Valve’s Deadlock has received a new update that allows players to ban heroes before matches start, though newer heroes will be immune. Read on to learn more about this system, including which heroes cannot be banned.
Deadlock’s New Hero Banning System
Adjusting Gameplay to the New Rules
OnJanuary 30, 2026, Valve developer Yoshi released a substantial update introducing hero banning to their hero-shooter/MOBA game on the official Deadlock website. Standard and Street Brawl players can now select up to two heroes to ban on their roster screen. Once queued up for matches, players can see which heroes were banned.
Currently, Deadlock’s banning system is still in its early stages and may change in future updates. Players can only ban two heroes per match, and newly released characters are immune during their initial release window. Moreover, these bans are not guaranteed, but the game will prioritize matches without the selected heroes.
Alongside the hero bans update, Valve has also introduced several balance changes targeting overperforming heroes and items. Heroes like Abrams, once a dominating force in the meta due to his tanky build, have been significantly nerfed, with reductions to both defense and offense. More recently, Valve reduced Graves’ damage potential by lowering the overall offensive capability of her Jar of Dead.
Deadlock’s New Heroes
Prior to launching the new ban system, Valve opened up Deadlock’s year with a major update titled, "Old Gods & New Blood," It went live on January 22, 2026, and it introduces six major characters with staggered release dates.
⚫︎ Apollo - A mobility-based melee-fencer with demonic powers.
⚫︎ Celeste - A pop-star with disruptive powers.
⚫︎ Graves - A teenager with a knack for necromancy
⚫︎ Rem - A tiny spirit that loves to put enemies to sleep.
⚫︎ Silver - A gunslinger with lycanthrophy, allowing her to transform into a werewolf.
⚫︎ Venator - An arms expert for tactical and explosive engagements.
Each of Deadlock’s upcoming heroes will be released every Monday and Thursday at 2 PM PST, and will be determined by an in-game voting system where players can get voting cards after each successful match.
The first hero released was Rem on January 26, then Graves on January 28. The latest hero added to the roster is Silver, the gunslinging werewolf. As for the rest of the heroes, the voting system is still active, and players can still vote until all of them arrive in the game.
Sources:
Deadlock “Old Gods, New Blood” Update Site
