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Abrams isDeadlock’s dedicated tank hero, who also doubles as a closed-range brawler with access to a shotgun and powerful melee damage. He hasthe ability to heala portion of the damage received, so you can expect him to win a lot of the risky engagements at the front line. Abrams may lack agility but isn’t bothered when he can scatter the enemies with his Ultimate and draw their attention, enabling teammates to unleash damage with impunity.
However, if you want to unleash his true potential, you must know how his abilities work, what items to buy, and how to optimally use him. So here’s a guide covering everything you need to play Abrams inDeadlock.
Abrams is a close-range shotgun-wielding detective who has an affinity for punching enemies and an urgency to approach them to assert dominance on the battlefield. However, this playstyle makes him vulnerable to parries and nastycrowd control effects inDeadlock. So, Abrams players have to be cautious about their surroundings and prioritize team fights to leverage risky actions.
Regardless, he has a straightforward yet powerful kit, which makes him appealing to beginners and veterans at the highest level of the game. With the proper build and ability progression, he gains more bulk and sustains throughout the battle thanks to his health regeneration passive. Here’s all the details about Abrams' kit:
Ability Effects
Siphon Life (1)
Drain health from enemies in front of you while they are in the radius.
Radius: 10m
Duration: 4s
Cooldown: 40s
Damage: 35/sec (x0.2 Spirit)
Heal vs Heroes: 100%
Heal vs Non-Heroes: 50%
Shoulder Charge (2)
Charge forward, colliding with enemies and dragging them along. Hitting a wall will Stun enemies caught by Abrams. Speed increased after colliding with enemy Heroes.
Duration: 1.2s
Cooldown: 37s
Damage: 40 (x2.1 Spirit)
Seismic Impact (4)
Leap high into the air and choose a location on the ground to smash into. When you hit the ground, all enemies in the radius are damaged and stunned. Press [LMC] to crash down early.
Cooldown: 159s
Damage: 150 (x0.9 Spirit)
Deadlock Abrams Build
Deadlockheroesgrow stronger throughout the battle as youcollect more souls to level up their abilitiesand purchase items they can benefit from. Likewise, following a proper build progression is essential to unleashing Abrams' peak potential while he dominates foes in close-range battles.
Abrams Ability Progression
Always put the first point intoInfernal Resilienceto help Abrams survive the lanes, as the ability will heal a portion of the damage he receives. His health regeneration stat is lower compared totanks like Bebop inDeadlock, so he desperately needs that extra sustainability.
Next, increase hisSiphon Life, which is a stable source of damage that can be used to pressurize the opposing laner if they dare to come closer to Abrams. Even if they attempt to escape the radius, you can shoot them from behind to potentially snag a free kill or, at least, scare them away. Put the next point intoShoulder Charge,enabling Abrams to effectively close in on targets.
The Shoulder Charge can also stagger enemies against a wall, so use it with his Heavy Melee to inflict lethal damage on opponents in the early phase. Also, upgrade this ability to one AP to reduce its cooldown by 20 seconds. While progressing towards the late game, prioritize Siphon Life before allocating the rest of the points to other abilities.
Abrams Item Build
Deadlockhas an extensive catalog of itemsto choose from, which provides more flexibility during character build. However, newcomers are likely to be overwhelmed with the selection unless they are aware of how each item will interact in the game. Needless to say, Abrams is a beginner-friendly hero that craves for equipment that can improve his sustainability. So anything that offers a restorative effect, like Melee Lifesteal and Restorative Shot, will be a must-pick in the early game, followed by items catered to his damage.
Early game
Mid game
Late game
Aside from the lifesteal items, pickSpirit Striketo empower Abrams’ Siphon Life. Spirit Strike decreases the target’s spirit resistance when tagged by a Light or Heavy Melee, which is something the hero can activate frequently to benefit from the passive. His heavy punch can also activate theMelee Charge, increasing this attack’s damage and reloading his weapon instantly. The item also works on minions, so Abrams wouldn’t run out of bullets on a weapon that takes a long time to reload.
Additionally, pick theSprint Bootsto increase Abrams’ movement speed, since he is one of the slowest characters in the game who can use the extra mobility. TheBullet Resist ShredderandTorment Pulseare crucial items to get in midgame. The latter inflicts periodic Spirit Damage on enemies, enabling the other equipment to reduce the target’s Bullet Resist, making them vulnerable to both melee and bullets.
Hunter’s AuraandPoint Blankare powerful items to use in the late game, as they significantly improve the damage and effectiveness of the shotgun. Depending on the situation, pickHealbaneto shut down life-stealers like Lady Geist and Infernus. Sometimes, Abrams might have to fight againstDeadlockhero like McGinnis, who wields a minigun with a high fire rate. In that case, theSuppressorwill help since it applies Fire Rate Slow upon dealing Spirit Damage.
How To Play Abrams In Deadlock
Abrams is aperfect hero forDeadlockbeginnerssince he boasts a balanced kit consisting of self-sustaining abilities and a shotgun that deals massive damage at close range. Due to his tanky nature, he can stay alive throughout the early lane phase and gather souls to access better items. While shooting opponents and minions could be fun, his Heavy Melee is more effective during combat, so use it frequently.
That said, Abrams shows his true potential during teamfights by being able to suppress aggression by soaking up the incoming damage. His Shoulder Charge is great for creating space and isolating targets. But always look for opportunities to engage as a team, or else he could be in trouble after diving into the enemy back line with no one to support him.
