Valorant’s agent 23 is finally here andRiot Gameshave added the fifth Sentinel agent in the game. Since the last Sentinel has been released, the players have seen several meta and mechanics changes. Finally, a new agent is here, and the community has already started to get creative with the new abilities!
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The newest Valorant agent is named Deadlock, who hails from the snowy region of Norway. If you are someone who loves creativity in the game, Deadlock might just be the perfect pick for you.
Deadlock’s Abilities
As a Sentinel, Deadlockspecializes in mostly watching the flankswith the perfect usage of her utility. Her ability might look just as broken as Chamber, when it was first released. It can turn the players into a cocoon, and also force them to crouch, limiting their movement significantly.
Barrier Mesh
Deadlock’s signature ability lets her throw a disc that deploys an X-shaped barrier, which can block the enemy’s movement. Each barrier mesh will have four orbs connected to a central orb in the middle. The players can break all four orbs to break the barrier. However, breaking the central orb will take down the whole barrier. Breaking any one of the four orbs will take down a specific part of the cross-shaped barrier. It’s afree ability, which the players can use only one time each round. Each barrier mesh will last40 seconds, and the barrier keeps weakening over time, similar to the Sage wall. However, agents might not pass through the barrier, but they can still shoot bullets or pass abilities through the walls.
Sonic Sensor
The Sonic Sensor works similarly to the Cypher trap, the only difference being that it activates if any sound is made in its radius. Your enemies will get concussed if they make any sound while inside the sensor’s radius. This is Deadlock’s main utility as a Sentinel. However, it can be utterly useless if the opponent walks past the sensor without making any sound. Players can equiptwo Sonic Sensors per round, each costing200 credits.
The GravNet is Deadlock’s only throwable, forcing the enemies to crouch and thus limiting their movements. Players can buy one GravNet per round, each costing200 credits. Once the players are caught inside the GravNet’s radius, they can shoot but must crouch and move. However, they can release the ability’s effect by holding ‘F’ for a particular time.
Annihilate has to be one of the most powerful ultimates in Valorant currently. Her ultimate ability allows Deadlock to release a Nanowire Accelerator, which will capture the first enemy it touches. The captured enemy will then be blinded, cocooned, and pulled toward the nanowire. Once the trapped player reaches the end of the nanowire, he will eventually die. While stuck inside the cocoon, the trapped player will see a death timer. Once inside the ultimate, the players can only survive with the help of their teammates. To free the trapped players, other agents of the team will have to shoot the cocoon from outside and break it. The ultimate will require seven ultimate points.
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Unlocking Deadlock
With the Act 7 update, Valorant has changed the system of unlocking Agent Contracts. Instead of recruiting the agents and playing more games to unlock them, the players are now required to unlock the agent throughAgent Recruitment Events. Deadlock’s Agent Recruitment Event started on the 27th of June and will be active for 28 days. Each event requires the players to gain 200,000 XP to unlock every new agent.
However, the Agent Recruitment Event is one of many ways to unlock Deadlock. If someone misses the 28-day event, they will have to earn Kingdom Credits and buy the agent. Kingdom Credit (KC) is a new type of currency that has been added to Valorant. The players won’t have to spend real money to get KC; they must play more matches and complete the daily and weekly objectives. Deadlock will cost 8,000 KC, but thankfully Riot is giving away 5,000 free KC to all the players with the new update.
Players can unlock the agent with 1,000 VP in the game. This method requires the players to use real money, and the price of the in-game currency can differ from region to region. Players with Xbox Game Pass will have access to the agent if they have the game pass. They just need to connect their Riot Games and Xbox account.
Gameplay Tips
Regarding versatility and creativity, Deadlock might be one of the best in the game. However, it’s not game-breaking, as many were predicting when the trailer first came out. But if used correctly, Deadlock’s utilities can bring massive advantages to the players and turn rounds in the player’s favor.
The primary use of Barrier Mesh is to restrict enemy movements. This is particularly useful to block off doors, entrances, or any potential area from where the enemies might enter, such as the door from A site Tree on Ascent. The Barrier Mesh can pose a significant impact on the opponents. Each central orb requires a full magazine of a rifle to break, and the supporting four orbs will need 17 bullets each. Taking this barrier down during the pistol rounds might be challenging for your opponents. The ability can slow down enemy pushes heavily and make the enemies easier targets when trying to take down the barrier.
Barrier Mesh can also block the spike during a post-plant scenario, similar to blocking the spike with a Sage wall to delay defusing. you may use the Barrier Mesh on yourself if you have an Astra on your opponent’s team waiting to pull you when trying to defuse the spike.
Even though Deadlock’s Sonic Sensor is less effective than Cypher’s Trip Wire or Killjoy’s Alarm Bot, it can still be helpful if placed creatively. Place the sensor in any location that the enemies will least expect. Remember, they can still break down the sensor before getting concussed, but you will get the alarm on your mini-map. However, it has some great range which can be a good advantage for you.
When stuck inside the GravNet’s radius, the enemies will be disadvantaged in a direct gunfight. Since their movement is somewhat restricted, they cannot perform any strafing, making them an easier, almost stationary target. While the enemies can free themselves from the GravNet, the whole process requires a long time and makes them an easy target.
you may learn some cool lineups using the GravNet to use in any post-plant situation. You can also think of it like a Killjoy or Viper molly, which you throw to stop the enemies from entering a site. Though it doesn’t damage, it can still stop the enemies from pushing, giving you much-needed extra time to prepare and fortify the site. Remember, in a game like Valorant, every second matters.
The new agent’s only game-breaking ability is its ultimate, Annihilation. There is so much scope to be creative with this ability to get the best result for your team. Not only is it a deadly weapon in a 1v1 situation or to kill an isolated enemy, but you can also literally turn your enemies into a hanging cocoon if you bounce the ability on any platform above you and hit an enemy with it. The ultimate can also be an essential ability for post-plant scenarios, as you can bounce it off the wall, so you don’t necessarily need to peek to delay the bomb defuse.
Agents To Play With Deadlock
Deadlock is best paired with Raze, Breach, Brimstone, or Viper. Since it has abilities that can significantly impact the opponent’s movement speed, any utility with Area Damage can easily take down the players trapped inside Deadlock’s ability.
For example, players can throw Raze Nade or Viper mollies inside GravNet’s radius to deal damage to the enemies trapped inside. Since they are forced to crouch and unable to move, they will be vulnerable to utility damage.
Brimstone’s Ultimate is another utility that can be perfectly paired with Deadlock’s abilities. Players can use ultimate on enemies stuck in GravNet or Barrier Mesh. If used creatively, Barrier Mesh can significantly help the players stop enemy pushes and block off enemy movement to isolate any specific part of the map. If paired perfectly with ultimates like Orbital Strike, or Hunter’s Fury, they can create some outstanding opportunities for the players and help them win more rounds.
you’re able to also use Deadlock’s Ultimate after an enemy has been stunned, concussed or slow. This will ensure they have less chance of dodging the ultimate ability, and you get the desired result.
However, agents like Yoru, or Omen, who have the teleportation ability, can teleport through Deadlock’s Barrier Mesh. So, if you have any Yoru or Omen in your opponent’s team, you should be more aware of your surroundings, even if the Barrier Mesh has blocked those angles.
