	Longer downtime on his major weapon-mode power window.

Billy

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Rising Ram	T3 max-health damage base `10% -> 8%`; T3 max-health damage spirit scaling `0.017 -> 0.035`.	Lower baseline max-health damage, but much better spirit scaling.
Chain Gang	Cooldown `150s -> 175s`; T2 cooldown `-50s -> -40s`.	Less frequent team lockdown.
Bashdown	Melee damage spirit scaling `1.1 -> 0.9`; T3 heavy-melee damage spirit scaling `0.6 -> 0.5`.	Spirit-scaling burst from the ultimate is lower.

Shiv

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Serrated Knives	Cooldown `18s -> 16s`.	Better poke/bleed cadence.
Slice and Dice	Impact damage `60 + 1.4415 spirit -> 25 + 1.0 spirit`.	Large damage nerf to dash burst.
Killing Blow	Cast range `18m -> 12m`; cooldown `125s -> 145s`; buff damage `12 -> 8`; T2 cooldown `-30s -> -25s`; T2 buff damage `10 -> 16`; T3 enemy health percent `5 -> 10`.	Much shorter execute reach and longer downtime, with more payoff shifted into upgrades.

Pocket

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Flying Cloak	T3 cooldown reduction `-12s -> -11s`.	Slightly less max-upgrade uptime.
Affliction	Cooldown `150s -> 170s`; T1 cooldown `-40s -> -35s`.	Less frequent teamfight pressure.

Ivy

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Kudzu Connection	Shared-heal spirit scaling `0.5 -> 0.85`.	Stronger healing payoff from spirit investment.
Entangling Thorns	DPS spirit scaling `0.45 -> 0.55`.	Better spirit scaling on area control damage.
Air Drop	Cooldown `85s -> 100s`; cooldown reduction when used on others `25% -> 30%`.	Self-use is less frequent; ally-focused use is relatively more rewarded.

Celeste

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Shining Wonder	Cooldown `140s -> 160s`; bounce radius `15.5m -> 16.5m`; priority bounce radius `11.5m -> 12.5m`; damage `135 + 0.73 spirit -> 150 + 0.8 spirit`; T2 damage `70 -> 80`; T3 cooldown `-35s -> -30s`.	Bigger, harder-hitting bounces, but less frequent ultimate cadence.
Radiant Daggers	Buff duration `25s -> 30s`; impact damage spirit scaling `0.56 -> 0.63`.	Better sustained buff window and scaling.
Dazzling Trick	Cooldown `35s -> 32s`.	More frequent defensive/deception tool.

Mina

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Rake	Missing-health damage percentage `5% -> 6%`.	Better execute pressure.
Nox Nostra	Cooldown `130s -> 150s`; damage `4.45 -> 4.6`; T1 damage `1.74 -> 1.9`; T2 cooldown `-55s -> -45s`.	More damage per tick, but the ultimate is up less often.

Vyper

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Slither	T3 combat barrier spirit scaling `0.6 -> 0.8`.	Better max-upgrade defensive scaling.
Petrify	Cooldown `60s -> 70s`.	Petrify windows are less frequent, so failed setup attempts are more punishable.

Viscous

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Splatter	T3 damage spirit scaling `1.1 -> 1.0`.	Slightly less max-upgrade spirit burst.
Puddle Punch	T3 cooldown reduction `-12s -> -14s`.	Better max-upgrade punch uptime.
Goo Ball	Cooldown `130s -> 150s`; T1 cooldown `-30s -> -25s`; T3 duration `6s -> 7s`.	Less frequent, but max-upgrade form lasts longer.

Warden

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Willpower	T2 cooldown reduction `-22s -> -24s`; T3 combat barrier spirit scaling `2.5 -> 2.7`.	Better defensive scaling and slightly better upgraded uptime.
Last Stand	Cooldown `155s -> 180s`; T2 cooldown `-35s -> -30s`.	Major ultimate uptime nerf.

Silver

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Lycan Curse	Cooldown `70s -> 80s`.	Transformed-state data indicates a longer cooldown on Silver’s transformation loop.

Wraith

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Telekinesis	Cooldown `130s -> 150s`; T2 cooldown `-50s -> -45s`.	Less frequent pick lockdown; failed casts are more punishable.

Yamato

Ability	Exact change	Impact
Shadow Transformation	Cooldown `130s -> 150s`; T2 cooldown `-25s -> -20s`.	Less frequent transformation safety/commit windows.

Item Changes

Item	Exact change	Gameplay impact
Mystic Shot	Cooldown `8s -> 9s`.	Lower poke cadence for hybrid gun/spirit builds.
Scourge	Max-health DPS changed from flat `3.5%` to `2.6% + 0.0055 spirit scaling`.	Lower baseline aura damage, but spirit investment can recover or exceed the old value later.
Cursed Relic	Outgoing damage penalty `-10% -> -14%`.	Stronger damage suppression during the curse window, alongside its interrupt/silence/disarm/item lockout.
Sharpshooter	Component/property bonuses added: `+45%` bullet speed and `+15%` base attack damage in `PropertyUpgrades`.	Long-range weapon users get more inherited projectile speed and weapon damage value.
Spiritual Overflow	Component/property bonuses added: `+80` health and `+9` tech power in `PropertyUpgrades`.	Better stat package for spirit-gun hybrid builds.
Toxic Bullets	Bleed max-health damage `1.7% -> 1.9%` with existing `0.005` spirit scaling unchanged.	Stronger anti-tank and anti-sustain pressure from bullet builds.

Data Cleanup

Several changes are not player-facing balance changes.

hero_airheart, hero_druid, hero_opera, and hero_testhero were removed from hero-data.json. These keys are not in the released hero list, so this is unreleased hero data cleanup, not nerfs.
The supplied change feed also flags localization or descriptive cleanup for unreleased/internal entries: hero_airheart_lore, hero_airheart_playstyle, hero_airheart_role, hero_druid_lore, hero_druid_playstyle, hero_druid_role, hero_opera_lore, hero_opera_playstyle, hero_opera_role, hero_operative, hero_testhero_lore, hero_testhero_playstyle, hero_testhero_role, hero_thumper, plus lore-only cleanup for released hero keys such as hero_punkgoat_lore, hero_synth_lore, and hero_warden_lore.
Many abilities gained BehaviourBits metadata such as target/cast/channel/UI flags. Those fields are implementation metadata in this diff; the gameplay tables above only count exact numerical changes.
Unreleased or unmapped development ability entries also changed numerically, including placeholder/internal abilities under keys such as ability_boho_*, ability_bomber_*, ability_fortuna_*, ability_graf_*, and raw transformed/internal target-select helpers. Those are not listed as player-facing hero balance unless tied to a released hero ability above.
No new non-released selectable hero key was added in hero-data.json, so this patch does not trigger a new-hero workflow TODO.

Conclusion

The patch is a broad tempo and survivability correction. Most heroes lose boon-based health, many ultimates move 15-35 seconds longer on base cooldown, and several upgraded cooldown reductions are reduced by 5-15 seconds, which makes failed engages and defensive ult trades more punishable.

The buffs are more targeted: Dynamo gets stronger healing, Drifter gets better basic-flow rewards, Apollo gets a more forgiving Riposte package, Lash gets better Flog/Ground Strike reliability, Ivy and Celeste gain stronger spirit-scaling utility, Mina gains more execute damage, Vyper gains better Slither shielding, and Toxic Bullets/Cursed Relic/Sharpshooter/Spiritual Overflow gain meaningful item value. Expect fights to hinge more on cooldown tracking and less on repeated ultimate cycling; teams that force a missed Singularity, Bullet Dance, Storm Cloud, Frozen Shelter, or Last Stand should have a larger window to convert objectives across the three lanes.