Deadlock Old Gods, New Blood update: Everything you need to know

The Hidden King and Archmother are Deadlock’s new Patrons / Image credit: Valve

TL;DR

Deadlock’s Old Gods, New Blood updates bring six new heroes, a fast-paced casual mode, and many visual improvements to the game. Two new heroes will be released each week, with the release order determined by community votes. Deadlock also received another layer of polish to UI elements during the update.

Finally, the long-awaited Deadlock major update has arrived, and it’s the biggest one yet. Released on January 22, 2026, Old Gods, New Blood comes with a wealth of new content, gameplay improvements, and sweeping visual overhauls. 

Valve’s 6v6 MOBA hero shooter hybrid continues to improve with every update, and this patch brings new heroes, a fast-paced mode, a full map overhaul, and even fleshes out the game’s occult setting. New players and returning veterans, here’s everything you need to know about Deadlock’s latest update.

Campaign season begins with six new heroes

The biggest highlight of the Old Gods, New Blood major update is that a batch of six new heroes is coming to Deadlock. However, much like the last time Deadlock released a batch of new characters, their staggered release will depend on community votes.

Two characters will arrive in the Cursed Apple every week on Mondays and Thursdays, starting from January 26. Players can earn the right to vote simply by playing Standard or the new mode Street Brawl (more on that later). The first win of the day counts as four additional votes. Players can cast their votes in the Hideout between rounds.

The new arrivals from left to right: Apollo, Celeste, Graves, Rem, Silver, and Venator / Image credit: Valve

As of now, the only official data we have on the six characters is their name, small descriptive tags from Valve, and beautiful splash art. Here are the first impressions of the characters that may help sway your vote:

Apollo is a fencer who’s highly mobile, with early leaks suggesting he can counter abilities. Celeste is based on a circus performer who’s supposed to have disruptive and flashy abilities. Graves is a necromancer whose abilities centre on raising the dead, area denial, and supposedly stealing away damage. Rem is the most hyped release of the batch. A tiny support character that uses his abilities to put opponents to sleep. Silver is a bounty hunter who can transform into a feral werewolf. Venator is a rugged priest who’s also a weapons expert, armed with different guns and strapped with wooden stakes. 

One fortunate addition is that players will now also earn priority tokens while completing matches, which they can use to secure one of the new heroes during match selection. Campaign season has officially started, and it’s time for you to vote for which Deadlock hero will release first. Make your case in-game using sprays or Deadlock’s online forums to have better chances for your chosen hero to get in faster.

Deadlock introduces a fast-paced casual game mode

Another highlight of the Deadlock’s major update is the introduction of Street Brawl. The Casual mode pits two teams of four players against each other in one cramped lane over a best-of-five match. Each round only takes a couple of minutes, ending whenever one side manages to destroy a Guardian.

Street Brawl is Deadlock’s fast-paced casual mode / Image credit: Valve

Additionally, players don’t buy items but are instead presented with a batch of three items they can choose to add to their inventory each round. If they’re lucky, they can even earn an Enhanced or Legendary item in the mix.

There is no farming in this game mode. Every player starts with equal resources, and every round is a chance to breathe and come back from a bad start. 

While it is a fast-paced take on the game, players can still experience the chaotic skirmishes of Deadlock firsthand without the time investment or the Soul disadvantage. It’s a great way for new players to dive deep into Deadlock’s fun combat, without burdening them with the game’s more complicated aspects.

The basics of Deadlock’s lore are that two Patrons, supernatural deities trying to enter the world, task Occultists to help them complete their ritual while simultaneously preventing the other Patron from completing their mission. In exchange, the Patrons promise to grant them their wish.

The Hidden King’s rustic hideout / Image credit: Valve

The scale of these elder gods wasn’t properly depicted by grumpy floating ice cream cones and makeshift bases made from unfinished concrete. However, the Old Gods, New Blood update took special attention to flesh out the look and bases of each side.

The Amber Hand and Sapphire Flame Patrons are gone, replaced by the secretive Hidden King and powerful Archmother. Their bases were also fitted to their stature, the former depicted by a rundown hideout, while the other resembles a grand chapel. Additionally, their troopers also received a makeover to better reflect their masters.

The Curiosity Shop has a new hangout spot to purchase items / Image credit: Valve

Deadlock’s bases were not the only ones to receive a makeover, as the Cursed Apple itself is also changing along with it. Jump into a custom match and thoroughly move through the map to discover all the new locations and tweaks.

UI improvements and tons of quality-of-life changes

Deadlock’s newest update also brings tons of quality-of-life changes, polishing the game to a near-finished state. One change is that the postgame summary and MVP scoring system have received a touch-up, more accurately highlighting standout performances in each match.

Deadlock’s new MVP screen honours runner-up too / Image credit: Valve

In-game, Deadlock has received reactive portraits that change based on your performance and condition during the game. For example, earning a kill streak will show your character having a smug portrait, flaunting it for everyone to see. Meanwhile, a character with low health will have a beat-up portrait, showing that they’re a few hits away from dying.

Other small but meaningful improvements include:

Custom bars for heroes with channelled abilities Better feedback on hits and damaging enemy heroes An easier way to keep track of the Mid Boss and the Rejuc Duration Timer Improvements to Steam’s replay system to better find key timelines during the match Neutrals now appear through walls when near the camp A huge rework of the Settings tab Two new items called Ballistic Enchantment and Recharging Rush New tunnel routes in the map for tiny heroes (Rem and Calico so far).

All of these improvements come together to make Deadlock better with every update, giving it the level of detail and polish Valve is known for in its previous games.

Conclusion

Old Gods, New Blood marks a major turning point for Deadlock, delivering fresh content and a much-needed layer of polish. Valve is gearing up Deadlock for something bigger, as its playtesting state is already better than most competitive games out there. If this is what Deadlock looks like during public testing, the full release will be something special.

Whether you’re a newcomer or a returning player casting a vote for Rem, now’s the best time to jump into Deadlock.

FAQs

Who are the new heroes joining Deadlock? 

Six new heroes are joining Deadlock in the Old Gods, New Blood update: Apollo, Celeste, Graves, Rem, Silver, and Venator. Two heroes will be released every week based on community votes.

When will the first new hero be added to Deadlock?

The first hero will arrive on January 26, followed by another on January 29. Play games to be able to cast your vote in the hideout.

Will there be a Deadlock open beta soon?

As of now, Valve hasn’t announced a specific open beta date for Deadlock. However, the game is fun and playable in its current playtesting state.

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