Deadlock: Best Kelvin Build Guide

Explore the ultimate Kelvin build guide for Deadlock and discover how to maximize his abilities on the battlefield. Kelvin is a versatile hero capable of both engaging enemies with his ice grenades and protecting allies with healing abilities. He excels in strategic play, particularly when utilizing his frozen dome to trap opponents and gain buffs. This guide will provide you with the optimal item build, skill prioritization, and strategies to harness Kelvin’s full potential effectively. Perfect for players looking to dominate with Kelvin, let’s dive into crafting the best setup for this icy tactician.

Deadlock Kelvin Overview & Ability Details

Kelvin stands out in Deadlock as a dynamic hero capable of fulfilling multiple roles, from a supportive healer to a formidable damage dealer, depending on your game’s needs. His versatility in adapting to different team compositions and enemy strategies makes him an invaluable addition to any lineup.

Detailed Breakdown of Kelvin’s Abilities:

• Frost Grenade: Launches an icy explosive that slows and damages enemies within its blast radius. This grenade can be pivotal in controlling enemy movements during engagements.
• Base Damage: 80 (increases with Spirit Power)
• Movement Slow: 40%
• Slow Duration: 4 seconds
• Effect Radius: 6.5 meters
• Cooldown: 22 seconds
• Upgrades: Additional charges, healing effect for allies, increased damage output.
• Ice Path: Creates a trail of ice that enhances mobility for allies and provides Kelvin with significant slow resistance, facilitating rapid positioning or retreats.
• Movement Speed Increase: 2 meters/second
• Sprint Speed Bonus: 2 meters/second
• Duration: 18 seconds
• Cooldown: 38 seconds
• Upgrades: Increased sprint speed, reduced cooldown, bonus Spirit Power for trail length.
• Arctic Beam: Emits a continuous beam of frost that slows and damages opponents. This ability is key for Kelvin in sustained fights, allowing him to debilitate enemy attackers progressively.
• Damage Per Second: 60 (scales with Spirit Power)
• Maximum Slow: 70%
• Maximum Fire Rate Slow: 40%
• Cooldown: 24 seconds
• Upgrades: Reduced cooldown, enhanced DPS, and the ability to target multiple enemies.
• Frozen Shelter: Generates a protective dome that heals allies and slows enemies within its perimeter, making it an excellent tool for turning the tide in team fights.
• Health Regeneration: 120 per second
• Movement Slow: 35%
• Duration: 5.5 seconds
• Cooldown: 127 seconds
• Upgrades: Increased fire rate slow, reduced cooldown, boosted health regeneration linked to Spirit Power.

This guide is designed to help players build Kelvin effectively in Deadlock, emphasizing his ability to control the battlefield and support his team. Whether you’re looking to maximize your healing output or increase your damage potential, understanding and optimizing Kelvin’s unique abilities will be key to dominating your matches.

Kelvin Build Guide in Deadlock

Kelvin shines in Deadlock as a master of disruption and control, skillfully manipulating the battlefield to hinder his enemies while empowering himself and his teammates. His unique set of abilities allows him to reduce enemy mobility and attack speed significantly, making him a formidable presence in any skirmish.

Here’s a detailed guide to maximizing Kelvin’s potential, including the optimal sequence for leveling his abilities and the strategic item choices to enhance his effectiveness:

Recommended Ability Upgrade Path

1. Frost Grenade: Begin with this ability to harass opponents and control the lane early. Upgrade it first to maximize area control and damage, turning Kelvin into a formidable farmer and laner.
2. Ice Path: Upgrade next to enhance Kelvin’s mobility and provide strategic advantages during team fights and escapes.
3. Arctic Beam: Focus on this ability mid-game to increase Kelvin’s damage output in sustained engagements, making him a threat in prolonged fights.
4. Frozen Shelter: Level up strategically to strengthen Kelvin’s teamfight capabilities, providing crucial healing and protection in critical moments.

Item Progression Strategy

• Early Game: Focus on items that boost Kelvin’s mana regeneration and cooldown reduction to allow for frequent use of his abilities.
• Mid Game: Transition into items that enhance his Spirit Power, as well as defensive items to ensure he can stay in the fray without falling quickly.
• Late Game: Prioritize high-impact items that amplify Kelvin’s role as a disruptor, with upgrades that enhance his slowing effects and increase his durability in battles.

This build guide is designed to make Kelvin a powerhouse in controlling the pace and flow of the game, leveraging his abilities to keep enemies at bay while supporting his allies in Deadlock. Whether you’re defending objectives or leading charges, Kelvin’s build ensures he remains an integral part of his team’s strategy throughout the game.

Kelvin Ability Build in Deadlock

Kelvin excels at manipulating the battlefield, and the order in which you unlock and upgrade his abilities can significantly impact his effectiveness. Here’s a strategic approach to developing Kelvin’s skills for optimal gameplay:

1. Start with Arctic Beam: Begin with this ability to enhance your lane control and secure early last hits. It’s a strong tool for early aggression and farm acceleration.
2. Next, unlock Frost Grenade: This ability is crucial for additional harassment and area denial, making it a key skill for maintaining lane pressure.
3. Proceed with Ice Path: Unlock this third to boost your mobility and provide valuable escape mechanisms, crucial for evading enemy ganks or securing strategic positions.
4. Acquire Frozen Shelter when available: This ultimate ability is vital for team fights, offering protection and regeneration to allies while disrupting enemy movements.

Ability Upgrade Priority:

• Prioritize Frost Grenade: Focus your Ability Points (APs) here first to maximize its utility in farming and team fights. Aim to reach the third upgrade quickly to significantly increase your farming capabilities and lane dominance.
• Enhance Frozen Shelter next: After Frost Grenade, allocate points to Frozen Shelter, upgrading it to level two early to leverage its defensive and healing potentials during skirmishes.
• Balance upgrades between Ice Path and Arctic Beam: Place one point in Ice Path for improved mobility, then shift focus to maxing out Arctic Beam to enhance your damage output in sustained fights.
• Complete the build: Finish upgrading Ice Path and then Arctic Beam, ensuring each ability is optimized for late-game utility and power.

This structured approach to Kelvin’s abilities ensures that he can effectively support his team while remaining a formidable force throughout various phases of the game in Deadlock.

Kelvin Item Progression in Deadlock

Kelvin excels in Deadlock with a tactical build that enhances both his offensive and defensive capabilities across different game phases. Here’s a detailed guide on how to gear up Kelvin for optimal performance:

Early Game

To kick off your game with Kelvin, begin by focusing on sustainability and ramping up your spirit abilities. Here’s how you can effectively gear up Kelvin for the early stages:

• Initial Pick - Extra Regen: Start with Extra Regen to enhance Kelvin’s staying power in lane, providing him with essential health regeneration, additional health, and more ammo capacity.
• Follow-Up with Close Quarters: While this item may not offer immediate lane benefits, it’s crucial for amplifying Kelvin’s potential when his ultimate ability becomes available, making it a strategic purchase.
• Boosting Spirit Capabilities: Next, focus on enhancing Kelvin’s spirit attacks by acquiring Extra Charge and Extra Spirit. These items increase the effectiveness and frequency of his Frost Grenade, crucial for controlling enemy movements and securing kills.
• Amplify Damage with Mystic Items: Incorporate Mystic Burst to increase the damage output of your abilities. Pair this setup with Mystic Shot to further enhance your spirit damage, which not only increases the potency of your attacks but also provides vital lifesteal.
• Enhance Offensive Power with Soul Shredder Bullets: Finally, equip Soul Shredder Bullets to boost your Spirit Damage significantly. This will allow you to capitalize on the weakened state of your adversaries, making Kelvin a formidable force right from the early phases of the game.

These item choices are designed to establish a strong foundation for Kelvin, enabling him to dominate in lane and prepare for mid-game transitions seamlessly.

Mid-Game

As you transition into the mid-game with Kelvin, focusing on enhancing your ability uptime and positioning becomes crucial. Here’s a strategic approach to itemizing Kelvin during this phase:

• Core Enhancements: Begin by securing Improved Cooldown to reduce the downtime of your abilities, ensuring Kelvin can cast more frequently. Simultaneously, integrate Warp Stone for improved mobility, crucial for positioning to maximize the effectiveness of Frozen Shelter.
• Defensive Choices: Choose between Bullet Armor and Spirit Armor based on the predominant damage type you’re facing. This selection helps Kelvin sustain through fights. Optionally, consider Return Fire to retaliate against aggressive foes, particularly effective when combined with Kelvin’s ultimate for added defensive utility.
• Offensive Upgrades: Equip Point Blank to increase close-range damage, which synergizes well with Kelvin’s ability to trap enemies within his Frozen Shelter. Follow this with Rapid Recharge to ensure your weapons are always ready, complementing the frequent use of your abilities.
• Explosive Potential with Alchemical Fire: Unlike other heroes, Kelvin can uniquely benefit from Alchemical Fire due to his ultimate’s confining nature. Activate this item within the Frozen Shelter to force enemies to endure sustained damage, effectively turning the tide of skirmishes.
• Boosting Attack Capabilities: Finally, enhance your offensive output with Improved Burst, further amplifying the damage Kelvin can deliver during critical engagements.

This mid-game build focuses on balancing defense and aggressive play, allowing Kelvin to maintain pressure on the battlefield while safeguarding his survivability. By strategically utilizing these items, Kelvin can dominate team fights and contribute significantly to his team’s mid-game objectives.

Late Game

As the game progresses into the late stages, Kelvin becomes a force to be reckoned with. To maximize his impact, you’ll want to focus on items that further amplify his ability power and survivability:

• Power Spike: Start by picking up Surge of Power and attach it to your Frost Grenade. This will significantly enhance the grenade’s damage output, allowing it to chunk down nearly half of an opponent’s health. Follow this up with Torment Pulse to add another layer of damage and control, making Kelvin even more dangerous in team fights.
• Cooldown Mastery: Upgrade Improved Cooldown into Superior Cooldown to drastically reduce the downtime of Kelvin’s abilities. This lets you continuously pressure your enemies. Grab Improved Spirit next, which will bolster your Spirit Power and overall damage potential. Complement this with Crippling Headshot for additional burst, allowing Kelvin to take out key targets quickly.
• Enhanced Spirit Damage: Spiritual Overflow is a must in the late game, further increasing your Spirit Power and providing sustain through the constant flow of damage. Adding Mystic Reverb and Boundless Spirit into the mix allows Kelvin to deal even more devastating damage when using his Frost Grenade, ensuring that enemies have a hard time escaping your deadly abilities.
• Adapt to the Situation: At this point, the Extra Regen from earlier in the game will have outlived its usefulness. Sell it and replace it with Leech to gain extra sustain through lifesteal, ensuring you can stay alive through intense skirmishes. Finally, upgrade your mid-game Armor item (either Improved Bullet Armor or Improved Spirit Armor) for added protection, depending on the enemy team’s composition.
• Situational Utility: If your opponents have a lot of crowd control, consider picking up Unstoppable to help you counter their CC effects. Alternatively, if your matchups demand it, Debuff Remover can be a lifesaver by clearing any harmful effects that might hinder Kelvin’s performance.

This late-game build makes Kelvin a formidable presence on the battlefield, allowing him to tank damage, dish out incredible burst, and outlast opponents with well-timed abilities and strategic item choices.

How to Play Kelvin in Deadlock

To maximize Kelvin’s potential, you’ll need to accumulate plenty of Souls to power through your item progression. Luckily, with this build, once you’re past the laning phase, clearing neutral camps becomes effortless. One well-placed Frost Grenade should be enough to wipe out camps, making Kelvin an exceptional farmer and enabling you to quickly amass Souls for all your essential items.

In the early game, focus on farming Troopers rather than hunting down enemy heroes. While Kelvin has solid poke with his Frost Grenade and Arctic Beam, your primary goal should be to farm effectively. Coordinate with your teammates when planning to go for kills instead of wasting your abilities on cooldown as mere harassment.

If you’re facing champions like Bebop, always be cautious of hooks. Position yourself safely behind your Troopers and aim to secure last hits to ensure a strong economy. Kelvin shines when he gets the items he needs early, so prioritizing your farm over risky engagements is key to dominating in the mid and late game.

Conclusion

Kelvin’s versatile kit makes him a powerful hero in Deadlock, capable of both controlling the battlefield and providing valuable support to his team. By following this build guide, you can maximize Kelvin’s damage output, enhance his survivability, and become a dominant force in any match. Whether you focus on harassing enemies with Frost Grenade and Arctic Beam or setting up game-changing plays with Frozen Shelter, Kelvin’s ability to control space and farm efficiently makes him a strong contender throughout all phases of the game. Prioritize farming early, build the right items, and coordinate with your team to unleash Kelvin’s full potential in Deadlock.