In Deadlock, every hero brings a unique flavor to the battlefield. If you’re someone who loves strategic gameplay with a mix of firepower and support, McGinnis is your go-to hero. Built with turrets, healing specters, and massive area-of-effect (AoE) damage, McGinnis is a deadly combination of brains and brawn. This McGinnis hero guide will cover everything you need to know about his abilities, builds, and playstyle to dominate your games.
In Deadlock, every hero brings a unique flavor to the battlefield. If you’re someone who loves strategic gameplay with a mix of firepower and support, McGinnis is your go-to hero. Built with turrets, healing specters, and massive area-of-effect (AoE) damage, McGinnis is a deadly combination of brains and brawn. This McGinnis hero guide will cover everything you need to know about her abilities, builds, and playstyle to dominate your games.
McGinnis is one of the most versatile characters in the game, known for her tactical prowess and support capabilities. Focusing on McGinnis allows you to control the battlefield with mini turrets that automatically shoot enemies, heal allies, and unleash devastating ultimates. Understanding McGinnis' abilities is crucial to maximizing her potential in Deadlock.
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Understanding each ability in McGinnis' kit is essential for mastering her playstyle and maximizing her potential in Deadlock.
McGinnis' first ability is a deployable mini turret that automatically shoots enemies and expires after a limited time. The turret can slow enemies and, with upgrades like Extra Charge and Rapid Charge, gains additional charges and attack range. Notably, turrets gain 30% increased damage when near McGinnis due to her Heroic Aura. This makes it a crucial part of any build for McGinnis, especially a turret build.
Tip: Place turrets strategically in choke points or behind cover to maximize their uptime in fights. Ensure they have a clear line of sight to enemies.
This Medicinal Specter ability heals McGinnis and her nearby allies. The specter can significantly enhance your team's survivability, especially during drawn-out fights. Its cooldown can be reduced with upgrades, making it a reliable tool for sustained healing. It also provides spirit resist, reducing incoming spirit damage.
Tip: Use Medicinal Specter in the heat of battle to keep your team going or when pushing objectives, reducing the need to back frequently.
Spectral Wall is a defensive barrier that damages and slows enemies upon creation. Enemies cannot move through the wall, making it an excellent tool for area denial and can stun and knock back opponents. This wall not only divides the battlefield but can also be used to cut off enemies' escape routes or protect your team. Turrets and Spectral Wall together can deal damage and distract opponents effectively.
Tip: Use Spectral Wall to block enemy movement in team fights, forcing them into disadvantageous positions.
Upon activation, Heavy Barrage unleashes a volley of rockets on a targeted area for six seconds, dealing massive damage and slowing all enemies hit. The rockets deal 30 damage per second and can decimate clustered foes. It's an excellent tool for disrupting team fights and securing kills on fleeing enemies. This ability in McGinnis' kit has immense potential in Deadlock.
Tip: Coordinate with your team to follow up on Heavy Barrage with additional crowd control for devastating results.
Building McGinnis optimally revolves around balancing her utility with damage output. This guide covers the best Deadlock McGinnis build to enhance her kit, ensuring you have the best items for every situation.
In the early game, McGinnis needs to focus on building her turrets and gaining sustain to survive the laning phase.
As the game progresses into the mid-game and late-game, you'll want to invest in more powerful items that boost your AoE damage and survivability.
For McGinnis, upgrading your abilities in the right order is key to being effective at every stage of the game.
In the early game, playing McGinnis involves a lot of map awareness. As one of the more strategic characters in the game, solo players should focus on controlling the single lane with turrets and harassing enemies. Deploy turrets behind cover to keep them alive longer and heal your team when necessary with the Medicinal Specter.
Tip: Position yourself defensively and use your turrets to zone out the enemy team. This way, you can farm safely and prevent your opponents from gaining ground.
In team fights, McGinnis excels at zoning and area control. Use your Spectral Wall to obstruct the enemy's line of sight and create knockdown opportunities. Her turrets can poke away at enemies from a distance, while Heavy Barrage deals massive area-of-effect damage.
Tip: Drop your Spectral Wall to block off critical escape routes, and follow up with Heavy Barrage for a devastating combo.
Mastering McGinnis requires a balance of tactical positioning and team coordination. The key is understanding when to play defensively and when to switch to a more aggressive, turret-focused playstyle. Her success hinges on map awareness and the ability to capitalize on her area control abilities.
Spend time thinking about the late game and strategizing accordingly. While her early and mid-game damage output may feel a little underwhelming, focusing on your playstyle and turret deployment will pay off in the late game and strategizing accordingly.
By mastering McGinnis' skills to zone enemies, heal your team, and dish out area-of-effect damage with Heavy Barrage, you'll be a formidable presence on the battlefield.
McGinnis is one of Deadlock's most versatile heroes. With a solid understanding of her strengths, weaknesses, and build paths, you can transform him into a tactical powerhouse that controls the map and decimates foes. Whether you're looking to control objectives or provide valuable support to your team, McGinnis has the tools you need to succeed. So, set up those turrets, deploy your Medicinal Specter, and get ready to rain down some serious damage with Heavy Barrage!
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.