Ivy hero guide from Deadlock: abilities, strengths, and best builds for victory

Ivy, one of the standout heroes in Deadlock, has the ability to heal, control the crowd and also deal damage. One of the strongest candidates in the pick-em bracket as well as she is able t support pushing, dealing devastating amount of damage in the late game. This guide will walk you through Ivy’s abilities, strength and weakness while recommending how you can build her throughout the game.

Deadlock Ivy Overview

Credit: Valve Corporation

Ivy is a multiformat hero in Deadlock where she can easily switch between scaling modes. She is able to do damage, support the team or withstand damage, there are many scenarios through which she can make an impact. She can tank damage on the frontlines or heal the damage taken but her main role relies on the team fights where she does healing, buffing or bomb placement.

• Role: DPS, Support, Roamer

• Strengths: High agility, great anti-burst, can play multiple ways efficiently

• Weaknesses: Can get frustrated by healing counters, needs great team play

Ivy's Strengths and Weaknesses

Deadlock Ivy Abilities

Credit: Valve Corporation

Ivy's abilities define her as a hero who can handle a variety of combat situations. Whether supporting her team or taking down enemies solo, understanding her skills is essential.

Kudzu Bomb (1) Effect: Creates a parasitic body of vegetation that causes damage and immobilizes the enemies. Cooldown: 32s Radius: 6m Damage: 60 DPS Slow: 35% Movement Slow

Upgrades: +1 Charge, +2s Duration, +50 DPS

Watcher’s Covenant (2) Effect: Because of the bond with the selected ally, healing and buffs can be swapped. Duration: 12s Healing Replicated: 30% Fire Rate Bonus: +10%

Upgrades: +2m/s Movement Bonus, +1 Tether Count

Stone Form (3) Effect: Goes into a state of stone that cannot be penetrated, simultaneously healing and stunning enemies in a radius of 6 m. Radius: 6m Heal: 10% Max Health Cooldown: 42s

Upgrades: +20% Max Health Heal, +80 Damage, increased stun duration

Air Drop (Ultimate) Effect: Using the charge, he flies together with an ally or a bomb, and drops them so that a powerful detonation takes place. Cooldown: 85s Explode Radius: 14m Damage: 150 Bullet Resist: 40%

Upgrades: +300 Bullet Shield, Silence will affect enemies that are ‘hit’

Ability Progression

Credit: Valve Corporation

For best results, it is important to sequence the abilities in the correct way starting from the first to the end. The order in which table can be useful in leveling up the ability.

Ivy's Build Guide

Credit: Valve Corporation

There is especially different Ivy’s build according to a player’s style and team composition as well. Nevertheless, one can follow the general buildup for most of the situations.

Early Game

Control the lane and stay alive:

Basic Magazine – Amplifies the hearing weapon’s damage during the game.

Sprint Boots – Adds to the movement in the first aggression.

Extra Health – Helps to stay alive during the clashes where the players are in the lane.

Mid Game

Continue dealing as much damage but now consider changing your playstyle into a tanky and protective one too:

Enduring Speed – Good for increasing speed and gives room for more ganks.

Healing Booster – Will assist your team’s efforts and aid on sustain yourself.

Melee Charge – Helps to make your melee attacks stronger.

Late Game

Exploit on Ivy’s skills on crowd control and health:

Heroic Aura – Factors in the increase of the team’s fire rate and the movement speed.

Spirit Armor/Bullet Armor – Use armor against magic and physical depending on the opponents.

Slowing Hex – Further controls the crowd.

Deadlock Ivy Ability Tips

Kudzu Bomb

Great for controlling an area in a teamfight or applying some slow during chases.

It can also be used to deny the other team the chance to get to objectives.

Watcher’s Covenant

Activate the tether on your most valuable teammate in order to buff and heal them.

If needed, alter the tethered ally in question while in combat.

Stone Form

Should primarily be used when needing to escape or trying to initiate a fight but need some CC first.

Pair this ability with items that increase farm giving the most benefit.

Air Drop

Utilize with teammates to deliver them behind the enemy lines to pull off stunning combos.

It has multi purpose by providing mobility when the game reach stages.

How to Counter Ivy

Ivy is undoubtedly a strong character, but every character has a weak point, so here are key points to make sure you beat her in the battle:

• Legitimate Eviscerator of Ivy’s Weak Laning Phase: Ivy is weak early game and must be picked on by aggressive characters. Pick on her on the lane before she can get to scaling.

• Inhibiting Items: Usiing Healbane and Decay will do crucial damage to Ivy since she needs to heal herself.

• Disable Her Ultimate: In the delay of guard you can target Ivy and Ivy’s guard as she tries to cast her ultimate.

Conclusion

With her wide variety of options for layering her build and Ivy’s playstyle, she is bound to be a versatile asset in any Deadlock. Surviving as an off-support or exploding as a damage-dealer the combination of her skills and understanding of her build development is of utmost importance. If the synergy allows her to do that, then she can certainly be the one to invite her team to the victory.