Venator · Marksman
Venator 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
Venator is a marksman in Deadlock. Over the last two weeks it is D tier: 46.1% win rate in 266,942 games, picked in 46.6% of matches.
Strengths
- One of the strongest guns in the game: 63.49 base weapon DPS, #7 of 38 heroes.
- Durable from the start: 820 base health, #9 of 38.
- A strong pusher: 8,136 objective damage per game on average (median 6,203).
- Where it wins most: Ascendant games (49.4%).
- Wins the lane against Sinclair: 51.6% of 7,102 games with both in the same lane.
Weaknesses
- Weak right now: 46.1% win rate over 266,942 games of the last two weeks.
- Where it wins least: Initiate games (44.0%).
- Struggles against Graves in lane: only 38.6% of 18,564 games.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Venator: most played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items Venator players buy most in each phase of the game over the last two weeks (266,942 games measured), with how many buy them and how they do. Skill points in the most played order (19,476 games, 47.7% win rate).
- Venator: “CATHOLIC DADDY BUILD” (in-game build)UtilityAdvancedThe most favorited Venator build published in the game this patch: saved 49,934 times, last updated on 2026-09-29. Find it in-game in the Hero Builds browser by its ID: 449184. Its own categories are kept as notes on each item.
- Venator: highest win rate itemsOffensiveSituationalItems with the highest win rate when bought on Venator, 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 Venators end up buying”.
- Venator: vitality buildDefensiveSituationalThe vitality items Venator players buy most, for games where you get focused or need to survive fights longer. Cheapest first.
Builds
Venator: most played build
When to use it
The items Venator players buy most in each phase of the game over the last two weeks (266,942 games measured), with how many buy them and how they do. Skill points in the most played order (19,476 games, 47.7% win rate).
Laning phase
Mid game
- 1Bullet LifestealBought by 54.6% of players in this phase · 47.2% win rate
- 2Enduring SpeedBought by 52.0% of players in this phase · 47.6% win rate
- 3Hollow PointBought by 31.1% of players in this phase · 49.8% win rate
- 4Sprint BootsBought by 28.0% of players in this phase · 47.5% win rate
- 5FleetfootBought by 23.6% of players in this phase · 49.7% win rate
- 6Titanic MagazineBought by 21.4% of players in this phase · 45.7% win rate
Late game
Skill order
Max order:2›1›3
| 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 |
 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Venator: “CATHOLIC DADDY BUILD” (in-game build)
When to use it
The most favorited Venator build published in the game this patch: saved 49,934 times, last updated on 2026-09-29. Find it in-game in the Hero Builds browser by its ID: 449184. 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.
449184Laning phase
Mid game
- 1Hollow PointMid game
- 2FortitudeMid game
- 3Point BlankMid game
- 4Extra ChargeMid game
- 5Ballistic EnchantmentMid game
Late game
Situational
Skill order
Max order:1›2›3
| 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 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Venator: highest win rate items
When to use it
Items with the highest win rate when bought on Venator, 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 Venators end up buying”.
Late game
Skill order
Max order:1›2›3
| 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 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Venator: vitality build
When to use it
The vitality items Venator players buy most, for games where you get focused or need to survive fights longer. Cheapest first.
Laning phase
Mid game
- 1Spirit ResilienceBought by 23.2% of players in this phase · 45.4% win rate
- 2FortitudeBought by 20.9% of players in this phase · 48.6% win rate
- 3Dispel MagicBought by 7.3% of players in this phase · 43.5% win rate
- 4CounterspellBought by 6.1% of players in this phase · 44.0% win rate
Late game
Skill order
Max order:2›1›3
| 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 |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Abilities
- 1Consecrating Grenade25sFire a grenade that bounces before exploding, dealing weapon damage and setting enemies on fire. Burning targets deal pure damage to enemies in the area and suffer from reduced healing.
- Damage
- 35
- Incoming Healing
- -30%
- Damage Per Second
- 10
- Burn Duration
- 3.5s
- Burn Radius
- 4.5m
- 2Gutshot23sFire a blast with your shotgun, dealing weapon damage and pushing enemies back. Enemies near a wall receive stun and take bonus weapon damage.
- Damage
- 60
- Bonus Damage
- 30
- Wall Stun Range
- 7m
- 3Hex-Lined Snap Trap28sKick a trap that arms after a brief delay. The trap springs on the first enemy it touches, dealing spirit damage, applying immobilize, and revealing enemies for a duration afterwards.
- Damage
- 80
- Reveal Duration
- 6s
- Lifetime
- 30s
- Charges
- 2
- 4Ira DominiUltimate160sLoad your crossbow with 3 stakes, dealing massively increased weapon damage. The final stake is blessed, dealing bonus pure damage and executing low-health enemies.
- Damage
- 120
- Bonus Damage
- 115
- Execute Threshold
- 8%
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 19476 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:2›1›3
| 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 |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Strategy
1Abilities
What each of Venator's abilities does, as the game describes it:
- 1 · Consecrating Grenade — 25s cooldown: Fire a grenade that bounces before exploding, dealing weapon damage and setting enemies on fire. Burning targets deal pure damage to enemies in the area and suffer from reduced healing.
- 2 · Gutshot — 23s cooldown: Fire a blast with your shotgun, dealing weapon damage and pushing enemies back. Enemies near a wall receive stun and take bonus weapon damage.
- 3 · Hex-Lined Snap Trap — 28s cooldown: Kick a trap that arms after a brief delay. The trap springs on the first enemy it touches, dealing spirit damage, applying immobilize, and revealing enemies for a duration afterwards.
- 4 · Ira Domini (ultimate) — 160s cooldown: Load your crossbow with 3 stakes, dealing massively increased weapon damage. The final stake is blessed, dealing bonus pure damage and executing low-health enemies.
2Skill order
The most played skill order (19,476 games, 47.7% win rate) goes 2 · 2 · 1 · 3 · 2 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 1 · 1 · 2 · 1 · 3 · 3. The one that wins most among the common ones (8,013 games) reaches 61.5%: 2 · 2 · 1 · 3 · 2 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 4 · 1 · 1 · 1 · 3 · 2 · 3 · 3.
3Items by phase
What Venator players buy most in the laning phase, mid game and late game:
- Restorative Shot — 68.5% buy it · 47.0% win rate
- Close Quarters — 60.7% buy it · 47.2% win rate
- Monster Rounds — 27.5% buy it · 45.6% win rate
- Bullet Lifesteal — 54.6% buy it · 47.2% win rate
- Enduring Speed — 52.0% buy it · 47.6% win rate
- Battle Vest — 48.4% buy it · 46.5% win rate
- Vampiric Burst — 52.0% buy it · 48.6% win rate
- Ricochet — 38.4% buy it · 50.6% win rate
- Rapid Recharge — 33.5% buy it · 46.8% win rate
4A typical game
An average Venator game over the last two weeks: 7.7 kills, 7.4 deaths and 11.9 assists, 38,763 hero damage, 8,136 objective damage and 44,459 souls.
5Win rate by rank
By the average badge of the game:
- Initiate: 44.0% (4,057 games)
- Seeker: 45.4% (8,640 games)
- Acolyte: 46.1% (7,887 games)
- Sentinel: 46.8% (6,746 games)
- Mystic: 46.9% (6,339 games)
- Ritualist: 46.4% (6,800 games)
- Emissary: 47.0% (7,158 games)
- Oracle: 48.2% (8,937 games)
- Phantom: 48.4% (7,854 games)
- Ascendant: 49.4% (3,131 games)
- Eternus: 46.6% (874 games)
Tips
- Unlock order most players use: Gutshot (2) → Consecrating Grenade (1) → Hex-Lined Snap Trap (3) → Ira Domini (4).
- Upgrade Gutshot first, then Consecrating Grenade; put points in the ultimate when you can.
- First buys: Restorative Shot, Close Quarters and Monster Rounds.
- Your gun hits hardest within 18 m; past 47 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
- Sinclair52.2%win rate in the matchup
Venator wins 52.2% of the 22,395 games measured against Sinclair in the last two weeks.
22.4K matches
- Mirage51.6%win rate in the matchup
Venator wins 51.6% of the 22,993 games measured against Mirage in the last two weeks.
23K matches
- Viscous50.4%win rate in the matchup
Venator wins 50.4% of the 24,726 games measured against Viscous in the last two weeks.
24.7K matches
- Mina50.4%win rate in the matchup
Venator wins 50.4% of the 55,329 games measured against Mina in the last two weeks.
55.3K matches
- Shiv50.3%win rate in the matchup
Venator wins 50.3% of the 50,358 games measured against Shiv in the last two weeks.
50.4K matches
Weak against
- Graves39.2%win rate in the matchup
Venator only wins 39.2% of the 55,336 games measured against Graves in the last two weeks.
55.3K matches
- Paige39.5%win rate in the matchup
Venator only wins 39.5% of the 45,783 games measured against Paige in the last two weeks.
45.8K matches
- Victor40.4%win rate in the matchup
Venator only wins 40.4% of the 45,151 games measured against Victor in the last two weeks.
45.2K matches
- Seven41.6%win rate in the matchup
Venator only wins 41.6% of the 52,052 games measured against Seven in the last two weeks.
52.1K matches
- Kelvin42.4%win rate in the matchup
Venator only wins 42.4% of the 26,316 games measured against Kelvin in the last two weeks.
26.3K matches
Works well with
- Victor53.2%win rate in the matchup
Venator and Victor on the same team win 53.2% of 6,160 games measured in the last two weeks.
6.2K matches
- Graves52.7%win rate in the matchup
Venator and Graves on the same team win 52.7% of 9,952 games measured in the last two weeks.
10K matches
- Paige52.5%win rate in the matchup
Venator and Paige on the same team win 52.5% of 12,590 games measured in the last two weeks.
12.6K matches
- Kelvin52.4%win rate in the matchup
Venator and Kelvin on the same team win 52.4% of 4,820 games measured in the last two weeks.
4.8K matches
- Seven51.2%win rate in the matchup
Venator and Seven on the same team win 51.2% of 4,917 games measured in the last two weeks.
4.9K matches
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 2026-09-16.
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