Struggling in Deadlock Ranked? These Are the Must-Pick Heroes for March 2025

Are you ready to conquer Deadlock’s ranked ladder in March 2025? Welcome to Blix’s ultimate Deadlock tier list, where we rank the best heroes dominating solo queue—from Calico’s unstoppable performance to Warden’s struggles in the current meta.

This guide is inspired by a streamer’s passionate rant and has been shaped through hundreds of games, community insights, and intense team discussions. It’s your key to mastering the challenges of ranked play. Updated on March 28, 2025, to reflect the latest meta, we’ll explore the top-tier heroes and those that are falling short. Let’s dive in—it’s time to rank up or face defeat!

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Blix Breakdown: Tier List Summary

S+ Tier: The Untouchable Queen

Deadlock hero: Calico

• Calico: She stands out as an exceptionally strong character—rated S+ in solo play. Her mobility, damage output, and lane pressure are remarkable. Leaping Slash deals significant damage, she farms efficiently, and her ultimate can turn the tide of battles. No one can out-trade her in the early game, and she becomes increasingly formidable as the game progresses. Is she overpowered? Perhaps. Is she fun to play? Absolutely.

Blix Verdict

Calico is a top-tier pick for ranked matches. You don’t need a team to succeed with her—just claws and determination. She’s rated S+ because she can carry games on her own without needing support, unlike some other S-tier champions. Will she get nerfed soon? Most likely.

S Tier: Top Heroes Dominating Ranked

Deadlock hero: Abrams

• Abrams: Top 3 in ranked play, no debate. He’s unkillable in lane thanks to Siphon Life and Uppercut for sustain, and in team fights, he becomes a powerhouse with spirit builds, like Spirit Lifesteal. His Charge and ultimate create chaos, having an insane impact on the game.
• Bebop: Overpowered for solo queue. Sticky Bomb and Hook dominate lanes, and his ultimate can end games. He farms quickly, fights fiercely, and is hard to kill—definitely S-tier carry potential.
• Seven: The ultimate challenge to carry in ranked. Power Surge and Chain Lightning allow him to farm souls effortlessly—low-ranked players struggle to punish him. His Static Charge stuns opponents in Storm Cloud zones. While he requires some farm to come online, he becomes unmatched once he does.
• Mirage: S-tier, not S+, for ranked play. His teleport shines in split-pushing and creates chaos in team fights, especially with coordination. However, he’s still a threat. In ranked matches, Fire Scarabs and his ultimate can change the game, although he requires more strategy than Abrams.
• Kelvin: The best support in ranked. He freezes lanes easily with Ice Path, sustains with Frost Grenade, and uses Arctic Beam as a clutch ultimate. He relies on teamwork to shine but wins early enough that your carry won’t mess it up.
• Yamato: A top 3 laner, hands down. With Crimson Slash and Flying Strike, she dominates trades, and her late-game Power Slash makes her a 1v6 machine. While she needs some farm, ranked play rarely stops her.

Blix Verdict

These are the champions to stomp the ladder. Abrams and Bebop excel in chaotic games, being tanky, kill-hungry, and self-sufficient. Seven is a soul vacuum in low ranks, while Mirage and Kelvin require more strategic thinking. Yamato’s status as a lane bully secures her place—she consistently achieves uncontested early wins.

A Tier: Strong Picks for Ladder Play

Deadlock hero: Holliday

• Holliday: Holliday remains a reliable sniper. Her headshots are punishing, and the Smoke Bomb helps her evade trouble. While her ultimate is a powerful team-fight nuke, she isn’t quite S-tier; she requires good aim and setup, but her effectiveness is consistent.
• Infernus: Infernus is rated low A-tier in power. His Flame Dash and Catalyst ability can quickly eliminate squishy opponents, and his ultimate provides excellent zoning control. He is consistent and balanced—offering great steady damage without being overpowered.
• Ivy: Ivy is always a solid choice. Her Kudzu ability can bind enemies and heal allies, while her ultimate can either fly urns to provide support or secure kills. She relies on her team but shines in ranked play when paired with decent teammates.
• Mo & Krill: Mo and Krill are exceptional in professional play, rated A-tier in ranked matches. They dominate their lane and are hard to eliminate, thanks to abilities like Burrow and their ultimate. A team that is strategic and coordinated can unleash significant chaos with them.
• Paradox: Paradox is an S-tier character in competitive play and A-tier in ranked matches. Her Time Wall and Paradoxical Swap abilities are incredibly useful, but the unpredictability of solo queue can diminish her ability to carry games. Nonetheless, she remains a high A-tier choice with undeniable utility.
• Viscous: Viscous is a solid support character. His Goo Ball and Puddle Punch can control fights, and his ultimate serves as a reset for the team. While he may not be able to carry games on his own, he significantly enhances the effectiveness of any capable squad.
• Lady Geist: Lady Geist offers tanky carry vibes. Her Soul Siphon and Hexenic Burst abilities deal considerable damage, and her ultimate can turn the tide of battle. She is reliable, if not overpowered, and sits firmly in the mid-A-tier range.

Blix Verdict

A-tier is where coordination begins to matter. Mo & Krill and Paradox shine brighter in professional hands, but their ranking limits them. Ivy and Viscous support MVPs effectively, while Holliday and Infernus hold their own. Lady Geist is the sleeper picks—underrated for their tackiness.

B Tier: Viable Heroes with Flaws

Deadlock hero: Lash

• Lash: Currently ranked as a high B-tier. In the early map meta, his ultimate made him overpowered during team fights, but as positioning and urn fights have improved, his effectiveness has diminished. Ground Strike remains a solid ability, though dodgeable, so it’s still good but not excellent.
• Pocket: Performs decently in the mid-lane, being more effective in the early to mid-game. His Barrage and ultimate can sway skirmishes in his favor, but he tends to fall off as a solo carry in the late game—B-tier is an appropriate fit for him.
• Shiv: Classified as low B-tier, he’s not bad. His Rage and Slice abilities scale well, but his reputation has suffered due to pro team losses. In ranked play, he can spike hard, proving to be better than the bottom-tier characters.
• Vindicta: She’s a skill ceiling champion. Her Scoped Shots and Stake can eliminate enemies from a distance, and her ultimate serves as a strong finishing move. However, her performance can be inconsistent in ranked play, as it is highly dependent on the player’s skills, which keeps her in B-tier.
• Wraith: Currently mid B-tier, not in the C-tier. She struggles in the lane and farms slowly, but her Card Trick and ultimate can shine during the mid-game. Wraith needs time to come online; she is quite fragile in the early stages.

Blix Verdict

B-tier champions are playable but have their flaws. Lash has lost effectiveness with recent meta shifts, Pocket is a risk in mid-game, and Shiv is often undervalued—give him a chance. Vindicta can be a coin flip, performing either exceptionally well or poorly, while Wraith is a late bloomer. If you can punish her early, she can be easy to control.

C Tier: Struggling in Ranked Meta

Deadlock hero: Dynamo

• Dynamo: A solid kit with low impact. Kinetic Pulse can clear enemies, and Quantum provides saves, but it lacks carry potential and relies too heavily on a team. Placed in the bottom of the C tier.
• Haze: While not entirely unplayable, it can be challenging. The SMGs and Sleep Dagger are countered by Metal Skin, making the lane a struggle. Also rated at low C.
• McGinnis: The turret queen is considered trash tier. It has weak laning and is easily countered, only excelling in niche compositions. Located at the bottom of the C tier.
• Warden: Lacks a clear purpose, and other characters perform better. Binding Word and Alchemical Flask lack impact and ultimate abilities are easily dodged. It is also found at the low C tier.

Blix Verdict

The C-tier is a tough spot. Dynamo is too reliant on the team, Haze and McGinnis struggle in the lane, and Warden is overshadowed by others—buffs are needed as soon as possible.

Hot Takes and Pro vs. Ladder Insights

Hot Takes

Abrams is essentially unkillable—a tank that thrives amidst chaos, backed by a supportive team. Seven is the reigning carry king; farming truly wins games. Calico is nearly untouchable—nerf her, or face the consequences. Wraith struggles due to weaknesses in the lane, which can adversely affect her performance. This reliance on team success negatively impacts her value in solo queue play.

Pro vs. Ladder

Mirage, Mo & Krill, and Paradox excel in competitive settings (with S+ potential), but they experience a dip in ranked matches due to chaos. Calico and Seven remain indifferent to the differences; they can carry their teams in any environment.

Final Thoughts

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Calico is the top tier champion, while Seven gathers souls to secure victories, and C-tier characters struggle in obscurity. Whether you’re climbing with Abrams’ durable chaos or avoiding McGinnis’ turret mishaps, this tier list serves as your guide for ranking up. Do you disagree with our rankings? Do you think Wraith is underrated, or is Calico overhyped? Share your opinions in the comments—we’re ready for a debate!

If you’re looking for more strategies to dominate in Deadlock, explore our latest guides and meta analyses. This information has been updated as of March 28, 2025—now get out there and rank up! For more content related to Deadlock, we recommend visiting the Reddit thread.