Photo credit: dotesports.com
Intense battles characterize the gameplay in Deadlock, showcasing the importance of strategy and skill. At the center of these encounters is Kelvin, a unique hero whose ice powers bring a cooling influence to the chaotic action.
Kelvin is recognized as an excellent choice for novice players. Although he may not currently dominate the competitive meta, his playstyle is enjoyable and engaging. He serves primarily as a support character, featuring two abilities that grant healing, an ability that enhances movement speed, and one that delivers damage per second (DPS).
However, it is also possible to build Kelvin for a carry role; with thoughtful itemization, he can adapt to various gameplay styles. In this article, we will explore the ideal build for Kelvin, detail his abilities in Deadlock, recommend the best card selections, and provide some gameplay tips.
Kelvin’s abilities in Deadlock
As with every hero in Deadlock, Kelvin possesses three core abilities along with an ultimate ability:
Frost Grenade: This ability allows Kelvin to launch a grenade that detonates into a chilling cloud, inflicting damage and impairing enemy movement. The range is quite impressive, and players can enhance their throw distance with a jump-throw technique, maintaining range effect.
Ice Path: Kelvin can create a slick sheet of ice for him and allies to navigate, facilitating quick access to elevated positions. This ability grants a slight speed buff to those who traverse the path, while Kelvin enjoys significant resistance to slow effects. Players should be aware that the blocks of the Ice Path can be destroyed with a few bullets.
Arctic Beam: This ability allows Kelvin to project a freezing beam that not only damages enemies but also reduces their movement speed and firing capability based on how long the attack lingers on a target.
Frozen Shelter (Ultimate): Kelvin generates a protective dome around himself, creating a barrier that heals allies inside while simultaneously slowing down enemies.
Kelvin operates with a projectile shooting minigun that possesses a relatively limited ammunition capacity of 15 rounds but compensates with considerable range and accuracy. Players will find that his shots travel swiftly, making aiming intuitive, especially within close to medium distances.
Even though he uses projectiles, players need not worry about bullet drop; shots will land precisely where aimed. However, damage falls off at greater ranges, requiring players to adapt their engagements accordingly.
The best build for Kelvin in Deadlock
Early game
To start, it’s effective to prioritize Frost Grenade and continue leveling it along with Arctic Beam. While it’s valuable to develop Ice Path afterward, securing it early can also aid in ganking opportunities or provide an escape route if faced with pressure.
Focus your gameplay on sustaining lanes and advancing creeps by saving Souls to rush Health Nova. This item grants a moderate damage increase, extra health, and substantial healing when activated.
Next, acquire Sprint Boots and Basic Magazine to enhance movement speed and increase your ammo capacity, an important adjustment for early skirmishes given Kelvin’s limited initial rounds. Additionally, if you find success in your lane, consider picking up Mystic Reach for improved cast range and area-of-effect capabilities, along with Improved Cooldown for faster ability recycling.
Mid game
During the mid-game phase, prioritize obtaining Vitality and Spirit cards. Upgrading your Sprint Boots to Enduring Speed and acquiring Healing Booster can dramatically enhance your sustain alongside Health Nova.
With the improved movement speed and health regeneration, use Ice Path to engage enemy heroes continuously. Precision is crucial; adjust your sensitivity settings for optimal tracking while using Arctic Beam and standard attacks.
Consider following up with Improved Reach, Superior Cooldown, and Superior Duration that will allow you to spam abilities and evade danger efficiently. Depending on whether you want to enhance your support role or focus on damage-dealing, adapt your upgrades to either bolster your grenade or amplify the power of the Arctic Beam, preserving Superior Duration for your ultimate to maintain its effectiveness.
Lategame
In the late game, utilizing Kelvin is more straightforward. Concentrate on equipping Spirit cards, as they enhance all his abilities aside from Ice Path. Increased Spirit leads to superior healing from Kelvin’s grenade and ultimate, while also boosting damage output from Arctic Beam. Aim to collect Torment Pulse and Improved Spirit for greater ability performance.
Additionally, consider Mystic Reverb to amplify Frost Grenade’s damage and slow effect. For a strong end-game presence, Boundless Spirit and Escalating Exposure serve as additional items when resources allow.
Overall, employing this Kelvin build in Deadlock not only allows for significant damage output but also promotes effective healing for your team. While objectives may not be the central focus for Kelvin, he excels at providing ganks and dishing out damage when lanes are pushed accordingly.
Source
dotesports.com