McGinnis · Mystic
McGinnis guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
McGinnis is a mystic in Deadlock: controls the battle with combat turrets. Over the last two weeks it is B tier: 49.2% win rate in 92,594 games, picked in 16.1% of matches. Precise placement is everything for McGinnis, whether she's creating a killzone or splitting the enemy team. She can help keep her team running making them hard to dislodge when entrenched.
Strengths
- Long-range gun: damage only starts to drop at 20 m and bottoms out at 58 m.
- A strong pusher: 7,473 objective damage per game on average (median 6,203).
- Where it wins most: Oracle games (52.2%).
- Wins the lane against Sinclair: 58.3% of 2,536 games with both in the same lane.
- Valve rates McGinnis as easy to pick up: a good first hero.
Weaknesses
- Low base gun damage (28.95 DPS, #38 of 38): most of the damage has to come from abilities and items.
- Dies a lot: 6.6 deaths for 4.9 kills per game on average.
- Where it wins least: Initiate games (46.9%).
- Struggles against Seven in lane: only 41.9% of 5,761 games.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- McGinnis: most played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items McGinnis players buy most in each phase of the game over the last two weeks (92,594 games measured), with how many buy them and how they do. Skill points in the most played order (2,120 games, 55.8% win rate).
- McGinnis: “Elendilli - GIGA ULT BUILD + INFINITE TURRETS (V5)” (in-game build)UtilityAdvancedThe most favorited McGinnis build published in the game this patch: saved 42,932 times, last updated on 2026-09-29. Find it in-game in the Hero Builds browser by its ID: 258863. Its own categories are kept as notes on each item.
- McGinnis: highest win rate itemsOffensiveSituationalItems with the highest win rate when bought on McGinnis, among those bought in a meaningful share of games, placed by when they are bought on average. Win rate on items bought late is inflated by games that were already going well: read it as “what winning McGinniss end up buying”.
- McGinnis: vitality buildDefensiveSituationalThe vitality items McGinnis players buy most, for games where you get focused or need to survive fights longer. Cheapest first.
Builds
McGinnis: most played build
When to use it
The items McGinnis players buy most in each phase of the game over the last two weeks (92,594 games measured), with how many buy them and how they do. Skill points in the most played order (2,120 games, 55.8% win rate).
Laning phase
Mid game
- 1Mystic VulnerabilityBought by 36.6% of players in this phase · 52.4% win rate
- 2Compress CooldownBought by 31.3% of players in this phase · 50.0% win rate
- 3Mystic SlowBought by 30.6% of players in this phase · 51.0% win rate
- 4HealbaneBought by 26.7% of players in this phase · 52.7% win rate
- 5Heroic AuraBought by 26.6% of players in this phase · 53.6% win rate
- 6Enchanter's EmblemBought by 25.4% of players in this phase · 51.6% win rate
Late game
Skill order
Max order:1›3›2
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1 | 1 | 1 | · | · | 1 | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 2 | · | · | 2 | · | · | · | · | 2 | 2 | · | · | · | 2 | · | · |
 3 | · | · | · | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | 3 | 3 | · | · | · |
 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 |
McGinnis: “Elendilli - GIGA ULT BUILD + INFINITE TURRETS (V5)” (in-game build)
When to use it
The most favorited McGinnis build published in the game this patch: saved 42,932 times, last updated on 2026-09-29. Find it in-game in the Hero Builds browser by its ID: 258863. Its own categories are kept as notes on each item.
This build is published in the game: copy its ID and search it in the Hero Builds browser to load it.
258863Laning phase
Late game
Situational
Skill order
Max order:1›3›2
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | · | · | · | 1 | 1 | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · |
| 2 | · | 2 | 2 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | · | 3 | 3 | · | · |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
McGinnis: highest win rate items
When to use it
Items with the highest win rate when bought on McGinnis, among those bought in a meaningful share of games, placed by when they are bought on average. Win rate on items bought late is inflated by games that were already going well: read it as “what winning McGinniss end up buying”.
Mid game
- 1Duration Extender54.3% win rate over 12,649 games · bought at 24:33 on average
Late game
Skill order
Max order:1›3›2
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | · | · | · | 1 | 1 | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · |
| 2 | · | 2 | 2 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | · | 3 | 3 | · | · |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
McGinnis: vitality build
When to use it
The vitality items McGinnis players buy most, for games where you get focused or need to survive fights longer. Cheapest first.
Laning phase
Mid game
- 1Stamina MasteryBought by 18.6% of players in this phase · 51.2% win rate
- 2Spirit ResilienceBought by 11.7% of players in this phase · 46.7% win rate
Late game
Skill order
Max order:1›3›2
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | · | · | 1 | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| 2 | · | · | 2 | · | · | · | · | 2 | 2 | · | · | · | 2 | · | · |
| 3 | · | · | · | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | 3 | 3 | · | · | · |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 |
Abilities
- 1Mini Turret18sDeploy a turret that shoots enemies, dealing spirit damage over time. The turret expires after a limited lifetime. Turrets deal reduced damage to troopers and objectives.
- Turret DPS
- 24
- Turret Health
- 100
- Attack Range
- 30m
- Lifetime
- 35s
- 2Medicinal Specter50sDeploy a spirit that provides healing to nearby allies.
- Health Regen
- +25/s
- Heal Radius
- 6m
- 3Spectral Wall50sCast a wall that applies slow on enemies it passes through. Erupt the wall to divide the terrain in half and damage nearby enemies. After casting, press or Ability 3 to erupt the wall early. Can be Destroyed with Melee Attacks
- Damage
- 60
- Move Speed
- -16%
- Minimum Range
- 5m
- Impact Range
- 5m
- Slow Duration
- 2.5s
- 4Heavy BarrageUltimate200sUnleashes a volley of rockets that home in on a targeted location. McGinnis is slowed and is still able to use stamina.
- Damage Per Rocket
- 21
- Rockets per second
- 6
- Explosion Radius
- 4.5m
- Min Range
- 8.5m
- Duration
- 8s
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 2120 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:1›3›2
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | · | · | 1 | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| 2 | · | · | 2 | · | · | · | · | 2 | 2 | · | · | · | 2 | · | · |
| 3 | · | · | · | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | 3 | 3 | · | · | · |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 |
Strategy
1Abilities
What each of McGinnis's abilities does, as the game describes it:
- 1 · Mini Turret — 18s cooldown: Deploy a turret that shoots enemies, dealing spirit damage over time. The turret expires after a limited lifetime. Turrets deal reduced damage to troopers and objectives.
- 2 · Medicinal Specter — 50s cooldown: Deploy a spirit that provides healing to nearby allies.
- 3 · Spectral Wall — 50s cooldown: Cast a wall that applies slow on enemies it passes through. Erupt the wall to divide the terrain in half and damage nearby enemies. After casting, press or Ability 3 to erupt the wall early. Can be Destroyed with Melee Attacks
- 4 · Heavy Barrage (ultimate) — 200s cooldown: Unleashes a volley of rockets that home in on a targeted location. McGinnis is slowed and is still able to use stamina.
2Skill order
The most played skill order (2,120 games, 55.8% win rate) goes 1 · 1 · 2 · 3 · 1 · 4 · 1 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 3 · 3 · 2 · 4 · 4. The one that wins most among the common ones (844 games) reaches 66.4%: 3 · 2 · 2 · 1 · 1 · 1 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 3 · 1 · 3 · 3 · 2 · 2.
3Items by phase
What McGinnis players buy most in the laning phase, mid game and late game:
- Extra Charge — 56.4% buy it · 50.0% win rate
- Monster Rounds — 43.0% buy it · 49.0% win rate
- Intensifying Magazine — 38.5% buy it · 50.3% win rate
- Mystic Vulnerability — 36.6% buy it · 52.4% win rate
- Compress Cooldown — 31.3% buy it · 50.0% win rate
- Mystic Slow — 30.6% buy it · 51.0% win rate
- Escalating Exposure — 46.2% buy it · 53.2% win rate
- Superior Cooldown — 39.5% buy it · 50.5% win rate
- Rapid Recharge — 36.5% buy it · 49.4% win rate
4A typical game
An average McGinnis game over the last two weeks: 4.9 kills, 6.6 deaths and 13.9 assists, 39,161 hero damage, 7,473 objective damage and 43,358 souls.
5Win rate by rank
By the average badge of the game:
- Initiate: 46.9% (3,169 games)
- Seeker: 48.7% (5,280 games)
- Acolyte: 47.1% (4,248 games)
- Sentinel: 47.8% (3,215 games)
- Mystic: 51.2% (2,672 games)
- Ritualist: 49.0% (2,745 games)
- Emissary: 50.9% (2,766 games)
- Oracle: 52.2% (3,195 games)
- Phantom: 51.5% (3,073 games)
- Ascendant: 51.9% (1,394 games)
- Eternus: 45.3% (318 games)
Tips
- Unlock order most players use: Mini Turret (1) → Medicinal Specter (2) → Spectral Wall (3) → Heavy Barrage (4).
- Upgrade Mini Turret first, then Spectral Wall; put points in the ultimate when you can.
- First buys: Extra Charge, Monster Rounds and Intensifying Magazine.
- Your gun hits hardest within 20 m; past 58 m it deals minimum damage.
- Last-hit troopers and shoot the soul orbs they drop: souls are your gold and your level.
- Deny the enemy's orbs when you can: every denied orb is souls they don't get.
Matchups
Strong against
- Sinclair56.2%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis wins 56.2% of the 7,305 games measured against Sinclair in the last two weeks.
7.3K matches
- Mirage55.6%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis wins 55.6% of the 7,373 games measured against Mirage in the last two weeks.
7.4K matches
- Mina54.7%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis wins 54.7% of the 15,122 games measured against Mina in the last two weeks.
15.1K matches
- The Doorman54.2%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis wins 54.2% of the 7,972 games measured against The Doorman in the last two weeks.
8K matches
- Paradox53.9%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis wins 53.9% of the 14,492 games measured against Paradox in the last two weeks.
14.5K matches
Weak against
- Victor42.6%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis only wins 42.6% of the 15,548 games measured against Victor in the last two weeks.
15.5K matches
- Seven42.7%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis only wins 42.7% of the 16,202 games measured against Seven in the last two weeks.
16.2K matches
- Paige43.1%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis only wins 43.1% of the 20,006 games measured against Paige in the last two weeks.
20K matches
- Graves44.8%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis only wins 44.8% of the 30,961 games measured against Graves in the last two weeks.
31K matches
- Kelvin45.2%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis only wins 45.2% of the 9,574 games measured against Kelvin in the last two weeks.
9.6K matches
Works well with
- Graves59.0%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis and Graves on the same team win 59.0% of 441 games measured in the last two weeks.
441 matches
- Paige56.8%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis and Paige on the same team win 56.8% of 2,173 games measured in the last two weeks.
2.2K matches
- Victor56.0%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis and Victor on the same team win 56.0% of 2,377 games measured in the last two weeks.
2.4K matches
- Seven54.4%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis and Seven on the same team win 54.4% of 3,140 games measured in the last two weeks.
3.1K matches
- Kelvin53.3%win rate in the matchup
McGinnis and Kelvin on the same team win 53.3% of 1,161 games measured in the last two weeks.
1.2K matches
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 2026-09-16.
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