Rat King has been unlocked as the first new hero in Deadlock following the City Never Sleeps update. The character emerged as the winner of a community voting system that determined which of six announced heroes would become available first.
Rat King operates as a versatile frontliner with four distinct abilities. Scrap Grenade allows players to throw an explosive that detonates multiple times, dealing bullet damage and slowing enemies. Swarm of Rats summons creatures that leap onto opponents, dealing spirit damage over time while reducing their bullet resistance. Each additional rat attached to a target increases the bite frequency. Royal Pestments grants the hero a barrier scaled to maximum health, and while the armor remains intact, incoming bullets have a chance to bounce back toward attackers.
The ultimate ability, Rule, Ratannia!, charges up to summon a banner that grants nearby teammates increased movement speed, slow immunity, and reduced damage intake. Upon activation, the banner slams into the ground, triggering a sewer eruption that deals bullet damage and applies knockup and slow to enemies in the area. Rats then swarm from the sewers, applying the Swarm ability to any enemies they strike.
Playstyle and Strengths
Rat King functions as an all-rounder capable of dealing damage, providing team support, and absorbing hits on the frontline. The character scales primarily on gun damage and brings significant utility through crowd control and team buffs. An additional mechanic allows Rat King to enter sewers by crouching and moving into them, adding a layer of mobility and positioning options.
The hero's combination of offensive capabilities, defensive tools, and team-wide benefits suggests it may prove particularly strong in the current patch. Players and balance teams will likely monitor the character's performance closely in the weeks ahead.
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