Solomon Guide in Deadlock: Abilities, Best Build, and Leveling

In Deadlock, Solomon controls chess pieces: he blocks paths, immobilizes enemies, and protects allies. A build focused on Spiritism and cooldown reduction works well for him. This hero is especially useful in team fights, where he can keep enemies locked down with his abilities and save teammates with his barrier. Let’s break down which items to buy and how to use each piece.

Creates a Bishop that remains on the board until recalled. When moved, the piece deals psychic damage and slows enemies in its path. Diagonal tiles around it then activate, dealing additional damage.

Use the elephant to clear a lane and block passages. Place it where the enemy will have to retreat. The latest upgrade allows these squares to reduce enemies’ spiritual resistance.

Grants an ally a shield and additional stamina. When cast on himself, Solomon receives a double shield but no stamina. The selected hero can be moved—he is invulnerable while moving.

This ability helps pull an ally out of a dangerous position or survive an attack on Solomon himself.

Launches two rooks that deal spiritual damage and immobilize enemies. When they collide with a wall, the pieces bounce back. Reusing the ability sends them off in directions perpendicular to their original path.

In narrow passages, it’s easier to position the rooks and take advantage of the rebound. After immobilizing the enemy, you can continue the attack with other pieces.

Summon a queen that deals area-of-effect damage. After a brief delay, cells radiate out from her, dealing additional damage and stunning enemies. The queen can be moved to repeat the attack at a different location.

The second upgrade adds an execution effect to heroes with less than 200 health remaining. Therefore, the ultimate is useful for both crowd control and finishing off enemies.

For a crowd control build, follow these priority levels:

Here’s a guideline: it’s worth upgrading your defensive abilities sooner if you or your allies are getting killed quickly.

The main focus of the build is spiritism, increasing ability range, and reducing cooldowns. Buy defensive items as needed: if enemies are constantly getting to you, don’t sacrifice survivability for damage.

This starting build provides a foundation for ability damage, shooting, and movement. You can add piercing rounds if you want to boost your early-game firefights.

Barrier Reaction is a good choice for additional protection. You might want to consider a Duration Booster if you want to enhance the control provided by Rook Battery. Cooldown Reduction is especially useful for Develop Queen, since her ultimate takes a long time to recharge.

The primary damage boost is Boundless Spiritualism. You can also take Spiritual Burn, and for more frequent ability usage, Transcendent Cooldown Reduction.

Choose the remaining slots based on the match. Superior Duration enhances long-lasting effects, Flying Carpet helps you reposition, and Unbreakable comes in handy if enemies are focusing on your hero. There’s no need to buy all the expensive items right away: figure out what you’re currently lacking—damage, mobility, or defense.

On the lane, combine your shots with the elephant’s attacks. Try to position your pieces so they prevent the enemy from approaching creeps or retreating to cover. Don’t waste a defensive ability on minor damage if the enemy can immediately launch a full-scale attack.

In team fights, stick with your allies. A good sequence is to slow the enemy with the elephant, trap them with rooks, and position the queen behind the immobilized target. This makes it harder for the enemy to escape the ultimate’s area before the stun activates.

Keep track of your pieces after the first use. Moving the bishop or queen allows you to maintain pressure when the enemy has changed position. Fire between abilities: waiting for the cooldown shouldn’t turn into downtime.

Among Solomon’s most troublesome opponents are Busha, Rat King, and Graves. However, since he’s a new champion, early match results don’t yet prove that this is the definitive list of counters. In practice, it’s important to capitalize on moments when Solomon has already expended his crowd control and defensive abilities. If you let him calmly set up his pieces and launch another attack with his queen, a prolonged battle will become significantly more difficult.