Deadlock’s player-driven expansion, Old Gods, New Blood, has delivered its second new hero, and she’s arrived with a darkly whimsical twist. Graves, a gothic necromancer wielding a dismembered hand as her signature weapon, has been selected by the community as the next playable character to enter the game’s competitive scene. The choice underscores a growing demand for unconventional heroes in the MOBA, where traditional damage dealers and assassins often dominate.
The decision wasn’t without competition. Graves bested other fan-favorite contenders, including a celestial unicorn rider and a fiery demonic boy, to secure her place in the lineup. Her lore paints her as a morbidly curious figure, rummaging through graveyards for tools to bend death itself to her will. The severed lich hand she carries isn’t just a prop—it’s her primary means of siphoning enemy power, latching onto foes to drain their strength and leave them weakened.
The Arsenal of the Undead
Graves’ abilities lean heavily into spectral mechanics, blending crowd control with explosive damage. Her primary attack, a green energy beam, locks onto targets with auto-aim precision, making her accessible to players who struggle with Deadlock’s precision-based combat. But where she truly shines is in her utility skills
- Jar of Dead: A thrown pot releases ghostly heads that explode on impact, dealing spirit damage to nearby enemies. If no targets are present, the heads linger, ready to strike the next foe in range.
- Grasping Hands: Summons a 24-meter line of skeletal hands from the ground, immobilizing enemies and dealing additional damage. Ideal for cutting off escapes during chases or sieges.
- Borrowed Decree (Ultimate): Invokes a horde of ghouls to fight alongside her for 20 seconds. Each ghoul explodes on contact, dealing 150 damage and inflicting a -80% movement speed debuff in an 6.5-meter radius—a devastating tool for base assaults.
Her playstyle mirrors that of Victor, another Deadlock hero known for area-of-effect damage and teamfight dominance. Graves excels in objective-focused scenarios, whether it’s pushing a lane, defending a choke point, or storming an enemy base. The auto-aim feature on her primary weapon lowers the skill barrier for newcomers, while her ultimate offers a high-risk, high-reward option for coordinated pushes.
The character’s design also nods to Deadlock’s darker themes, where necromancy and the supernatural collide with tactical gameplay. Graves isn’t just another damage dealer—she’s a disruptor, capable of turning the tide of a fight with a mix of direct damage and environmental hazards. For players craving a hero who can control the battlefield as much as she can dominate it, Graves delivers.
With Rem already established as the fan-favorite, Graves’ addition broadens Deadlock’s roster, offering fresh strategies for both veterans and newcomers. Her arrival suggests the game’s developers are listening closely to player feedback, expanding the hero pool beyond traditional archetypes. Whether she becomes a staple in high-level play or a cult favorite in casual matches remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the dead have spoken, and Graves is here to stay.
