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Rat King portrait Venator portrait

Rat King vs Venator

Low threat

Written for the Rat King player. Playing Venator? See Venator vs Rat King →

Rat King is favoured. Rat King wins 61.6% of 163,624 games against Venator (+3.8 points vs Rat King’s usual 57.8%).

How to win as Rat King

  1. RuleDo not commit before Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets is gone. Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets first — it is his only reliable hard lock and it has 2 charges on an 8s recharge, so trip both with a wave before rotating
  2. Watch out Consecrating Grenade Consecrating Grenade 25s Cooldown Lobs a grenade that bounces once or twice before detonating in a roughly 4.5m area. Damage 35 impact (about 1.0x weapon scaling) plus roughly 10 burn DPS (about 1.6x… 1 -5s cooldown (25s base) 2 +1.5m radius and +1s burn duration 5 an additional 20% healing reduction on top of the base 30%, and grants extra charges applies 30-50% healing reduction before his team commits, so your Restorative Shot Restorative Shot 800 souls Tier 1WeaponPassive +6s Cooldown +100% Proc Chance +50 Healing From Heroes +20 Healing From NPCs / Orbs +6% Weapon Damage , Healing Rite Healing Rite 800 souls Tier 1ArmorPress +70s Cooldown +0.2s Cast Delay +20s Regen Duration and Lifesteal all stop mattering for 3.5-4.5 seconds
  3. Your edgeYou recover between fights and they do not (Rat King Rat King New hero Released 2 October Released 2 October. A gun-scaling brawler and team buffer: a three-blast slowing grenade, rats that strip bullet resist with every bite, a reflecting barrier, and a banner that makes his team slow-immune. 1/3 against Venator 0/3).
  4. Buy Majestic Leap Majestic Leap 3,200 souls · Tier 3 · Armor · InstantCast +45s Cooldown +5s Interrupt Cooldown +100% Air Control +50% Air Control +32% Move Speed +2.5s Slow Duration +8s Barrier Duration — Venator's Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed — that is the zoning and area denial this answers. Buy to escape ground-based lockdown and to rotate across the map quickly.
The numbers: lane, whole match and Oracle and above
GamesRat King winsvs Rat King's usualSample
Whole match 61.6% +3.8 pts (57.8% overall) 163,624 games
Sharing a lane 61.9% +4.1 pts (57.8% overall) 54,738 games
Oracle and above 59.4% +3.5 pts (55.9% at Oracle+) 10,450 games

"Sharing a lane" counts only games where both were assigned the same lane — the laning matchup itself. "Oracle and above" counts only matches whose average rank was Oracle and above. Source: deadlock-api.com, refreshed daily.

Data-supported Measured: you win 61.6% of these, which is 3.8 points above your overall win rate (163,624 matches). The kit-based model agrees. Ranked against this hero's own baseline win rate, not raw win rate. Source: deadlock-api.com.

Why Rat King counters Venator

Venator's whole kit runs on his bolt weapon, and Royal Pestments Royal Pestments 6s Duration22s Cooldown Rat King puts on scrap armour that gives him a barrier worth a share of his maximum health. Damage Reflected bullets return their full damage to the shooter. Defensive Barrier equal to 15% of his max health for 6s on a 22s cooldown. 1 +4s duration 2 -8s cooldown and +15% bullet return chance 5 +10% max health as barrier, and no single hit deals more than 250 while it holds gives Rat King Rat King New hero Released 2 October Released 2 October. A gun-scaling brawler and team buffer: a three-blast slowing grenade, rats that strip bullet resist with every bite, a reflecting barrier, and a banner that makes his team slow-immune. a barrier that can send those bullets straight back at him. Venator is already the slowest hero in his group with no escape, so three Scrap Grenade Scrap Grenade 26s Cooldown Rat King throws a bouncing lump of scrap that goes off three times where it lands. Crowd Control 20% movement slow for 4s (scales slightly with Spirit). Damage 70 bullet damage per detonation (+0.6 weapon-damage scaling), three… Defensive The slow is his peel: thrown at his own feet it stops a diver from following… 1 -8s cooldown (26s to 18s) 2 +70 damage per detonation 5 one extra, bigger final detonation — 300 damage, 14m radius, 40% slow detonations and their slow leave him stuck. Rat Swarm Rat Swarm 50m Range6s Duration24s Cooldown Rat King calls a swarm of rats to a spot up to 50m away. Damage 8 spirit damage per bite (+0.08 Spirit scaling), one bite per attached rat… 1 +1 charge (8s between charges) 2 a larger swarm and +4s debuff duration 5 +8 damage and an extra -1% bullet resist per bite 's bullet-resist shred then lets Rat King's team shred him.

Written from both heroes' ability data; the win rates above are the measured results.

What should I do right now?

Do

  • Plan for Majestic Leap Majestic Leap 3,200 souls Tier 3ArmorInstantCast +45s Cooldown +5s Interrupt Cooldown +100% Air Control +50% Air Control +32% Move Speed +2.5s Slow Duration +8s Barrier Duration — know which tier it sits in so you are not improvising at the shop.
  • Know what Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets looks like. It is the cooldown this lane revolves around.

Avoid

  • Walking to lane on the same path every wave against a hero with Venator's engage range.

Do

  • Below-average movement speed (6.4 m/s) means he cannot dodge-dance in lane or rotate away from a gank the way Vindicta or Yamato can
  • No self-heal or barrier at all, so once an enemy anti-heals him back he has no answer
  • Scrap Grenade Scrap Grenade 26s Cooldown Rat King throws a bouncing lump of scrap that goes off three times where it lands. Crowd Control 20% movement slow for 4s (scales slightly with Spirit). Damage 70 bullet damage per detonation (+0.6 weapon-damage scaling), three… Defensive The slow is his peel: thrown at his own feet it stops a diver from following… 1 -8s cooldown (26s to 18s) 2 +70 damage per detonation 5 one extra, bigger final detonation — 300 damage, 14m radius, 40% slow clears a trooper wave in three hits and slows anyone farming in it, so he wins wave tempo early

Avoid

  • Consecrating Grenade Consecrating Grenade 25s Cooldown Lobs a grenade that bounces once or twice before detonating in a roughly 4.5m area. Damage 35 impact (about 1.0x weapon scaling) plus roughly 10 burn DPS (about 1.6x… 1 -5s cooldown (25s base) 2 +1.5m radius and +1s burn duration 5 an additional 20% healing reduction on top of the base 30%, and grants extra charges denies the enemy laner's Healing Rite Healing Rite 800 souls Tier 1ArmorPress +70s Cooldown +0.2s Cast Delay +20s Regen Duration and regen trades in a fixed 1v1 lane where the 4.5m burn is hard to fully avoid
  • Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets placed behind the enemy's own guardian or on their retreat path punishes any greedy last-hit push

Do

  • Their first real spike is laning 0-10min — respect it from that point, not before.
  • Your spike is ult unlock: Rule, Ratannia! Rule, Ratannia! 10s Duration160s Cooldown Rat King raises the banner of Ratannia. Crowd Control Knockup and a 40% slow on the slam, plus Rat Swarm from the rats it… Damage 200 bullet damage on the slam (+1.2 weapon-damage scaling), 20m radius (cut… Mobility +3 m/s movement speed for him and nearby allies for up to 10s while the… 1 +2 m/s movement speed (no cooldown reduction since 5 October) 2 +5s banner duration and +8m radius 5 +150 slam damage and +10% damage reduction turns him into the team's fight-starter: slow immunity and speed on the way in, a 20m Knockup on arrival

Avoid

  • Taking an even fight against Venator on their spike timing when you could take the same fight ten minutes later on yours.

Do

  • Watch for Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed . Fight Venator away from walls and railings — in open ground Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed is a 10m nudge with no Stun attached
  • Bait the trap with a minion wave, a summon or a zipline arrival before you walk any choke he has been defending

Avoid

  • Spending your own escape before Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets is on cooldown.

Venator’s abilities

  • Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed Ability 2

    Being moved is the damage here, because of what follows it: knockback on everyone hit; 0.6s Stun on targets driven into a wall (T2 adds +0.4s, so up to 1.0s).

    • Fight Venator away from walls and railings — in open ground Gutshot is a 10m nudge with no Stun attached
    • Divers with Unstoppable Unstoppable 6,400 souls Tier 4ArmorInstantCast +60s Cooldown +5.5s Duration +125 Bonus Health +25% Debuff Resist Builds from Debuff Reducer (Warden's T3 Last Stand Last Stand 6s Duration180s Cooldown After a two-second charge-up, Warden pulses damage in a wide radius around himself twice a second, healing for a large share of the damage he deals. Crowd Control none directly — its power comes from being paired with Binding Word Damage 70 DPS base (about 1.3x spirit scaling) over 6s in a 12m radius; Mobility none, and he is channelling 1 +4m radius (12m base up to 16m) 2 +40.5 DPS and -30s cooldown (180s base) 5 +4s duration and Unstoppable plus +30% resists while channelling , Abrams' Siege, Yamato's Shadow Transformation Shadow Transformation 5s Duration150s Cooldown Yamato transforms with an initial invincible window, refreshes her ability cooldowns, and for the duration casts them much faster while immune to negative status effects and heavily… Damage No direct damage; the power is in refreshed abilities cast 60% faster Mobility T2 adds +4 m/s move speed during the transformation, on top of her already… Defensive Initial invincibility during the 1.5s transformation channel, immunity to… 1 +7 weapon damage 2 +4 m/s move speed and -20s cooldown (150s base) 5 +3s duration (5s base up to 8s) and +30% bullet resist and +30% spirit resist status immunity) walk through the shove and the Stun
    • Do not back yourself into a corner while pressuring him; the shove has no value if there is nothing behind you
  • Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets Ability 3

    A second source of hard control: 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s).

    • Push a minion wave, a Seven stormcloud drone, an Ivy ally or any summon down a choke first — the trap springs on the first thing through
    • Vary your rotation path; traps cover fixed geometry, so take the zipline or the roof instead of the same Haunt Haunts Neutral camps Lanes and Districts across the map Haunts replace the old neutral camps. They are not a reskin: each type behaves differently, and the health bar now shows a camp's soul value and how hard it is, so you can decide whether a camp is worth your time before you start shooting. Three eye colours mark the tier — teal for tier I, yellow for tier II, red for tier III. Souls 4168181 souls tier I / II / III a creep +0.44 / +0.73 / +1.95 a minute -camp door twice
    • On Graves, shoot the trap: since the 09-29-2026 patch her gun destroys it outright
  • Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed Ultimate

    His kill-confirm. After a Root, a wall Stun or an anti-heal burn he loads up and converts, and the blessed final stake takes a target that thinks it has escaped at low HP.

    • Ira Domini is a loud, visible transformation — the moment you see him load stakes, break line of sight for the 15s window instead of trading
    • Bullet Resist items ( Enduring Speed Enduring Speed 1,600 souls Tier 2ArmorPassive +25% Slow Resist +2 Out of Combat Regen Builds from Sprint Boots line, Metal Skin Metal Skin 3,200 souls Tier 3ArmorInstantCast +24s Cooldown +5s Duration +12% Bullet Resist -20% Dash Distance , Bullet Armor) cut the 120-per-stake body damage, though not the blessed pure-damage portion
    • At low HP, the 8% execute means a Restorative Shot Restorative Shot 800 souls Tier 1WeaponPassive +6s Cooldown +100% Proc Chance +50 Healing From Heroes +20 Healing From NPCs / Orbs +6% Weapon Damage or Colossus Colossus 6,400 souls Tier 4ArmorInstantCast +37s Cooldown +7s Duration +25% Base Health +15% Weapon Damage +35% Bullet Resist +35% Spirit Resist +24% Move Speed -22% Dash Distance +20% Model Scale +30% Melee Damage Builds from Extra Health that puts you over the threshold is worth more than a damage item
  1. 1 Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets

    Hex-Lined Snap Trap first — it is his only reliable hard lock and it has 2 charges on an 8s recharge, so trip both with a wave before rotating

  2. 2 Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed

    Gutshot second — it is his self-peel; once it is on a 13-23s cooldown a melee diver can sit on him with impunity

  3. 3 Consecrating Grenade Consecrating Grenade 25s Cooldown Lobs a grenade that bounces once or twice before detonating in a roughly 4.5m area. Damage 35 impact (about 1.0x weapon scaling) plus roughly 10 burn DPS (about 1.6x… 1 -5s cooldown (25s base) 2 +1.5m radius and +1s burn duration 5 an additional 20% healing reduction on top of the base 30%, and grants extra charges

    Consecrating Grenade third — force it out on a frontliner so your support can heal freely for the next 20-25s

The matchup in detail

  • Currently the weakest hero in this group by win rate (roughly 45% as of the 09-09 to 09-20 2026 sample on deadlock.io) Strong evidence
  • Zero sustain, zero barrier and no escape ability — the entire kit is offense and control Strong evidence
  • 6.4 m/s base speed makes him the slowest of this group and an easy gank target Strong evidence
  • Neither of you can disengage well, so fights between you tend to go to completion. That makes the decision to start one much more important than anything you do inside it — commit only when you already have the advantage, because backing out is not available to either side. Strategic
  • Consecrating Grenade Consecrating Grenade 25s Cooldown Lobs a grenade that bounces once or twice before detonating in a roughly 4.5m area. Damage 35 impact (about 1.0x weapon scaling) plus roughly 10 burn DPS (about 1.6x… 1 -5s cooldown (25s base) 2 +1.5m radius and +1s burn duration 5 an additional 20% healing reduction on top of the base 30%, and grants extra charges applies 30-50% healing reduction before his team commits, so your Restorative Shot Restorative Shot 800 souls Tier 1WeaponPassive +6s Cooldown +100% Proc Chance +50 Healing From Heroes +20 Healing From NPCs / Orbs +6% Weapon Damage , Healing Rite Healing Rite 800 souls Tier 1ArmorPress +70s Cooldown +0.2s Cast Delay +20s Regen Duration and Lifesteal all stop mattering for 3.5-4.5 seconds Strong evidence
  • Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets sitting invisible-until-triggered on your flank route roots you for 1.25-2.25s and reveals you for 6s, which is almost always a 5-on-4 for his team Strong evidence
  • Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed into a wall is a 0.6-1.0s Stun plus 90 damage, and in corridors or around the Patron that is a free chain into his whole kit Strong evidence
  • Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed stakes hit for 120 each with a blessed stake adding 115 pure damage and executing anyone under 8% max health — running away at low HP does not work Strong evidence
  • Since the 09-16-2026 patch his stakes Ricochet Ricochet 6,400 souls Tier 4WeaponPassive +65% Ricochet Damage +18% Fire Rate and split, so standing in a line behind a focused ally now shares the ultimate damage across your team Strong evidence
  • Bait the trap with a minion wave, a summon or a zipline arrival before you walk any choke he has been defending Strong evidence
  • Fight him in open ground — away from walls, Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed is only a knockback and he has no Hard CC left Strong evidence
  • Punish his 6.4 m/s speed: he cannot disengage, so gap-closers (Yamato's Flying Slash Flying Slash 26m Range36s Cooldown Throws a grappling hook at an enemy and pulls herself to them, landing a light melee hit and leaving them significantly slowed on arrival. Crowd Control -40% movement slow for 2.5s on the target Damage 66 melee damage Mobility Pulls her to the target from 26m base (T3 adds +15m, up to 41m) 1 -18s cooldown (36s base down to 18s) 2 gain +35 Spirit Power for 6s 5 alt-cast to grapple allies, +15m cast range, and +1 charge , Abrams' Shoulder Charge Shoulder Charge 1.4s Duration33s Cooldown Abrams barrels forward, scooping up any hero he contacts and carrying them along. Crowd Control Stun on wall impact only. Damage 30 base impact damage (deadlock.one). Mobility Forward charge with a speed bonus after connecting with a hero. 1 applies a 32% move-speed slow for 3s, giving the ability value even when no wall is… 2 +0.8s wall-slam stun duration 5 roughly -18s cooldown and +1.5 weapon damage for 6s after hitting a hero , Wraith's Project Mind Project Mind 25m Range46s Cooldown After a brief channel, Wraith teleports to a chosen location at range. Mobility Teleport up to 25m (T1 adds +15m, so up to 40m) after a 0.75-0.8s… Defensive T2 grants a 300 barrier for 5s on arrival, scaling with Spirit Power, which… 1 +15m cast range (25m base up to 40m) 2 300 barrier for 5s on arrival, scaling with Spirit Power 5 -32s cooldown (46s base down to 14s) ) reach him and he cannot leave Strong evidence
  • Delay big heals until his grenade burn expires rather than healing into 30-50% reduction Strong evidence
  • Bullet-resist items blunt his weapon-scaling kit far more than Spirit Resist does, since Consecrating Grenade Consecrating Grenade 25s Cooldown Lobs a grenade that bounces once or twice before detonating in a roughly 4.5m area. Damage 35 impact (about 1.0x weapon scaling) plus roughly 10 burn DPS (about 1.6x… 1 -5s cooldown (25s base) 2 +1.5m radius and +1s burn duration 5 an additional 20% healing reduction on top of the base 30%, and grants extra charges , Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed and Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed all scale off weapon damage Strong evidence
  • The moment Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed and both Snap Trap charges are on cooldown, he has no CC and no escape — that is the all-in window Strong evidence
  • During the 2.8s weapon reload (33-round magazine at nearly 8 shots/sec empties fast) Strong evidence
  • The arming delay on a freshly kicked trap: the trap does nothing for that brief period, so pushing through immediately after you watch him kick it is safe Strong evidence
  • After all three Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed stakes are spent, his damage collapses back to a 63.5 DPS bolt gun for the next ~145 seconds Strong evidence
  • Any moment he is in open ground away from walls: his Hard CC is trap-only and traps must be pre-placed Strong evidence
  • Being stunned by Venator now pauses your reload rather than restarting it, as of 09-16-2026. That quietly changes when it is safe to reload in this matchup: a reload caught by their Stun resumes where it left off instead of costing you the whole cycle, so the old rule of never reloading inside their engagement range is too conservative now. The compensating change is that parrying also pauses your reload, so a defensive parry no longer buys you free reload time. Documented
  • Consecrating Grenade Consecrating Grenade 25s Cooldown Lobs a grenade that bounces once or twice before detonating in a roughly 4.5m area. Damage 35 impact (about 1.0x weapon scaling) plus roughly 10 burn DPS (about 1.6x… 1 -5s cooldown (25s base) 2 +1.5m radius and +1s burn duration 5 an additional 20% healing reduction on top of the base 30%, and grants extra charges denies the enemy laner's Healing Rite Healing Rite 800 souls Tier 1ArmorPress +70s Cooldown +0.2s Cast Delay +20s Regen Duration and regen trades in a fixed 1v1 lane where the 4.5m burn is hard to fully avoid Strong evidence
  • Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets placed behind the enemy's own guardian or on their retreat path punishes any greedy last-hit push Strong evidence
  • Below-average movement speed (6.4 m/s) means he cannot dodge-dance in lane or rotate away from a gank the way Vindicta or Yamato can Strong evidence
  • No self-heal or barrier at all, so once an enemy anti-heals him back he has no answer Strong evidence
  • Scrap Grenade Scrap Grenade 26s Cooldown Rat King throws a bouncing lump of scrap that goes off three times where it lands. Crowd Control 20% movement slow for 4s (scales slightly with Spirit). Damage 70 bullet damage per detonation (+0.6 weapon-damage scaling), three… Defensive The slow is his peel: thrown at his own feet it stops a diver from following… 1 -8s cooldown (26s to 18s) 2 +70 damage per detonation 5 one extra, bigger final detonation — 300 damage, 14m radius, 40% slow clears a trooper wave in three hits and slows anyone farming in it, so he wins wave tempo early Strategic
  • Laning 0-10min — Consecrating Grenade Consecrating Grenade 25s Cooldown Lobs a grenade that bounces once or twice before detonating in a roughly 4.5m area. Damage 35 impact (about 1.0x weapon scaling) plus roughly 10 burn DPS (about 1.6x… 1 -5s cooldown (25s base) 2 +1.5m radius and +1s burn duration 5 an additional 20% healing reduction on top of the base 30%, and grants extra charges 's 30% healing reduction makes him a strong counter-laner against any regen-based opponent Strong evidence
  • Hex-Lined Snap Trap Hex-Lined Snap Trap 28s Cooldown Kicks out a trap that arms after a short delay and then sits on the ground for up to 30 seconds. Crowd Control 1.25s immobilize (T2 pushes it to 2.25s) Damage 80 spirit (about 2.2x spirit scaling); Defensive Acts as a tripwire behind Venator so flankers cannot reach him unpunished 1 -11s cooldown (28s base) 2 +1s immobilize duration 5 +1 charge and +30% damage dealt to revealed targets T2 (+1s immobilize) — A 2.25s Root is long enough to chain a full Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed plus weapon burst without help Strong evidence
  • Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed unlock — Gives him an execute for the first time, converting his CC chain into confirmed kills Strong evidence
  • Late 35min+ with Ricochet Ricochet 6,400 souls Tier 4WeaponPassive +65% Ricochet Damage +18% Fire Rate — Post 09-16-2026 Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed bounces and splits, turning the ultimate from a single-target execute into a teamfight nuke Strong evidence
  • Rule, Ratannia! Rule, Ratannia! 10s Duration160s Cooldown Rat King raises the banner of Ratannia. Crowd Control Knockup and a 40% slow on the slam, plus Rat Swarm from the rats it… Damage 200 bullet damage on the slam (+1.2 weapon-damage scaling), 20m radius (cut… Mobility +3 m/s movement speed for him and nearby allies for up to 10s while the… 1 +2 m/s movement speed (no cooldown reduction since 5 October) 2 +5s banner duration and +8m radius 5 +150 slam damage and +10% damage reduction unlock — Rule, Ratannia! Rule, Ratannia! 10s Duration160s Cooldown Rat King raises the banner of Ratannia. Crowd Control Knockup and a 40% slow on the slam, plus Rat Swarm from the rats it… Damage 200 bullet damage on the slam (+1.2 weapon-damage scaling), 20m radius (cut… Mobility +3 m/s movement speed for him and nearby allies for up to 10s while the… 1 +2 m/s movement speed (no cooldown reduction since 5 October) 2 +5s banner duration and +8m radius 5 +150 slam damage and +10% damage reduction turns him into the team's fight-starter: slow immunity and speed on the way in, a 20m Knockup on arrival Strategic
  • Scrap Grenade Scrap Grenade 26s Cooldown Rat King throws a bouncing lump of scrap that goes off three times where it lands. Crowd Control 20% movement slow for 4s (scales slightly with Spirit). Damage 70 bullet damage per detonation (+0.6 weapon-damage scaling), three… Defensive The slow is his peel: thrown at his own feet it stops a diver from following… 1 -8s cooldown (26s to 18s) 2 +70 damage per detonation 5 one extra, bigger final detonation — 300 damage, 14m radius, 40% slow T2 — 140 damage per detonation turns the grenade from wave clear into a real trade — three hits for 420 before weapon scaling Strategic
  • Venator decides where you stand, not you. The practical rule is to never hold a position whose failure case is being moved — stand so that being yanked or knocked puts you somewhere survivable rather than inside their whole team. Cover at your back is worth more than cover in front. Strong evidence
  • Venator wins by choosing where the fight happens. Take your position before the zoning goes down, not after — once the area is committed you are fighting on their terms, and walking in to contest it is exactly the mistake the kit is built to farm. Strategic
  • Venator has to lead you and you are too slow to make that hard by strafing, so buy the miss with geometry instead of movement. A corner, a pillar or a doorway edge means the projectile has to be in flight before you are visible — travel time works against them the moment the sight line is short-lived. Hold positions where your exposure is measured in fractions of a second per peek, and never cross an open space on a straight line at a constant speed, which is the one input their weapon is designed to punish. Strategic
  • Majestic Leap Majestic Leap 3,200 souls Tier 3ArmorInstantCast +45s Cooldown +5s Interrupt Cooldown +100% Air Control +50% Air Control +32% Move Speed +2.5s Slow Duration +8s Barrier Duration (vitality T3) — Venator's Ira Domini Ira Domini 15s Duration160s Cooldown For a limited window Venator loads three heavy stakes instead of normal bolts. Damage 120 per stake (about 1.5x weapon scaling); Mobility T1 grants +1.2 m/s move speed while active 1 +1.2 m/s move speed while Ira Domini is active 2 -15s cooldown (160s base) and +65 bonus damage 5 all three stakes become blessed — that is the zoning and area denial this answers. Buy to escape ground-based lockdown and to rotate across the map quickly. Documented
  • Stamina Mastery Stamina Mastery 3,200 souls Tier 3ArmorPassive +2 Stamina +18% Stamina Recovery +23% Air Jump/Dash Distance Builds from Extra Stamina (vitality T3) — Venator's Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed — that is the stuns and Hard CC this answers. Buy when dodging telegraphed abilities and disengaging is how you survive. Strong evidence
  • Warp Stone Warp Stone 3,200 souls Tier 3ArmorInstantCast +16s Cooldown +30% Bullet Resist +6s Buff Duration (vitality T3) — Venator's Gutshot Gutshot 10m Range23s Cooldown A point-blank shotgun burst within about 10m that shoves everyone hit backwards. Crowd Control knockback on everyone hit; Damage 60 base (about 0.7x weapon scaling) plus 30 bonus (about 0.8x scaling) when… Mobility none for Venator himself 1 +25 damage 2 -10s cooldown (23s base) and +0.4s stun duration 5 after a wall stun, Venator's next heavy melee becomes blessed is what you are buying against here. Buy when you are repeatedly getting caught and killed out of position, or to close a gap onto a fleeing target. Documented
  • The instinct here is to buy Dispel Magic Dispel Magic 3,200 souls Tier 3ArmorInstantCast +45s Cooldown +10% Spirit Resist +3s Buff Duration +250 HP Healed On Activate as your answer to Venator and then find it greyed out at the exact moment you need it. Dispel Magic Dispel Magic 3,200 souls Tier 3ArmorInstantCast +45s Cooldown +10% Spirit Resist +3s Buff Duration +250 HP Healed On Activate cannot be cast while you are stunned or asleep, and it cannot remove a Stun at all — it purges what comes with the Stun, not the Stun itself. Against Venator the item you actually want is the pre-cast kind ( Unstoppable Unstoppable 6,400 souls Tier 4ArmorInstantCast +60s Cooldown +5.5s Duration +125 Bonus Health +25% Debuff Resist Builds from Debuff Reducer , which also cannot be activated once you are already stunned) or the automatic kind ( Indomitable Indomitable 6,400 souls Tier 4ArmorPassive +55s Cooldown +10s Duration +10% Bullet Resist +10% Spirit Resist +20s Cooldown On Apply +2 Out of Combat Regen Builds from Reactive Barrier , which cleanses the next Hard CC with no input from you). Documented
  • The losing pattern against Venator is deciding to leave, walking to the zipline and finding you cannot attach. Any damage from an enemy hero or objective blocks zipline attachment for 3 seconds, and Venator has the chip range to keep that 3-second timer rolling indefinitely. Break line of sight first, wait out the lockout, then attach — do not walk to the rope while still taking fire. Documented
  • The specific error is walking into Venator's area denial after it is already down, because your team is in there and you feel late. You are slow enough that entering a committed zone is a one-way decision — you will be inside it for its full duration, not for the two seconds you intended. Arrive before the zone or arrive from the other side of it; arriving into it is how this matchup is lost even when your team wins the fight. Strategic

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Sources and method for this page

Everything on this page is generated for Deadlock patch 09-29-2026 from Venator's current kit, measured match results and a mechanics rule base. Each line carries its own confidence label.

Venator's kit and counterplay were compiled from 6 sources, cross-checked for patch 09-29-2026. Threat ratings compare this pairing against Rat King's own baseline win rate rather than a flat 50%, because ranking by raw win rate produces the wrong answer for heroes whose overall win rate is not 50%.

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