Deadlock November 21 Update: Trooper Economy Rework, Major Balance Changes

Valve just shipped a substantial update for Deadlock on November 21, 2025, introducing a significant rework to Trooper bounty mechanics, alongside extensive balance adjustments for heroes, items, and map objectives.

General Gameplay Changes

The Trooper bounty system has been overhauled. Now, only the first 40% of souls from a defeated Trooper fly out as a deniable orb. The remaining 60% will drop as a ground orb with an 18m capture radius, lasting 18 seconds (increasing up to 40s over time). This change aims to create more contested zones around fallen Troopers. Medic Troopers no longer have a passive healing pulse but now drop a medic pack with similar pickup mechanics, healing allies for 10% missing health + 75 (plus 2 per minute).

Other notable general changes include:

• Starting souls increased from 400 to 600.
• Trooper bounty values increased by 10%, with updated split ratios.
• Neutral bounties increased by 10%, with significant HP and damage buffs across all camp sizes.
• Small neutral camps respawn time reduced from 180s to 120s.
• Investment Bonuses now grant additional rewards at 4800 souls spent for Weapon Damage, Bonus Health, and Spirit Power.
• Headshot multiplier reduced from 1.8x to 1.65x.
• Stamina regen rate reduced by 5%.
• Guardians and Walkers now start with 75% damage resist, decaying to -50% over 10 and 20 minutes respectively.
• Base slot count increased from 8 to 9, with Flex slots reduced from 4 to 3. Slot acquisition has also been adjusted.
• Mid Boss health and growth increased, with the killing team receiving +2 permanent buffs per player.
• Soul Urn now provides 4 permanent buffs to the person dropping it off, no longer granting +1 AP.

Item Adjustments

The update brings a widespread cooldown reduction nerf across many items, including Enchanter's Emblem, Compress Cooldown, Superior Cooldown, Transcendent Cooldown, Spellslinger, and Spiritual Overflow. Echo Shard no longer grants CD reduction but now provides +5% Ability Range.

Key item changes include:

• Split Shot cooldown significantly increased from 14s to 32s.
• Mystic Shot proc damage reduced, but Spirit Power scaling increased.
• Cultist Sacrifice now provides Weapon Damage instead of Fire Rate.
• Express Shot Weapon Damage reduced, and ammo consumed increased.
• Tesla Bullets and Capacitor shock damage reduced, but Spirit Power growth increased. Capacitor also now prevents stamina usage and silences movement abilities, and its buff dispel has been moved to Curse.
• Shadow Weave reveal and full invisibility distances reduced.
• Reactive Barrier, Spirit Shielding, and Weapon Shielding all see increased cooldowns and reduced durations.
• Cheat Death now removes all non-stun debuffs on proc.
• Silence Wave no longer upgrades from Spirit Sap, nor reduces Spirit Resistance or Spirit Power, but now deals Impact Damage.
• Focus Lens now builds from Spirit Sap, reducing Spirit Resistance and Spirit Power.

Hero Balance Changes

Nearly every hero has received adjustments, with a focus on balancing their abilities and overall power levels.

Some notable hero changes include:

• Abrams: Shoulder Charge cooldown reduced.
• Bebop: Health growth reduced, Exploding Uppercut cooldown increased, but Spirit scaling improved. Hyperbeam DPS reduced.
• Calico: Clip size increased, but Gloom Bombs cooldown increased.
• Doorman: Base regen reduced, Call Bell explosion damage reduced, but impact damage Spirit scaling increased.
• Drifter: Rend cooldown reduced, base regen increased.
• Holliday: Base regen, bullet growth, and base damage reduced. Bounce Pad damage reduced.
• Infernus: Afterburn buildup slower on body shots.
• Ivy: Kudzu Bomb damage reduced, but Spirit scaling increased. Stone Form cooldown reduced. Air Drop damage penalty for allies reduced.
• Kelvin: Bullet Velocity significantly reduced, Frost Grenade base damage reduced.
• Lash: Grapple and Flog cooldowns reduced, Flog heal vs heroes increased.
• Mina: Sanguine Retreat cooldown increased and no longer resets air jump/dash limits. Love Bites cooldown increased.
• Paige: Bullet damage growth reduced, Defend and Fight! barrier and duration reduced, with T1 and T2 upgrades reworked.
• Paradox: Base regen, health, and bullet damage growth reduced. Pulse Grenade damage reduced, but Spirit scaling increased.
• Shiv: Alt fire knockback reduced, ammo cost increased. Killing Blow Rage Damage Bonus reduced.
• Viscous: Splatter cooldown increased, with T1 and T2 upgrades swapped and T3 gaining Spirit scaling. The Cube duration reduced, but regen increased.
• Yamato: Base regen reduced, Power Slash low/medium charge damage reduced, Crimson Slash cooldown increased.