How do I counter Shiv as Rat King in Deadlock?

Build Grit, Spirit Shielding, High-Velocity Rounds to counter their primary threats. Focus on items that address the enemy team's main damage type.

What items should Rat King buy against Shiv in Deadlock?

Start with Grit, Spirit Shielding, High-Velocity Rounds, Close Quarters for laning, then transition to Fortitude, Guardian Ward, Ballistic Enchantment, Shadow Weave mid game.

Home/Rat King/Build

Rat King

Counter-build vs Shiv

61%EASYavg WR vs team

Shiv

61%

DoTMelee

WeaponSpiritVitality

Next buy

Lane phase (auto) · 0 souls spent

Grit

T1 · 800 souls

Survivability against burst damage

Counters come after this: Spirit Shielding later in lane.

Saw an enemy item? Tap their face below — the pick and the build react.

They bought…

Tap an enemy, then what you saw — NEXT BUY and the build below both adapt.

Souls now

Same logic as the in-game HUD (counters, your items, scouted enemy items). The build below is a whole-game plan that also weighs live win rates, so the two can differ.

Tap an item for what it does and who it counters.= data behind the pick · FLEX = swappable last slot.

Laning Phase

Early game items (T1-T2) to win your lane

4,000 souls

GritT1800

Survivability against burst damage

ShieldRegen

Spirit ShieldingT21,600

Survivability against burst damage

Spirit ResistShield

High-Velocity RoundsT1800

Sustained gun damage

Close QuartersT1800FLEX

High burst damage

Mid Game

Core items (T2-T3) for team fights and objectives

11,200 souls

FortitudeT33,200

Sustain for extended fights

HealthSustain

Guardian WardT21,600

Survivability against burst damage — high win rate item on this hero

SustainShield

Ballistic EnchantmentT33,200

Scales your spirit damage

Shadow WeaveT33,200FLEX

Mobility for repositioning

Mobility

Late Game

Power spike items (T3-T4) to close out the game

25,600 souls

Diviner's KevlarT46,400

Survivability against burst damage — high win rate item on this hero

Shield

Divine BarrierT46,400

Survivability against burst damage — high win rate item on this hero

Shield

SpellslingerT46,400

Scales your spirit damage

Spiritual OverflowT46,400

Scales your spirit damage

Edit enemies

Why This Build Works

This counter-build for Rat King is optimized against Shiv. The enemy team has a mixed damage profile, so the build balances multiple defensive needs.

Key counters needed: HealthShieldSpirit ResistSustain

Community Builds

Community builds, item votes and win/loss feedback are coming soon — they need the community database, which isn't live yet.