Rat King

Early guide. Rat King was released on October 2, 2026, and Valve already adjusted him in the October 5 patch. His abilities and numbers below are current, but builds and matchups will be refined as players learn him. Check back after the next patch.

Strengths and weaknesses

Abilities

1

Scrap Grenade

26s cooldown

Throw a bouncing grenade that detonates 3 times, each blast dealing 70 spirit damage in an 8m radius and slowing by 20% for 4s.

Tier 1 1 point	-8s cooldown
Tier 2 2 points	+70 damage
Tier 3 5 points	Adds a bigger final detonation

2

Rat Swarm

24s cooldown

Send a swarm of rats to an area up to 50m away (10m radius, 6s). Up to 5 rats latch onto each enemy, biting for 8 spirit damage per second each and stripping 1% bullet resist per bite.

Tier 1 1 point	+1 charge
Tier 2 2 points	Wider swarm and +4s duration
Tier 3 5 points	+8 damage and an extra -1% bullet resist per bite

3

Royal Pestments

22s cooldown

Gain a barrier worth 15% of your max health for 6s, with a 15% chance to reflect bullets back at attackers.

Tier 1 1 point	+4s duration
Tier 2 2 points	-8s cooldown and +15% reflect chance
Tier 3 5 points	Caps damage taken per hit at 250; +10% barrier

ULT

Rule, Ratannia!

160s cooldown

Charge up the banner of Ratannia (up to 10s). Allies near the banner (20m) get +3 m/s move speed, slow immunity and 15% damage reduction. Then slam it into the ground. The sewers erupt for 200 bullet damage across 20m, knocking up and slowing enemies by 40%, and rats swarm out to apply Rat Swarm. The banner lasts 12s.

Tier 1 1 point	+2 m/s move speed in the aura
Tier 2 2 points	+5s banner duration and +8m radius
Tier 3 5 points	+150 slam damage and +10% damage reduction

Ability order

Spend points in this order. Each ability's tiers cost 1, 2 and 5 points.

1. Unlock Rat Swarm
2. Unlock Scrap Grenade
3. Unlock Royal Pestments
4. Rat Swarm T1
5. Scrap Grenade T1
6. Unlock Rule, Ratannia!
7. Royal Pestments T1
8. Scrap Grenade T2
9. Rat Swarm T2
10. Rule, Ratannia! T1–T2
11. Royal Pestments T2
12. Rat Swarm T3
13. Rule, Ratannia! T3
14. Scrap Grenade T3
15. Royal Pestments T3

Item build

A starting build that works in most games. Swap pieces based on the enemy team; the notes explain what each stage is for.

WeaponVitalitySpirit

Rate this build in the build rater → See its grade, and the heroes it does well and badly against.

How to play

Rat King is a scrappy frontline brawler and team buffer. Rat Swarm chews through enemy bullet resist, Scrap Grenade slows and bounces through groups, Royal Pestments gives him a quick barrier, and his ultimate Rule, Ratannia! raises a banner that speeds up and protects his team, then slams it down to erupt the sewers under the enemy.

His unique movement

• Tunnels: while out of combat, crouch near a vent to enter or exit the tunnel network. Use it to flank, escape, or show up where nobody expects.
• Higher double jump than other heroes, which makes rooftops and high ground easier to reach.

Laning phase (0–10 min)

• Get close. Your spreadshot is strongest at short range, and Close Quarters makes it stronger.
• Swarm, then shoot. Rat Swarm reduces the target’s bullet resist with every bite, so your follow-up gunfire hits harder.
• Royal Pestments to win trades. Its 22-second cooldown is short, so use it whenever you take burst damage.

Mid game (10–25 min)

• Lead fights at objectives. Your barrier and health let you stand in front at the Rift, the Urn and Walkers.
• Use tunnels to rotate and gank. Pop up behind an enemy pushing a lane.
• Scrap Grenade groups. Three detonations bounce through clumped enemies, slowing all of them.

Late game and team fights (25+ min)

• Charge the banner as your team engages. The aura gives speed, slow immunity and damage reduction to allies near the banner, so make sure your team is with you.
• Slam it where the enemies are grouped. The eruption knocks up, slows and swarms everyone in 20 metres.
• Follow up with Scrap Grenade on the knocked-up group.

Combos

1. Banner engage: charge the banner as your team moves in (speed and slow immunity) → slam it on the enemy group → Scrap Grenade the knocked-up targets → shoot the swarmed enemies.
2. Lane trade: Rat Swarm → close in → empty your spreadshot → Royal Pestments when they hit back.
3. Tunnel gank: enter a tunnel out of combat → pop up behind the target → Rat Swarm → Scrap Grenade to slow their escape.

Matchups (early read)

• Likely good against: gun-heavy teams, since Rat Swarm shreds bullet resist and Royal Pestments can reflect bullets back.
• Likely hard against: long-range heroes who stay out of his spreadshot range, and anti-heal-heavy teams.
• Lifesteal is weaker on him (75% effectiveness), so build health and resists instead of relying on lifesteal.

Pro tips

• Royal Pestments T3 caps damage per hit at 250, which is a strong counter to snipers and big single hits.
• Rat Swarm’s resist shred helps your whole team. Swarm the enemy tank before your carries open fire.
• The ultimate’s eruption deals bullet damage that scales with weapon damage, so weapon items make it hit harder.

Lore

Louis, the Rat King, is the mysterious ruler of New York's rat warrens. He dreams of turning Long Island into Ratannia, a sovereign nation of rats, and he's summoning the Patrons to help make it happen.

Ability numbers are checked against the game and the community-run Deadlock Wiki after every patch. Builds are our own recommendations. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.