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{{HeroTabs}}
{{Infobox hero
| key = hero_drifter
| voice_actor = Matt Mercer<ref>2026-01-28 - [[Kaori (developer)|Kaori]]; Deadlock Discord - Link to Drifter's voice line "I’m exactly who you think I am" in response to speculation about Matt Mercer</ref>
| release_date = August 27, 2025
}}{{Quotation|2=If I find someone on their own, God himself couldn't save 'em.}}
'''Drifter''' is a [[Hero]] in ''[[Deadlock]]''. Something ancient has arrived in New York... a nameless horror known only as the Drifter. Relentless as time, as certain as death, once Drifter sets his eyes on a victim there's nothing they can do to stop him. They can try to run, but his Bloodscent drives him forward, leading him to isolated prey. Even if they manage to escape it doesn't matter, as Stalker's Mark allows Drifter to appear right behind his enemies before lunging in for the kill with a vicious Rend. Soon Eternal Night comes, and a faint whistling in the breeze will be joined by a chorus of screams.

A feral vampire with ties to Louisiana, Drifter has open contempt for the rules of vampire society, leaving a trail of carnage wherever he goes.

Drifter was released on [[Update:August 27, 2025|August 27, 2025]] as the fifth hero of the [[Update:August 18, 2025|Six New Heroes]] update (fourth winner of hero vote).

== Weapon ==
{{WeaponCard|key=hero_drifter}}Crimson Grasp deals the same amount of bullet damage to a target regardless of how many pellets hit per shot. It deals no damage beyond its max range.

== Abilities ==

{{AbilitySection
| hero_name   = Drifter
| ability_num = 1
}}

{{AbilitySection
| hero_name   = Drifter
| ability_num = 2
| notes       =
* Stalker's Mark has no range limit, allowing Drifter to hit enemies across the entire map.
* Damage is based on target's current health, not their max health.
* Damage is divided up into 0.5s intervals, starting immediately as the projectile connects. (This works out to approximately the same overall damage per second stated in the tooltip, just dealt smoother.)
* The projectile can hit [[Denizens]] (if they are not dormant), [[Troopers]], and player-created [[Units]].
* It can hit [[Structures]] if they are not dormant, but will deal no damage to them.
* Stalker's Mark damage over time and teleport components are separate; activating the teleport does not end the bleed effect prematurely. The bleed will last the full duration either way.
* Stalker's Mark can be applied to the [[Rejuvenator]], allowing Drifter to teleport to it.
* Reactivating Stalker's Mark has a short cast time before teleporting.
** If the duration expires during the cast time, Drifter will not teleport to the target.
}}

{{AbilitySection
| hero_name   = Drifter
| ability_num = 3
| notes       =
* Getting an assist on an isolated enemy hero grants the same bonuses as a kill.
* All "On Kill" bonuses, including those from assists, only trigger if the target is considered ''Isolated'' at the moment of death.
* The range for the movement speed near isolated heroes is 80 meters and lingers for about 7 seconds if there is no isolated target in range. 80 meters is roughly the distance between the two opposing blue guardians.
}}

{{AbilitySection
| hero_name   = Drifter
| ability_num = 4
|notes=* The brief reveal of affected enemies lasts 3 seconds and can be increased by ability duration. Base duration being increased by Ability Point unlocks does not increase the reveal duration.}}

== Backstory ==

{{Fates_Tale|drifter}}

== Update history ==
{{Update history}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Drifter card.png|Drifter portrait
File:Drifter.png|Drifter icon
File:Drifter Render.png|Drifter in-game render
File:Drifter select background.png|Drifter select background
File:Drifter TitlePage.png|Drifter poster
File:Drifter Reference Sheet.png|Drifter reference sheet
File:Drifter name.png|Drifter name typography
File:Drifter Weapon.png|Drifter weapon - Crimson Grasp
File:Drifter card old.png|Previous Drifter portrait
File:Drifter psd.png|Unfinished Drifter model art
File:Drifter Gloat.png|Gloat icon for the Drifter.
File:Drifter Critical.png|Critical health icon for the Drifter.
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
* Drifter was one of the heroes in a private build who was accidentally leaked on stream in May 2025.<ref>2025-05-01 - atahutahatena on Reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumors - [https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1kclj5p/streamer_accidentally_leaks_hero_roster_of_a_more/ Streamer accidentally leaks hero roster of a more "secret" private Deadlock pre-alpha playtest build]</ref>
* Drifter leaves claw marks when sliding on a wall.
* Drifter's forward air dash and wall jump animation resembles the pounce animation of the Hunter, a recurring enemy in Valve's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_Dead_(franchise) Left 4 Dead] series. He also previously had other animations similar to the Hunter's attack and run.
* "Prowling in the Hideout" is displayed as one's status in the in-game Friends List when playing as Drifter in the [[Hideout]].
* Players under the effect of Drifter's "Eternal Night" ability are able to hear an eerily whistled rendition of [[wikipedia:Hush,_Little_Baby|Hush, Little Baby]], a lullaby typically sung by mothers to their children.<ref>2025-08-18 - [[Kaori (developer)|Kaori]]; Deadlock Discord - ''"[Drifter whistles] 'hush little baby'"'</ref>
** During the 2025 winter event, one of three Christmas songs would be whistled instead; [[wikipedia:Joy_to_the_World|Joy to the World]], [[wikipedia:Twelve_Days_of_Christmas|Twelve Days of Christmas]], and [[wikipedia:God_Rest_Ye_Merry,_Gentlemen|God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen]].
* Drifter has marks on his arms and hands that seem to be based on the [https://www.openculture.com/2018/08/hobo-code-introduction-hieroglyphic-language-early-1900s-train-hoppers.html Hobo Code].
* {{HeroIcon|Lash}} calls Drifter a "[[wikt:murderhobo|murder hobo]]",<ref>{{ConvoCite|hero1=Lash|hero2=Drifter|number=1|hero_quote1=Lash|quote1=So, what are you supposed to be, some kind of murder hobo?}}</ref> a term commonly used to describe RPG players who kill NPCs indiscriminately. Drifter's voice actor [[wikipedia:Matthew_Mercer|Mat]]<nowiki/>[[wikipedia:Matthew_Mercer|thew Mercer]] is well-known as the Dungeon Master of the ''[[wikipedia:Dungeons_&_Dragons|Dungeons & Dragons]]'' webseries [[wikipedia:Critical_Role|''Critical Role'']].

== References ==
<references />
== Navigation ==
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