Yamato · Assassin
Yamato items and builds
More Yamato guides
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
Yamato is a assassin in Deadlock: delivers charged attacks with finesse. Over the last two weeks it is B tier: 50.2% win rate in 168,289 games, picked in 29.4% of matches.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Yamato: most played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items Yamato players buy most in each phase of the game over the last two weeks (168,289 games measured), with how many buy them and how they do. Skill points in the most played order (10,688 games, 61.0% win rate).
- Yamato: “Kari's 1 v 11 Spirit Yamato Build” (in-game build)UtilityAdvancedThe most favorited Yamato build published in the game this patch: saved 33,816 times, last updated on 2026-09-20. Find it in-game in the Hero Builds browser by its ID: 300426. Its own categories are kept as notes on each item.
- Yamato: highest win rate itemsOffensiveSituationalItems with the highest win rate when bought on Yamato, 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 Yamatos end up buying”.
- Yamato: vitality buildDefensiveSituationalThe vitality items Yamato players buy most, for games where you get focused or need to survive fights longer. Cheapest first.
Builds
Yamato: most played build
When to use it
The items Yamato players buy most in each phase of the game over the last two weeks (168,289 games measured), with how many buy them and how they do. Skill points in the most played order (10,688 games, 61.0% win rate).
Laning phase
Mid game
- 1Spirit SnatchBought by 53.9% of players in this phase · 51.6% win rate
- 2Improved SpiritBought by 39.7% of players in this phase · 48.2% win rate
- 3HealbaneBought by 37.5% of players in this phase · 51.2% win rate
- 4Healing BoosterBought by 30.7% of players in this phase · 51.7% win rate
- 5LifestrikeBought by 30.4% of players in this phase · 53.1% win rate
- 6Mystic ShotBought by 28.4% of players in this phase · 48.7% win rate
Late game
Skill order
Max order:2›3›1
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1 | · | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 1 | 1 |
 2 | · | 2 | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · |
 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · |
Yamato: “Kari's 1 v 11 Spirit Yamato Build” (in-game build)
When to use it
The most favorited Yamato build published in the game this patch: saved 33,816 times, last updated on 2026-09-20. Find it in-game in the Hero Builds browser by its ID: 300426. 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.
300426Laning phase
Mid game
- 1Spirit StrikeCore
- 2TankbusterCore
- 3Spirit SnatchCore
- 4Recharging RushCore
- 5Hunter's AuraCore
- 6Boundless SpiritCore
- 7Mystic ReverbCore
- 8Superior CooldownCore
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 | · |
Yamato: highest win rate items
When to use it
Items with the highest win rate when bought on Yamato, 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 Yamatos end up buying”.
Late game
Skill order
Max order:2›3›1
| 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 | · | · | · |
Yamato: vitality build
When to use it
The vitality items Yamato players buy most, for games where you get focused or need to survive fights longer. Cheapest first.
Laning phase
Mid game
- 1LifestrikeBought by 30.4% of players in this phase · 53.1% win rate
- 2Spirit ResilienceBought by 18.5% of players in this phase · 47.8% win rate
- 3Dispel MagicBought by 11.4% of players in this phase · 49.0% win rate
- 4CounterspellBought by 6.2% of players in this phase · 47.8% win rate
- 5FortitudeBought by 5.4% of players in this phase · 53.5% win rate
Late game
Skill order
Max order:2›3›1
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | · | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | · | 2 | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · |
Abilities
- 1Power Slash12sChannel to increase damage over 1.4 seconds, then release a fully-charged sword strike. Press Ability 1 or to trigger the strike early, dealing partial damage.
- Full Charge Damage
- 145
- Slash Length
- 22m
- Bullet Resist
- +60%
- 2Flying Slash36sThrow a grappling hook to reel yourself towards an enemy, dealing melee damage and slowing the target when you arrive.
- Move Speed
- -40%
- Slow Duration
- 2.5s
- 3Crimson Slash16sSlash enemies in front of you, damaging them and slowing their fire rate. If any enemy heroes are hit, you heal.
- Damage
- 55
- Heal on hero hit
- 55
- Fire Rate
- -30%
- Debuff Duration
- 4s
- 4Shadow TransformationUltimate150sBecome infused with Yamato's shadow soul. After an initial invincible transformation your abilities are refreshed and are 60% faster. You gain immunity to negative status effects and have greatly increased bullet and spirit resist. When you get a hero kill, you heal and the duration is extended.
- Duration
- 5s
- Ability Speed
- +60%
- Max HP Heal On Kill
- 15%
- Bullet Resist
- +30%
- Spirit Resist
- +30%
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 10688 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:2›3›1
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | · | · | · | 1 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | · | 2 | 2 | · | 2 | · | 2 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · | · | 3 | 3 | 3 | · | · | · | · | · |
| 4 | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | · | · | · | 4 | 4 | 4 | · | · |
Strategy
1Laning phase
Most bought:
- Spirit Strike — 64.4% buy it · 50.5% win rate
- Melee Lifesteal — 64.3% buy it · 50.5% win rate
- Restorative Shot — 59.6% buy it · 50.4% win rate
- Extra Regen — 30.4% buy it · 49.3% win rate
- Stalker — 28.7% buy it · 53.1% win rate
- Extra Spirit — 27.7% buy it · 49.4% win rate
2Mid game
Most bought:
- Spirit Snatch — 53.9% buy it · 51.6% win rate
- Improved Spirit — 39.7% buy it · 48.2% win rate
- Healbane — 37.5% buy it · 51.2% win rate
- Healing Booster — 30.7% buy it · 51.7% win rate
- Lifestrike — 30.4% buy it · 53.1% win rate
- Mystic Shot — 28.4% buy it · 48.7% win rate
3Late game
Most bought:
- Boundless Spirit — 43.2% buy it · 52.4% win rate
- Superior Cooldown — 36.7% buy it · 51.6% win rate
- Tankbuster — 33.6% buy it · 49.3% win rate
- Mystic Reverb — 28.1% buy it · 56.6% win rate
- Transcendent Cooldown — 26.9% buy it · 53.1% win rate
- Hunter's Aura — 25.7% buy it · 50.0% win rate
4In-game builds
The most favorited builds of the patch in the game's own browser; search them by their ID:
- “Kari's 1 v 11 Spirit Yamato Build” — ID 300426 · 33,816 favorites
- “Yamato - Tank-Crowd Control [68% WR] [tracklock.gg]” — ID 317840 · 23,893 favorites
- “FREDTHEFINCH YAMATO” — ID 541388 · 20,342 favorites
Tips
- Spend your souls at the shop often: an unspent 3,200 is a tier 3 item you are not using.
- First buys: Spirit Strike, Melee Lifesteal and Restorative Shot.
Matchups
Strong against
- Mirage56.0%win rate in the matchup
Yamato wins 56.0% of the 13,281 games measured against Mirage in the last two weeks.
13.3K matches
- Sinclair56.0%win rate in the matchup
Yamato wins 56.0% of the 15,181 games measured against Sinclair in the last two weeks.
15.2K matches
- Paradox54.7%win rate in the matchup
Yamato wins 54.7% of the 26,924 games measured against Paradox in the last two weeks.
26.9K matches
- The Doorman54.1%win rate in the matchup
Yamato wins 54.1% of the 14,644 games measured against The Doorman in the last two weeks.
14.6K matches
- Shiv54.0%win rate in the matchup
Yamato wins 54.0% of the 43,317 games measured against Shiv in the last two weeks.
43.3K matches
Weak against
- Graves42.8%win rate in the matchup
Yamato only wins 42.8% of the 33,973 games measured against Graves in the last two weeks.
34K matches
- Paige43.8%win rate in the matchup
Yamato only wins 43.8% of the 29,584 games measured against Paige in the last two weeks.
29.6K matches
- Victor44.3%win rate in the matchup
Yamato only wins 44.3% of the 30,058 games measured against Victor in the last two weeks.
30.1K matches
- Seven44.9%win rate in the matchup
Yamato only wins 44.9% of the 26,589 games measured against Seven in the last two weeks.
26.6K matches
- Kelvin45.3%win rate in the matchup
Yamato only wins 45.3% of the 15,606 games measured against Kelvin in the last two weeks.
15.6K matches
Works well with
- Victor58.3%win rate in the matchup
Yamato and Victor on the same team win 58.3% of 3,451 games measured in the last two weeks.
3.5K matches
- Graves56.0%win rate in the matchup
Yamato and Graves on the same team win 56.0% of 6,170 games measured in the last two weeks.
6.2K matches
- Paige55.4%win rate in the matchup
Yamato and Paige on the same team win 55.4% of 7,898 games measured in the last two weeks.
7.9K matches
- Haze54.4%win rate in the matchup
Yamato and Haze on the same team win 54.4% of 9,465 games measured in the last two weeks.
9.5K matches
- Seven54.3%win rate in the matchup
Yamato and Seven on the same team win 54.3% of 5,794 games measured in the last two weeks.
5.8K matches
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 2026-09-16.
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