Calico Nerfed, Sinclair Reworked in New Deadlock Update

Valve keeps the excitement alive with their ongoing updates for Deadlock, and the latest patch, though small, brings significant changes to four heroes. Calico has faced a substantial nerf: her Return to Shadows ability now has a cooldown increased by ten seconds, with 20% of the speed shifted to T2. Additionally, the damage from T2 Leaping Slash has been reduced, impacting her overall effectiveness in combat.

Sinclair, on the other hand, has undergone a visual and functional overhaul. His animations and sounds have been updated, and his Rabbit Hex ability has been transformed into an Area of Effect (AoE) skill, potentially changing his role in team strategies. Both Holliday and Wraith have also been nerfed, though specific details on their changes were not disclosed.

The update didn't stop at heroes; items saw adjustments too. Ammo Scavenger now provides fewer stacks and no longer offers a health bonus, which could affect players' sustainability in longer engagements. Similarly, Extra Stamina and Restorative Shot have lost their bonuses to Fire Rate and Weapon Damage, respectively, requiring players to adapt their loadouts and tactics.

Image: playdeadlock.com

This marks the fifth update for Deadlock in 2025 and the first for February. Valve has shifted its approach to game development, moving away from a fixed patch schedule to releasing updates as needed. Today's patch is a testament to this new strategy, ensuring that the game remains fresh and balanced according to player feedback and gameplay data.