Deadlock Changes Confirmed by Riot: Sentinel Buffs Incoming

Riot Games has officially confirmed upcoming changes for Deadlock, one of Valorant’s least popular sentinels. Ryan Cousart (@rycoux), a game designer on Valorant, shared key details about Deadlock’s adjustments in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter). While these changes aim to refine her reactive and aggressive stall potential, Riot is also ensuring that Deadlock remains distinct from Cypher and Killjoy in her playstyle.

Credit: Riot Games

Riot’s Approach to Deadlock: Buffs with a Twist

Deadlock changes are coming but it might be a different look than we had imagined it when we started looking. We want to keep sound sensor as is, for now, but will be looking to empower players that are mastering her reactive, yet aggressive, stall potential
— Ryan Cousart (@rycoux) January 30, 2025

Sound Sensor Stays, But Refinements Are Coming

One of the most notable takeaways from Cousart’s posts is that Deadlock’s Sound Sensor ability will remain unchanged for now. Riot initially experimented with significant tweaks, but nothing felt right. Instead, they have settled on a “light but sweet” adjustment that will allow Deadlock to play more effectively.

Cousart acknowledged that Riot tested several ideas to make Sound Sensor more impactful, but ultimately, they could not find a solution that felt natural to Deadlock’s kit. Instead, the focus has shifted to empowering players who have mastered her current playstyle.

How Deadlock Will Differ from Cypher & Killjoy

One of the major concerns surrounding Deadlock’s design has been her unclear identity in the Sentinel role. Many players felt that her kit was too defensive without offering strong flank control, making her a weaker alternative to Cypher and Killjoy.

However, Riot now sees Deadlock fitting into team compositions in a way that’s different from other sentinels. Instead of relying on passive intel gathering and lockdown defense, Deadlock players will be encouraged to utilize her stall potential and lethal traps to control space aggressively.

What This Means for Deadlock Players

Less focus on flank-watching, more focus on delaying and disrupting pushes.
More viability in compositions that don’t rely on standard Cypher/Killjoy setups.
Changes will enhance her ability to create kill zones instead of just gathering information.

While the specifics of the Deadlock buffs are yet to be revealed, Riot’s emphasis on reactive stall potential suggests that her Barrier Mesh and GravNet abilities could see improvements.

Deadlock’s Future in Valorant: Will These Changes Help?

Despite her low pick rate, some professional and high-ranked players have found niche uses for Deadlock, particularly in slowing down executes and denying space. With Riot doubling down on this “stall and kill” playstyle, these changes could help Deadlock find a more consistent place in ranked and pro play.

deadlock valorant sentinel changes — *credit: Riot Games*

Potential Buffs That Could Make Deadlock More Viable:

Faster Deployment Time for Barrier Mesh – Allowing quicker defensive setups.
Longer Duration or Increased Slow Effect on GravNet – Improving stall potential.
More Lethal Nanowire Buffs – Increasing damage or trapping effectiveness.
Quality of Life Changes to Sound Sensor – Making it more intuitive for players.

Cousart’s enthusiasm for the upcoming changes hints that Deadlock mains should expect meaningful improvements soon.

“We’ve cooked up something light but sweet that will let Deadlock players do more Deadlock stuff. Can’t wait for y’all to try it out soon :D” – Ryan Cousart

With Riot’s confirmation that Deadlock changes are in the pipeline, the Valorant community is eagerly awaiting the details in an upcoming patch. Will these buffs be enough to rescue Deadlock from obscurity? Only time will tell.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Deadlock’s Changes

What changes are coming to Deadlock in Valorant?

Riot is focusing on enhancing Deadlock’s reactive and aggressive stall potential, making her less reliant on flank watch and more viable in unique team compositions.

Is Riot changing Deadlock’s Sound Sensor ability?

No, Riot has confirmed that Sound Sensor will remain as is for now, though they tested different ideas before settling on other improvements.

How will Deadlock differ from Cypher and Killjoy?

Deadlock will focus more on stalling enemy pushes and creating kill zones rather than traditional flank-watching and intel gathering like Cypher and Killjoy.