Deadlock Warden Build Guide: Be The Best Warden

Intro

In Deadlock, Valve’s epic blend of MOBA and third-person shooter mechanics, playing Warden can feel like commanding a one-person army. This warden guide will help you master Warden's abilities, providing an optimal build for every stage of the game. Whether you prefer to immobilize enemies with Binding Word or deal massive bullet damage with powerful items, this guide covers the best Warden build to dominate team fights and enhance your survivability.

Deadlock Warden Overview

Warden is a versatile bruiser in Deadlock, capable of controlling the battlefield with his powerful abilities. His skill set allows him to immobilize enemies, absorb damage with his Spirit Shield, and damage enemies and heal himself simultaneously. Warden can become a formidable force in both the early game and late game, making him a valuable asset to any team.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Crowd Control: Warden’s Binding Word and Alchemical Flask can significantly hinder enemy movement, making him a key disruptor in team fights.
• Sustain and Survivability: With Willpower and Last Stand (Ultimate), Warden gains extra stamina, extra regen, and the ability to damage enemies and heal based on the damage done.
• Damage Output: Warden deals substantial bullet damage, especially to immobilized opponents caught in Binding Word. His burst capabilities can swing fights in his team's favor quickly.

Weaknesses

• Mobility: Without items like Sprint Boots or Enduring Speed, Warden may find it challenging to chase down enemies or move away from their initial positions.
• Cooldown Dependence: Warden relies heavily on his abilities, and managing cooldowns is crucial for success.
• Enemy Abilities: Warden can be vulnerable to enemy abilities that immobilize or burst him down if he's not careful.

Warden’s Abilities Explained

Understanding Warden's abilities is essential to mastering his playstyle.

Alchemical Flask

Warden throws an Alchemical Flask that damages and immobilizes enemies, reducing their weapon damage and fire rate, while also slowing them with slowing bullets.

• Level 1: Deals damage and reduces enemy movement speed.
• Level 2: Further reduces enemy fire rate and weapon damage.
• Level 3: Applies a Mystic Slow, making enemies damaged and immobilized for 2.2 seconds.

Tip: Use Alchemical Flask, which releases slowing bullets, to damage and slow enemies, setting up for Binding Word or finishing them off with your gun and Alchemical Flasks.

Willpower

Warden gains a Spirit Shield and increased movement speed, allowing Warden to absorb damage and reposition, enhancing his abilities for a short time.

• Level 1: Grants a Spirit Shield and extra stamina.
• Level 2: Reduces cooldown and increases superior stamina.
• Level 3: Enhances superior cooldown and superior duration, making Warden more durable.

Tip: Activate Willpower to enhance your abilities for a short time, gaining a Spirit Shield and movement speed, or use it to escape enemy abilities. Combining Willpower and Enduring Speed can allow Warden to outmaneuver enemies.

Binding Word

This curse is what makes Warden a crowd-control menace. When used, it forces enemies to move away from their initial position within the escape time, or they become immobilized.

• Level 1: Enemies must move away from their initial position within the escape time, or they are immobilized.
• Level 2: Reduces cooldown and increases duration.
• Level 3: Enhances the effect, causing damaged and immobilized enemies to take more bullet damage.

Tip: Use Binding Word to control enemies during team fights, especially when combined with Alchemical Flask. Placing Binding Word strategically can force enemies to move away from their initial position, disrupting their formation.

Last Stand (Ultimate)

Warden’s ultimate releases pulses that damage enemies, healing Warden based on the damage done.

• Level 1: Releases pulses over superior duration.
• Level 2: Increases the damage enemies and heal effect.
• Level 3: Reduces cooldown for more frequent use.

Tip: Activate Last Stand in the midst of enemies to maximize healing and damage output. Last Stand can synergize with Torment Pulse and Mystic Slow, amplifying your damage and control in team fights.

Best Warden Build in Deadlock

To maximize Warden's potential, here's the optimal build for Warden at each stage of the game.

Early Game

• Basic Magazine: for an early boost: Provides +24% ammo and +15% weapon damage, giving you more uptime in fights.
• Alchemist Flask and Binding Word: Upgrade these abilities early for laning dominance.
• Items like Sprint Boots for increased movement speed and Enduring Speed to outmaneuver enemies.
• Healing Rite (Active): Use it to maintain your health during extended laning phases, giving you extra regen.

Tip: Focus on farming souls early, while using Alchemical Flask to poke and pressure enemies in your lane. Don’t get greedy—play safe and aim to build up your gold to unlock Last Stand.

Mid-Game Items

• High Velocity Mag and Basic Magazine: Enhance bullet damage and fire rate, making your attacks more potent.
• Silencer and Unstoppable: Reduce the effectiveness of enemy abilities and improve Warden's cooldown and superior duration.
• Skills like Last Stand and Binding Word: Focus on upgrading these for stronger team fights.
• Mid-game items like Intensifying Magazine increasing your damage output significantly.

Tip: Stick with your team to push objectives and use your crowd-control abilities to lock down priority targets. Willpower and Binding Word become even more crucial during this phase.

Late Game

• Titanic Magazine and Headhunter: Boost weapon damage and critical hits, making Warden a formidable bruiser.
• Willpower and Binding Word: Maximize these abilities for control and survivability.
• Improved Cooldown and Duration Extender: Items like Time Warp offer improved cooldown and duration extender, allowing you to use abilities more frequently.
• Bullet Resist Items: Items like Bullet armour provide bullet resist, helpful against teams with high bullet damage.

Tip: During the late game, focus on taking down objectives like the mid-boss for the rejuvenator, which can turn the tide of the game in your favor. With this item build, Warden can become tankier and more resilient.

Gameplay Strategies

Early Game Laning Phase

During the early game laning phase, focus on farming and harassing enemies with Alchemical Flask and Binding Word. Use your shield from Willpower to protect yourself while engaging in trades.

Tip: Use Binding Word on a slowed enemy after hitting them with Alchemical Flask to secure kills. Stay behind your minions to avoid unnecessary damage.

Team Fights

In team fights, Warden shines as both a damage dealer and a crowd-control tank. Start by throwing Alchemical Flask to damage opponents, then use Binding Word to control key targets. Use Last Stand and Binding Word when you’re in the middle of the fight to heal up and dish out more damage.

Tip: Activate Willpower and Fleetfoot to outmaneuver opponents and avoid enemy abilities. Combining skills like Last Stand and Binding Word can control the battlefield effectively.

Mastering Warden

Practice managing cooldowns and positioning to make the most of Warden's abilities. Keep refining your item build based on the enemy team's composition.

Tip: Unlock Last Stand as soon as possible to gain access to Warden's most powerful abilities. Learn to bait enemies with Willpower, tricking them into committing to a fight they can’t win.

Conclusion

By following this Deadlock Warden build guide, you can master the best build for Warden, making him an unstoppable force in Deadlock. With the right strategies and item build, you'll dominate every team fight and lead your team to victory. Keep practicing, stay adaptable, and soon enough, you'll be the best Warden in Deadlock.

Want to learn more about the Deadlock heroes? Check out our other articles at SaveGame or our Deadlock lore article.

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.