Low Pick Rate: Deadlock has one of the lowest pick rates in ranked matches and wasn't picked at all in the VCT Champions tournament. This suggests that players generally don't find her effective or valuable in high-level play.
Utility Issues: One of Deadlock's major drawbacks is her lack of refreshable utility. Unlike most other agents who can regenerate their abilities through time or kills, once Deadlock's utility is used, it's gone for good. This makes her less versatile and limits her impact on rounds.
Barrier Mesh Problems: Her signature ability, the Barrier Mesh, has several issues. It's challenging to throw precisely, making it easy for opponents to bypass it. Destroying just one part of the mesh can nullify its effectiveness, and it only lasts for 30 seconds compared to Sage's wall, which lasts for 40 seconds.
Sonic Sensors: Deadlock's Sonic Sensors are also situational at best. They can be easily avoided, and even when triggered, they have a one-second delay, allowing opponents to react and avoid the stun.
Gravnet's Lackluster Impact: Her Gravnet ability doesn't provide much utility either. It forces players to crouch, but it's relatively easy for opponents to escape from. It doesn't compare well to Sage's slow field, which effectively controls an area.
Potential Solutions: To improve Deadlock's viability, Riot might consider making her abilities more refreshing or redesigning her signature ability to make it more impactful. Adjusting the Barrier Mesh to be less destructible and increasing the duration could be a step in the right direction. Additionally, enhancing the Gravnet to function more like a Sage slow could make it more useful.
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