How to counter Shiv in Deadlock
Hybrid hero. Counter items for lane, mid and late game, and tips for the hero you play.
Updated for patch 10-05-2026. Counter profile from 2026-10-06.
Threat profile
Bleed duelist. Serrated Knives stack a bleed, Slice and Dice dashes through you, Bloodletting delays damage he takes, and Killing Blow executes low targets.
Key principle
Shiv's bleed builds toward his execute. Clean it off, anti heal him, and never fight him while low.
Lane phase items≈ 0-10 min
- Battle Vest gun damage is most of his output.
- Healbane his Bloodletting and rage heal him.
- Rusted Barrel cuts his fire rate.
- Slowing Hex silences Slice and Dice.
- Return Fire he fights up close.
Mid game items≈ 10-25 min
- Counterspell How to use: parry as his first Serrated Knives reach you and the bleed never starts. Also works as Slice and Dice goes through you. It won't remove bleed that's already on you.
- Dispel Magic removes bleed stacks before he can execute.
- Toxic Bullets gun anti heal.
- Decay strong anti heal.
- Bullet Resilience core bullet armor.
- Knockdown stun him as he Slice and Dices in.
- Metal Skin only stops bullets. His bleed and Slice and Dice still hit you.
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Late game items≈ 25 min +
- Cheat Death survives Killing Blow.
- Inhibitor cuts his damage and healing.
- Cursed Relic strips his buffs and locks him out.
- Plated Armor deflects part of his gun.
- Ethereal Shift become untargetable when you're low and Killing Blow is coming.
Patch note
10-05-2026: Shiv BUFFED, alt fire base damage +4% and per boon up, and Serrated Knives while rage is full now deals 3.5% current HP damage on impact (instead of ricocheting). His execute/bleed pressure is back up despite the May nerfs. Prioritize anti heal and cleanse the bleed early.
Tips for your hero against Shiv
Abrams
- Shoulder Charge him after Slice; anti heal his Bloodletting, don't get low into Killing Blow.
Apollo
- Riposte his Slice and Dice; anti heal his Bloodletting, burst him before rage.
Bebop
- Hook him out of a Slice; anti heal his heals, burst before he executes.
Billy
- Bashdown his Slice; silence him, anti heal his Bloodletting.
Calico
- Gloom Bombs him; kite his Slice, anti heal, don't fight at execute HP.
Celeste
- Float burst him; anti heal his Bloodletting, don't get low into Killing Blow.
Drifter
- Stalker's Mark him post Slice; anti heal his rage heal.
Dynamo
- Kinetic Pulse his Slice; Singularity him, anti heal his Bloodletting.
Graves
- Grasping Hands his Slice; Deadheads pressure him, anti heal his heals.
Grey Talon
- Charged Shot him before he closes; anti heal, don't fight at execute range.
Haze
- Sleep Dagger his Slice; out DPS him with anti heal, avoid Killing Blow range.
Holliday
- Spirit Lasso him out of a Slice; Crackshot him, anti heal his heals.
Infernus
- Afterburn him; anti heal his Bloodletting, Concussive his ult buildup.
Ivy
- Anti heal his Bloodletting; Air Drop your carry onto him post Slice.
Kelvin
- Frost Grenade his Slice; anti heal his heals, Frozen Shelter eats his burst.
Lady Geist
- Essence Bomb him post Slice; anti heal his rage heal, don't self chunk into Killing Blow.
Lash
- Death Slam him; Ground Strike his Slice, anti heal his Bloodletting.
McGinnis
- Wall his Slice lane; turrets pressure him, anti heal his heals.
Mina
- Burst him and Retreat; anti heal his Bloodletting, avoid Killing Blow range.
Mirage
- Traveler onto him post Slice; Tornado his path, anti heal.
Mo & Krill
- Burrow stun his Slice; Combo ult him, anti heal his Bloodletting.
Paige
- Bookwyrm chips him; Captivating Read locks his Slice, anti heal.
Paradox
- Time Wall his Slice lane; Kinetic Carbine him, anti heal his heals.
- Kite his Slice; Affliction anti heals his Bloodletting.
Rat King
- T3 Royal Pestments caps his big hits, which makes Killing Blow much weaker against you.
Rem
- Naptime his Slice; out heal his poke, anti heal his Bloodletting.
Seven
- Lightning Ball his Slice; Storm Cloud him, anti heal his heals.
Silver
- Wolf burst him; Entangling Bola his Slice, anti heal his Bloodletting.
The Doorman
- Door his Slice lane; Luggage Cart him, anti heal his heals.
The Magnificent Sinclair
- Illusions bait his Slice; Rabbit Hex him, anti heal his Bloodletting.
Venator
- Snap Trap his Slice path; Gutshot him, anti heal his heals.
Victor
- Your revive beats his Killing Blow threat. Bring anti heal and fight in Aura.
Vindicta
- Assassinate him before he closes; Crow stun his Slice, anti heal.
Viscous
- Cube your low ally vs Killing Blow; Puddle Punch him, anti heal.
Vyper
- Ammo burst him at range; Petrifying Bola his Slice, anti heal his heals.
Warden
- Don't let bleed stack, Dispel it before it triggers the execute threshold. That's the priority use of Dispel in this matchup.
- Last Stand cancels his disengage, the ult doesn't save him from the tether.
- Willpower mitigates Slice damage and trims bleed, but Dispel is the true bleed clear before execute range.
Wraith
- Telekinesis lift him mid Slice; Full Auto him, anti heal his Bloodletting.
Yamato
- Crimson Slash out sustains his bleed; anti heal his Bloodletting, Flying Slash him post Slice.