In Deadlock, Infernus is a powerhouse of destruction, capable of dishing out massive area damage and controlling the battlefield with his fiery abilities. If you're looking to play Infernus and enjoy dominating team fights with explosive impact, burning through enemy health bars, this Infernus guide for Deadlock will help you learn how to maximize his potential. Get ready to set the battlefield ablaze with this best Infernus build guide for Deadlock!
Infernus excels at aggressive playstyles, focusing on sustained damage and zoning enemies with fire. His ability to thrive in chaotic fights makes him a top pick for players who love to control the pace of battle. If you want to focus on mastering Infernus in Deadlock, let’s dive deeper into what makes him a key figure in the Deadlock hero roster.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
High AoE Damage: Infernus can melt through enemies with his AoE abilities, applying burn effects that deal damage over time throughout the game. This is particularly useful in both skirmishes and large team fights.
Zoning Potential: Abilities like Catalyst and Flame Dash create fire trails that restrict enemy movement, making it hard for opponents to reposition or escape.
Survivability through Lifesteal: Infernus’s abilities, when upgraded, offer significant lifesteal, allowing him to stay on the frontline longer. Combining spirit lifesteal items with Afterburn boosts his survivability and damage output.
Teamfight Dominator: Concussive Combustion, his ultimate, can turn the tide of team fights by stunning all enemies and dealing massive damage after a short delay, giving your team a crucial advantage.
Weaknesses:
Low Mobility: Infernus relies on Flame Dash for movement, but outside of that, he lacks high-mobility options. Once his Flame Dash ability is on cooldown, he’s vulnerable to ranged attacks or ganks early game.
Positioning-Dependent: Infernus’s abilities are most effective in close-range or area-of-effect (AoE), meaning he needs to be well-positioned in the middle of fights. Poor positioning can lead to quick elimination.
Cooldown Reliant: Many of Infernus’s key abilities have long cooldowns, so timing is everything. Using abilities too early or at the wrong moment can leave him vulnerable.
Abilities Explained
Understanding how to use each of Infernus’s abilities effectively is key to mastering this hero in Deadlock. Each ability synergizes to help Infernus dominate in fights, whether it's dealing massive damage, zoning enemies, or staying alive longer through lifesteal. Let’s break down each ability and how it fits into your overall Infernus build and playstyle.
Catalyst
Catalyst is the cornerstone of Infernus’s kit for initiating fights and amplifying damage output. It’s a versatile tool that not only slows enemies but also boosts the damage amplification of all your subsequent attacks, making it an essential part of your arsenal.
How to use it:
Use Catalyst as your go-to ability for starting engagements. The damage amplification will ensure that any attacks or abilities you follow up with hit harder. It’s especially effective when paired with Flame Dash to keep enemies trapped in your burn zones.
During team fights, drop Catalyst in choke points or escape routes to block enemy movement. This zoning effect makes it harder for the enemy team to maneuver, giving your team a tactical advantage.
Be mindful of your cooldowns and try to use Catalyst strategically to control the battlefield, whether you're securing objectives or forcing enemies to retreat.
Flame Dash
Flame Dash is your primary mobility tool, allowing you to dive into fights or escape dangerous situations while leaving behind a deadly trail of fire. It’s perfect for setting up kills or avoiding trouble.
How to use it:
Offensively, Flame Dash is perfect for closing the gap between you and your target. Dash through multiple enemies to apply burn stacks and increase your DPS. Use it in combination with Catalyst for a devastating combo that locks enemies in place while they burn.
Defensively, Flame Dash can be your saving grace in tough spots. Use it to quickly reposition or escape when you’re in danger. Just remember that its cooldown can leave you vulnerable if not used carefully.
Don’t forget that the fire trail left behind by Flame Dash can also act as a zoning tool, forcing enemies to take damage or change their approach.
Afterburn
As Infernus’s passive ability, Afterburn makes every attack count by adding a burning effect to your bullets. This ability not only boosts your sustained damage but also offers lifesteal, helping you survive longer in fights.
How to use it:
Afterburn allows you to deal continuous damage even after your initial attack. Keep pressure on your target by maintaining consistent attacks, as each hit will refresh the burn effects.
The lifesteal component of Afterburn makes it crucial for longer engagements. Stay aggressive, and you’ll be able to recover health while dishing out significant damage-over-time.
In duels, especially against high-damage heroes, the spirit lifesteal from Afterburn can make the difference between surviving or getting eliminated. Always try to keep your enemies burning to maximize your survivability.
Concussive Combustion
This ultimate ability is a game-changer, turning Infernus into a living bomb that explodes after a short delay. Concussive Combustion stuns all enemies and deals significant area damage, making it a deadly tool in team fights.
How to use it:
Use Concussive Combustion when you’re in the middle of a fight and surrounded by enemies. The explosion deals massive AoE damage and stuns all enemies within range, creating a perfect opportunity for your team to follow up with their abilities.
Timing is critical with Concussive Combustion. Activate it when you’re confident you can hit multiple targets for maximum impact. Combine it with Catalyst to slow enemies, making it harder for them to escape before the stun lands.
This ability is ideal for turning the tide of a team fight. Dive in, detonate, and leave the enemy team in disarray while your teammates clean up.
Ability Upgrade Order: Be the Best Infernus
To maximize Infernus's potential, start by upgrading Afterburn first. This passive ability provides consistent damage over time and lifesteal, which is crucial for sustaining in fights. Next, focus on Flame Dash to improve your mobility and boost your damage output with the fire trail left behind.
After that, upgrade Catalyst, which amplifies your damage and slows enemies, making them easier to finish off. Finally, prioritize upgrading Concussive Combustion whenever available, as its stun and AoE damage can be a game-changer in team fights.
Ability Combos and Interactions
Infernus is a hero who relies on chaining his abilities together for maximum effect. A common and devastating combo is:
Start with Flame Dash: Dash through the enemies to apply burn stacks and reposition yourself in the fight.
Next with Catalyst: Apply the napalm to slow enemies and increase the damage they take. The Catalyst ability will refresh the burn effects and amplify the damage.
Finish with Concussive Combustion if needed: Dive into the heart of the enemy team, detonating and stunning all enemies in range.
This combo is especially potent in team fights, where Infernus can hit multiple enemies at once, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks from your team.
Deadlock: Item Recommendations for Builds
To fully unleash Infernus’s potential, you’ll need the right items that boost your damage output, sustain, and survivability. Here are some top item picks for Infernus:
Soul Shredder Bullets: Enhances your primary weapon by adding spirit damage and applying a mystic vulnerability debuff, which amplifies the damage enemies take.
Hollow Point Ward: This item boosts your spirit shield and spirit power, making it a solid choice to increase Infernus’s survivability while enhancing his damage output.
Rapid Rounds: Increases your fire rate, allowing you to apply Afterburn more effectively and keep up the pressure in fights. This item synergizes well with lifesteal items.
Vampiric Burst (Active): Grants bullet lifesteal, which synergizes with Afterburn to keep you alive during extended team fights.
Sprint Boots: Provides additional movement speed, helping to mitigate Infernus's low mobility when Flame Dash is on cooldown.
Healing Booster: Enhances your healing effects, including lifesteal, making you even more durable in fights.
Quicksilver Reload: Decreases your reload time, ensuring you maintain consistent pressure on enemies.
Mystic Vulnerability and Duration Extender: Further increases the duration of debuffs on enemies, maximizing the effectiveness of your burn effects and damage-over-time abilities.
Laning Tips
In the laning phase, Infernus is a strong laner, but you’ll need to play smart to avoid early game ganks. Focus on using Catalyst to poke and harass your lane opponent while keeping your distance. Use Flame Dash sparingly for aggressive trades or escapes. If you see an opportunity to burst down your opponent, use the Catalyst + Flame Dash combo to punish them. Be mindful of cooldowns and avoid overcommitting without an escape plan, as Infernus is vulnerable to crowd control.
Macro Play with Infernus
In the macro game, Infernus excels at both split-pushing and team fighting. Use his ability to zone enemies with fire to secure objectives and protect your team’s flanks. When contesting major objectives like the Walker or Patron, your zoning abilities make it difficult for the enemy to engage properly.
In team fights, Infernus should position himself to hit as many enemies as possible with Catalyst and Concussive Combustion. He’s at his strongest when he can stay in the fight, applying burn effects and lifestealing to sustain his health. Always aim to dive into clustered groups of enemies, but make sure your team is ready to follow up on your stun.
Situational and Essential Items
While the items listed earlier are core to the best Infernus build, there are situational items that can enhance your gameplay as the game progresses:
Fleetfoot: Increases movement speed and provides a chance to dodge attacks, helping you survive in tight situations.
Ricochet: Causes your bullets to bounce between enemies, increasing your DPS in team fights.
Headshot Booster: Increases critical hit damage, allowing you to burst down high-priority targets.
Spirit Armor: Provides additional defense against enemy abilities, increasing your overall survivability.
Infuser: Grants extra spirit and enhances your abilities, making you more effective in fights.
Additional Tips:
Upgrading Concussive Combustion: This ultimate should be unlocked as soon as possible to maximize its impact in team fights.
Spirit Lifesteal and Damage: Focusing on items that increase spirit lifesteal and spirit damage will enhance your lifesteal and overall damage output.
Leech and Amplify Debuff: Utilize items and abilities that amplify your damage and apply a leech effect to sustain yourself during battles.
Choose Between Bullet Armor and Spirit Items: Depending on the enemy team composition, decide whether to invest in bullet armor for physical defense or spirit items for magical resistance.
Essential Items: Prioritize building the right items that complement Infernus’s abilities, such as Soul Shredder, Enduring Spirit, and Mystic Vulnerability enhancers.
Ganker Playstyle: Adopting a ganker playstyle in the mid-game can help your team secure kills and objectives.
Remember Cooldowns: Always be aware of your cooldowns to avoid being caught off-guard.
Conclusion
Infernus in Deadlock is a hero who thrives on chaos, using his fire-based abilities to control the battlefield and deal devastating DPS. By mastering his ability combos, item builds, and positioning, you can turn Infernus into an unstoppable force. Whether you’re zoning enemies out of objectives or diving into the heart of a team fight, Infernus has the tools to dominate. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll learn how to maximize his potential and burn your way to victory with this best Deadlock Infernus build!
Disclaimer: This guide is based on the current patch and may change with future updates. For the most up-to-date strategies, be sure to check the latest guides and gameplay videos.
