Kelvin builds, abilities and matchups

Deadlock Kelvin abilities, item builds, game plan and matchups. Statistics cover 30 days as of 2026-10-25.

Kelvin

Tier 1 Brawler · Balanced · Spirit focus

Support fighter who leads allies on ice paths and keeps them alive with slows and protection

Win rate54.1%
Pick rate14.8%
Under 28 min51.3%
Over 40 min53.9%
1234

Item builds last 30 days, 483,319 Kelvin games · average win rate 54.0%

Rank 1 / 2This build 71,568 games (14.8% of Kelvin games)Win rate 59.1%vs games of the same length +4.8%p

Ability Point Order most common order in this build · numbers are upgrade tiers

Max order 3. Arctic Beam → 1. Frost Grenade → 2. Ice Path → 4. Frozen Shelter

Level1235678101516181924293136
1. Frost GrenadeUnlock123
2. Ice PathUnlock123
3. Arctic BeamUnlock123
4. Frozen ShelterUnlock123
Picked87%97%97%81%86%49%100%81%75%98%97%95%97%98%100%100%

Level: the earliest level that step can be taken (unlocks at levels 1·3·5·8, upgrades cost 1·2·5 points). Picked: of the games with the same order up to the step before, the share that took this ability.

Where it splits: Step 6 (level 7): 3. Arctic Beam 48.7% · 2. Ice Path 30.8%

Early0~10 min#1~5

Core · #1~5 in order · components included

Skip components you have · if short on slots, buy the upgrade directly

Mid10~25 min#6~11

Core · #6~11 in order · components included

Skip components you have · if short on slots, buy the upgrade directly

Situational

Late25 min~#12~24

Core · #12~24 in order · components included

Skip components you have · if short on slots, buy the upgrade directly

Final build, late core bought

9 base slots + 3 unlocked slots · icon numbers are the overall buy order

12 / 12 slots
Extra slot
Extra slot
Extra slot

Destroy Walkers to unlock the extra slots and hold all 12. Situational and counter items replace items in this set; they are not a 13th buy.

8 upgrades that merge components
  • Sprint Boots → Trophy Collector
  • Extra Regen → Healing Booster
  • Extra Spirit → Improved Spirit
  • Extra Charge → Rapid Recharge
  • Compress Cooldown → Superior Cooldown
  • Improved Spirit → Boundless Spirit
  • Healing Booster → Healing Tempo
  • Superior Cooldown → Transcendent Cooldown

Counters swap into the final build when needed

Not recommended often bought, but a poor fit for this build

Rank: games and win rate together. Builds are ordered by the lead over games of the same length times games ÷ (games + 30,000), so a build with few games gets less credit for its lead. Number under each icon: win rate difference against items at the same price. Games in this build where the item was bought are compared with games of the same length (5-min steps), then the average of items at the same price is taken away. Expensive items are bought more in games with Souls to spare (winning ones), so only items at the same price are compared. Click an item for its effects and full stats. Win rates shown are for the build group, not for holding all 12 items of the final build at once.

Build styles 1,500 real games (last 3 days, normal games of 20+ min) grouped into 3 styles by where the build went · grouped by: items bought by 20 min · the numbers beside an item are its average purchase time and the share of that style owning it · deadlock-api.com

Spirit-focused · Healing Booster

41% of games · win rate 51.4% · 613 games

Weapon 3%Spirit 71%Vitality 26%
Early (~10 min)
  1. Arcane Surge9:03 · 39%
  2. Enchanter's Emblem9:38 · 31%
Mid (10~20 min)
  1. Trophy Collector10:13 · 43%
  2. Healing Booster10:14 · 53%
  3. Enduring Speed14:14 · 36%
  4. Healbane15:14 · 39%
  5. Radiant Regeneration17:16 · 34%
Late (20 min~)
  1. Superior Cooldown22:35 · 41%
  2. Greater Expansion25:49 · 52%
  3. Escalating Exposure26:42 · 57%
  4. Rapid Recharge27:05 · 47%
  5. Superior Duration27:10 · 48%
  6. Boundless Spirit27:37 · 61%
  7. Spirit Burn31:21 · 36%

Spirit-focused · Rapid Recharge

32% of games · win rate 55.6% · 477 games

Weapon 2%Spirit 73%Vitality 26%
Early (~10 min)
  1. Trophy Collector8:35 · 42%
  2. Enchanter's Emblem9:48 · 34%
  3. Healing Booster9:53 · 54%
Mid (10~20 min)
  1. Rapid Recharge13:59 · 100%
  2. Enduring Speed14:36 · 35%
  3. Healbane17:27 · 38%
Late (20 min~)
  1. Tankbuster21:13 · 53%
  2. Superior Cooldown23:46 · 46%
  3. Boundless Spirit26:47 · 64%
  4. Superior Duration27:33 · 43%
  5. Greater Expansion27:41 · 61%
  6. Escalating Exposure28:16 · 45%
  7. Spirit Burn32:01 · 31%

New player pickSpirit-focused · Torment Pulse

27% of games · win rate 56.8% · 410 games

Weapon 2%Spirit 76%Vitality 22%
Mid (10~20 min)
  1. Arcane Surge10:10 · 44%
  2. Trophy Collector10:20 · 51%
  3. Healing Booster12:44 · 32%
  4. Healbane14:05 · 62%
  5. Torment Pulse14:35 · 99%
Late (20 min~)
  1. Rapid Recharge20:53 · 71%
  2. Spirit Lifesteal20:59 · 47%
  3. Superior Cooldown24:47 · 34%
  4. Escalating Exposure26:11 · 78%
  5. Boundless Spirit29:20 · 68%
  6. Greater Expansion29:49 · 46%
  7. Superior Duration30:40 · 44%
  8. Spirit Burn31:29 · 42%

"New player pick" is the style with the highest win rate among those used in 15% or more of games. Win rates also reflect skill gaps, so within 2%p is about even. At first, buy the picked style in order; once comfortable, fit in counter items for the enemy comp.

Ability max order ability maxed first · last 30 days

3. Arctic Beam50%
1. Frost Grenade45%
4. Frozen Shelter3%
2. Ice Path2%

Abilities

1. Frost Grenade Radius 6.5m

Throw a grenade that explodes in a cloud of freezing ice that heals allies and applies spirit damage and move speed reduction to enemies.

Against it: Damage and slow continue inside the cloud, so leave at once

2. Ice Path Radius 1.2m

Kelvin creates a floating trail of ice and snow that gives movement bonuses to him and his allies. Kelvin gains 60% slow resistance for the duration. Enemies can also walk on the floating trail. Press Dash / Crouch / slide to travel up or down while in Ice Path.

Against it: Enemies can ride the Ice Path too; use it to chase or escape

3. Arctic Beam 25m

Shoot freezing cold energy out in front of you, damaging targets and progressively reducing their movement and fire rate the longer you sustain the beam on them. You have reduced move speed while using Arctic Beam. The beam may also claim Souls.

Against it: Slow and fire rate loss grow the longer you're hit, so break line of sight

4. Frozen Shelter 8m

Target yourself or a Hero to freeze the air and create an impenetrable dome around them. While in the dome, allies gain rapid regeneration and enemies are slowed. Objectives become Invulnerable and Frozen under Frozen Shelter

Against it: Enemies in the dome heal fast, so keep your distance until it ends

Gun
Kelvin's gun

Single shot · Ammo 14 · 3.8 bullets/sec · DPS 71 · full damage to 20m, minimum from 58m

Playing against

  • Arctic Beam slows you more the longer it hits, so break it with cover
  • Get out of the Frost Grenade cloud at once
  • When Frozen Shelter goes up, don't force it; wait until it ends

Counter items

Healbane

Strengths

  • Frost Grenade deals damage and heals allies at once
  • Ice Path moves him and his allies fast
  • Frozen Shelter protects allies and objectives

Weaknesses

  • Slow while using Arctic Beam, an easy target
  • Lacks burst damage
  • Enemies can use Ice Path too

Game plan

Laning

Hold the lane, using Frost Grenade for poke and healing.

Mid game

Bring allies along Ice Path and join other lanes fast.

Late game

Hold team fights by shielding falling allies or objectives with Frozen Shelter.

Power spikes

Frost Grenade gives him poke and healing from the start. Once he has Frozen Shelter, his team fights and objective defense get much stronger.

With them on your team

  • Ride Kelvin's Ice Path to engage or retreat together
  • Step inside Frozen Shelter to heal when in danger

2026-10-25 · 30 days · deadlock-api.com, 랭크 기본 매치 · Deadlock API