Viscous is a combination of a support and DPS hero wrapped up in one gooey package. The hero is quite challenging to master but can have a tremendous impact on any given match. So, here is our best Viscous build in Deadlock for maximum performance.
Viscous’ abilities in Deadlock
Viscous sports four abilities: three regular ones and an ultimate, just like the rest of the Deadlock heroes so far. He employs the use of goo, an oozy material Viscous is made out of, to punch enemies into submission. Viscous’ spells are as follows:
- Splatter: Viscous throws a ball of goo at enemies, doing damage on impact. The goo lingers on the ground for a while, slowing and dealing damage to enemies standing on it.
- The Cube: Viscous transforms himself or an ally into a solid block, granting massive HP regen and near-invulnerability. The affected unit cannot cast spells or attack for the duration.
- Puddle Punch: Viscous creates a fist of goo from any given surface that punches in a straight direction. Enemies hit take damage and are launched in the direction of the punch. The game considers this spell a light melee attack, so it can be upgraded with melee buffs.
- Goo Ball: Viscous transforms himself into a ball of goo that rolls around, doing damage and stunning enemies it hits. The hero gains massive damage and spirit resistance for the duration of this spell and can bounce off walls and jump while in it.
As you can see, this Deadlock hero has a wide range of unique abilities that employ all sorts of mechanics to his advantage. Our build, therefore, is quite diverse and unique. It focuses a ton on upgrading Viscous’ abilities, while also giving him some bullet damage as well.
The best Viscous build in Deadlock
Early game
During the early game, you should focus on getting yourself up to speed to start the match off. Enduring Spirit and Sprint Boots help with on-lane sustain, while Melee Lifesteal grants you some health leech on the Puddle Punch spell. Spirit Strike further boosts the spell’s damage, and Extra Charge allows you to cast it more often. After Spirit Strike, you should consider Mystic Burst and Extra Spirit to further enhance the output of not just your Puddle Punch but the Splatter as well.
While on the topic of Splatter, it should be the first ability you max out. You can safely ignore the upgrades for all the other abilities until you get that one to level three, which is when you can move on to buffing Puddle Punch all the way.
Mid game
Since Viscous is so tremendously effective at attaining a strong presence on the map and helping out his allies, you should seek to roam around once the laning phase nears completion. Thus, Improved Burst and Improved Spirit should be your top priority, while Improved Cooldown should follow after them. If you sense that you need more bullet damage for close encounters, Mystic Shot and Soul Shredder Bullets are your best bet, but Pristine Emblem can also provide you with a well-rounded buff to both your spells and your weapon.
In case you require more sustain than before, grabbing either Spirit Lifesteal or Lifestrike (lifesteal on your Puddle Punch spell), or both in severe cases, is a good idea. Naturally, defensive items like the Bullet Armor or Spirit Armor or the two in unison are always on the table and should be considered against high DPS and strong spirit damage heroes (Wraith, Vindicta, Yamato, etc).
After upgrading Puddle Punch to the max, get your ultimate up as boosting The Cube isn’t worth it at this point.
Late game
Viscous’ options open up significantly as the late game approaches. He can easily take over the carry role on his team but also offer invaluable help and support to the other carries on his team. To get the damage up to the late-game standard, Boundless Spirit is a must-have item, while Superior Cooldown and Mystic Reverb are both fantastic overall. Rapid Recharge is another obligatory purchase due to how much it improves your Puddle Punch‘s frequency of use. All the common defensive items such as the Improved Armor variants, Superior Stamina, and Colossus are good options if the situation calls for them.
On the offensive front, I’d also consider purchasing Improved Reach and Superior Duration to enhance the effectiveness of both the Puddle Punch and the Goo Ball abilities.
You should finish off the spell front by capping The Cube‘s level last.
