VALORANT’s Deadlock: An Underrated Sentinel
After a restless night, I eagerly tried out VALORANT’s newest sentinel, Deadlock. I spent my remaining VALORANT Points to unlock her immediately. Three weeks later, I can confidently say that Deadlock is worth the hype and players on the ranked ladder should give her a chance.
There’s no denying that Riot Games did an excellent job designing Deadlock for VALORANT. She offers the strongest barrier in the game, with annoying sound-scanning traps and a powerful gravity-bending grenade. Her ultimate can literally ‘annihilate’ opponents. Not to mention, her agent-select animation and voice lines are chillingly captivating.
Yet, players in my games and on the internet seem to dislike and distrust Deadlock’s sentinel powers. Many have even declared her “useless” and the worst sentinel in VALORANT so far. But these criticisms are unfair. Deadlock has a versatile kit and shines on defense.
Driving Deadlock on maps like Fracture, Haven, and Ascent, I could anchor sites more effectively than ever before. Her Barrier Mesh is a powerful tool that can quickly halt enemies’ plans. Placing it strategically and using it to control chokepoints is crucial. Additionally, her GravNet can stall aggressive approaches and secure kills when combined with other abilities.
While Deadlock’s Sonic Sensors may not be foolproof, they still have a wide range and can disorient enemies. Placing them creatively and predicting enemy patterns can lead to successful detections. And if a plan doesn’t work, it’s essential to adapt and try something new.
It’s important to remember that Deadlock is not a replacement for other agents like Killjoy or Cypher. Each agent has their own advantages and drawbacks, contributing to the overall balance of the game. Deadlock’s quirks should not be seen as weaknesses, but rather challenges to overcome.
Overall, I believe Deadlock is perfectly balanced in VALORANT’s current meta and does not need any nerfs or buffs. So, give Deadlock a chance and adapt to your enemies’ strategies. She can be a formidable opponent, but she can also be countered in various ways.
VALORANT, Deadlock, sentinel, agent, barrier, abilities, Sonic Sensors, balance