Key information
Valve has expanded its experimental hero shooter and MOBA, Deadlock, with the addition of Solomon, a chess-hustler character. Despite remaining in an invite-only stage, the game has achieved a higher all-time peak player count on Steam than Team Fortress 2, signaling strong interest in the developer's ambitious design choices.
Solomon features unique mechanics that replace traditional weaponry with long-range piece-throwing. His abilities allow him to manipulate the battlefield by placing giant chess pieces or using teammates as pawns. For instance, 'Setup Bishop' creates spirit damage mines, while 'Rook Battery' immobilizes enemies with bouncing projectiles. His 'Kingside Knight' ability grants allies or himself invulnerability and L-shaped movement, though it requires significant practice to master.
The hero's ultimate, 'Develop Queen,' allows Solomon to slam a powerful piece into a wide area, dealing spirit damage and applying stuns. At higher ranks, this ability gains an execution effect for enemies below 200 health. While powerful, the character's complexity is high, with potential for accidental misplays, such as inadvertently moving teammates into hazardous areas.
Solomon is described as one of the most complex heroes in the MOBA genre, comparable to Dota 2's Earth Spirit or Meepo. Valve plans to continue expanding the roster, with three additional characters—Nurse Harrow, Deadman Danny, and Violet—expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
