update · June 12, 2026
Deadlock Balance Update Alters Hero Roster and Economy Systems
A broad new Deadlock update adjusts match pacing by modifying Rejuvenator Urn timers and bounties, alongside extensive tuning for heroes including Apollo, Grey Talon, and Holliday.
Valve has deployed a balance update for Deadlock, targeting match objectives, global comeback systems, and a lengthy list of hero changes. The patch alters how teams handle the Rejuvenator Urn, tones down high-performing gun carries, and reworks several character toolkits.
Economy and Objective Adjustments
The Rejuvenator Urn now requires 60 seconds to give up, down from 75 seconds, while its baseline bounty drops by 10% for the leading team. Breakable health permanent bonuses are reduced across all three levels to 15, 20, and 30 respectively. Meanwhile, kill comeback bounty values increase by 8% to reward successful defensive plays.
Carry Nerfs and Scaling Adjustments
Several primary damage dealers face reductions to weapon growth and output. Grey Talon receives a roughly 4% DPS nerf with increased gun cycle time and lower bullet damage growth. Pocket and Seven also see reductions to bullet damage growth, while McGinnis experiences a shift in Mini Turret DPS scaling and lower fire rate bonuses at tier three.
Apollo and Holliday Reworks
Apollo's Disengaging Sigil gets major velocity and directional input changes, alongside completely restructured talent upgrades that offer fire rate, stamina restoration, and a 4-second recast option at tier three. Holliday's Powder Keg now starts with two charges and features an alternative cast behavior to drop barrels directly at her feet, though its charge time increases to 7 seconds.
Hero Tweaks Across the Roster
Bebop's Sticky Bomb tier three upgrade swaps move speed and fire rate for move speed and debuff resistance. Calico's Gloom Bombs apply their melee resistance debuff on impact rather than explosion, with stacking adjusted to additive. Warden receives decreased bullet fallfall range alongside increased spirit scaling on Willpower and lifesteal improvements on Last Stand.
Why this patch matters
This update reins in dominant ranged damage dealers while adding mechanical depth to characters like Apollo and Holliday, shifting the game toward faster objective turnover.