Deadlock: Best Abrams Build Guide

Abrams shines as the quintessential tank in Deadlock, combining formidable defensive capabilities with potent close-range combat prowess. Not only can he sustain significant damage with his healing abilities, but his shotgun and melee skills allow him to excel in frontline skirmishes. Abrams’s unique ability to disrupt enemy formations with his Ultimate makes him a critical asset, drawing fire and creating opportunities for his allies to capitalize on the chaos.

This guide will equip you with the essential knowledge to maximize Abrams’s potential, including a detailed breakdown of his abilities, the best items to enhance his tanking and brawling capacities, and strategies to effectively control the battlefield. Let’s dive into how to master Abrams and turn the tide in Deadlock.

Deadlock Abrams Overview

Strengths

• Dominates in close combat with his shotgun
• Beginner-friendly due to straightforward mechanics
• Strong early game presence with a self-regenerating health ability
• Excellent in team fights and serves as a resilient tank in late-game scenarios
• Good crowd control abilities

Weaknesses

• Vulnerable to parries and sophisticated crowd control tactics
• Less effective against ranged adversaries like Vindicta and Grey Talon
• Limited utility in isolated skirmishes due to a lack of mobility, making him an easy target

Abrams, with his affinity for close-quarter combat, excels when he can get up close to deliver crushing blows with his shotgun and fists. However, his aggressive approach makes him susceptible to parries and powerful crowd control effects, which requires players to be vigilant and strategic during engagements.

Despite these vulnerabilities, Abrams’s kit is potent and user-friendly, appealing to both newcomers and seasoned players. Proper mastery over his build and skill progression transforms him into a durable force, capable of sustaining significant damage and regenerating health swiftly. Below, we delve into Abrams’s abilities and their strategic uses:

Abrams Abilities Overview

• Siphon Life (1): Drains health from enemies within a 10m radius, healing Abrams significantly in the process. This skill is crucial for maintaining longevity in fights.
• Upgrades reduce cooldowns, increase duration, and enhance damage, further bolstering his sustain.
• Shoulder Charge (2): Propels Abrams forward, dragging enemies with him and stunning them if they hit a wall. This move is excellent for initiating or disrupting enemy formations.
• Upgrades decrease cooldown, extend stun duration, and boost damage after collision, making Abrams a formidable initiator.
• Infernal Resilience (Passive): Passively regenerates a portion of incoming damage over time. This passive is vital for Abrams’s staying power on the battlefield.
• Enhancements include increased health regeneration, additional health, and greater damage regeneration, all crucial for tanking multiple opponents.
• Seismic Impact (4): Abrams leaps and smashes into a targeted ground area, dealing damage and stunning all enemies within the impact radius. This ultimate is a game-changer in team fights.
• Significant upgrades reduce cooldown, increase health and fire rate upon hitting heroes, and provide temporary immunity to most crowd controls, making it a versatile tool for both offense and defense.

By optimizing these abilities and understanding when and where to engage, Abrams can effectively control the flow of battle, making him a linchpin in his team’s strategy.

Deadlock Abrams Build

In Deadlock, mastering the build progression for Abrams is critical to maximizing his effectiveness on the battlefield. As Abrams gathers souls throughout the match, strategically upgrading his abilities and selecting the right items are crucial for him to excel in close-quarters combat and maintain his role as a formidable front-line tank.

This guide provides a detailed approach to crafting a build that leverages Abrams’ strengths, ensuring he can sustain himself in prolonged fights and deliver substantial damage up close. Here’s how to strategically enhance Abrams’ capabilities and presence during skirmishes:

Abrams Ability Progression

Begin your match with Abrams by enhancing his Infernal Resilience, which is crucial for surviving the early laning phase. This skill boosts his healing from incoming damage, a necessary buffer since his health regeneration isn’t as robust as other tanks in Deadlock, such as Bebop.

After fortifying his defenses, focus on upgrading Siphon Life. This ability not only provides consistent damage but also acts as a deterrent for enemies who venture too close, allowing Abrams to maintain lane pressure effectively. If an opponent attempts to flee the skill’s range, Abrams can capitalize on their retreat with ranged attacks to secure a kill or at least force them back.

Next, invest in Shoulder Charge to enhance Abrams’ mobility and engagement potential. This ability allows him to quickly close distances and, when used near walls, can stun enemies, setting them up for devastating combos with his Heavy Melee. Reduce its cooldown early with one AP to make it available more often.

As the game progresses into later stages, continue to prioritize Siphon Life for maximum damage output and survivability, before distributing remaining points to augment his other abilities.

Abrams Item Build

Navigating the item catalog in Deadlock can be daunting for newcomers, but understanding how each item enhances Abrams’ capabilities can simplify choices. As a hero geared towards beginners, Abrams thrives with items that enhance his durability and fighting prowess. Here’s how to build his equipment from early game to late game to maximize his effectiveness:

Early Game Setup:

• Close Quarters: Boosts melee damage, essential for Abrams who excels in close combat.
• Melee Charge: Enhances melee attacks and provides a crucial instant reload, perfect for his slower weapon cycling.
• Restorative Shot: Vital for sustaining Abrams during fights, offering healing with each shot.
• Melee Lifesteal: Grants health back on melee hits, reinforcing his brawler nature.
• Healing Rite: Provides additional healing, bolstering his frontline endurance.
• Extra Stamina and Regen: Increases stamina for more frequent ability use and enhances passive health regeneration.
• Sprint Boots: Compensates for Abrams’ lack of speed, improving his positioning ability.
• Spirit Strike: Augments his Siphon Life ability by reducing enemy spirit resistance, increasing overall damage effectiveness.

Mid Game Enhancements:

• Berserker and Point Blank: Amplifies damage output, making Abrams a formidable opponent in skirmishes.
• Hunter’s Aura: Extends his threat range, crucial for mid-game team fights.
• Kinetic Dash and Enduring Speed: Boosts mobility and speed, essential for repositioning and escaping adverse situations.
• Lifestrike and Improved Armors: Increases survivability through enhanced lifesteal and resistance to incoming damage.
• Torment Pulse: Inflicts continuous Spirit Damage, softening targets for Abrams and his team.
• Duration Extender and Bullet Resist Shredder: Prolongs ability effects and reduces enemy bullet resistance, making them more susceptible to damage.

Late Game Arsenal:

• Frenzy and Warp Stone: Offers a significant burst in damage output and mobility, pivotal for late-game engagements.
• Soul Rebirth and Phantom Strike: Provides critical health recovery and enhanced striking capabilities.
• Superior Cooldown and Diviner’s Kevlar: Reduces cooldown times for quicker ability reuse and offers exceptional protection against high damage threats.
• Situational Picks: Adapt to specific match conditions with items like Crippling Headshot for precision damage, Rapid Rounds for increased fire rate, Healbane to counteract enemy healing, and Debuff Remover or Metal Skin for additional defensive measures against control effects and high damage.

This structured approach ensures Abrams remains a constant threat throughout the game, transitioning from a solid early-game brawler to a nearly unstoppable force in the late stages. Each item is chosen to synergize with his natural strengths and mitigate his weaknesses, particularly his slower movement and vulnerability to crowd control.

How To Play Abrams In Deadlock

Abrams is an ideal choice for players new to Deadlock, thanks to his robust survivability and potent close-range shotgun. As a tanky hero, he excels at enduring the early game, allowing him to farm souls effectively for crucial item upgrades. While it might be tempting to focus on firing at enemies and minions, leveraging his Heavy Melee during skirmishes can significantly enhance his combat effectiveness.

In team battles, Abrams’ real strength comes to the forefront. He can effectively mitigate enemy attacks, absorbing substantial damage and disrupting their formations. His Shoulder Charge is excellent for breaking enemy lines and singling out key targets. However, coordination with your team is vital—Abrams needs backup after initiating, as going deep into enemy territory alone can leave him vulnerable. Always ensure team support is in place before making bold moves to maximize his battlefield impact.

General Tips

When facing off against long-range heroes like Vindicta or Grey Talon, Abrams should exercise caution. These characters can easily outmaneuver and damage him from a distance. To mitigate this, Abrams should utilize cover effectively and focus on clearing minion waves to ensure survival.

While Abrams’s Shoulder Charge is an excellent tool for pursuit, it’s important not to overextend. Given Abrams’s limited mobility, overreaching can leave him exposed and vulnerable to counterattacks. Therefore, positioning is key—ensure safe pathways for retreat or support from teammates before committing to an aggressive push.

In team fights, make the most of Abrams’s Seismic Impact ability. Targeting multiple enemies with this powerful stun not only disrupts their formation but also sets up your allies to capitalize on the crowd control. Use this strategically to turn the tides of battle in your team’s favor.

Conclusion

Mastering Abrams in Deadlock hinges on understanding his unique abilities, choosing the right item builds, and strategic gameplay. This guide provides a comprehensive look at how to leverage Abrams’ strengths in various phases of the game, from early game survivability to late-game dominance. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, applying these insights will help you maximize Abrams’ potential as a formidable tank and close-range brawler, making him a valuable asset in team fights and skirmishes. With proper execution, Abrams can lead the charge, absorbing damage and disrupting enemy lines, paving the way for victory.