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.
While the enemy is bleeding you can re-activate Stalker's Mark to instantly appear behind their back.
x0.015
2%/sec
Bleed Damage
5s
Duration
0%
Healing Reduction
0Charges
0%Bullet Resist
-1sCharge Delay
After ambushing:
0%
Fire Rate
1
-8% Bullet Resist
2
-10s Cooldown and +3s Duration
5
+1.5% Bleed and -40% Healing Reduction
Notes
Damage is based on target's current health, not their max health.
Damage is divided up into is 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
Projectile will phase thru inactive guardians and walkers (no enemies nearby) but will properly latch onto active guardians and walkers (enemies nearby), allowing you to teleport to them.
Stalker's Mark does not damage guardians or walkers.
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.
Bloodscent
80m
0
Isolated heroes leave a trail as they move, and emit their heartbeat from afar.
You deal amplified damage against isolated heroes, and when isolated heroes die nearby you gain permanent weapon damage.
15%
Amplified Damage
20m
Isolation Range
0mMove Speed
On Isolated Hero Death:
3%
Permanent Weapon Damage
On Isolated Hero Death:
x0
0%
Missing Health as Healing
1
+3m/s Move Speed when around an isolated enemy hero
2
On isolated hero death: Heal 24% of your missing health and restores 2 Stamina
5
11% Amplified Damage
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.
Eternal Night
100m
6.5s
0
145s
Surround nearby enemy heroes in darkness, severely limiting their vision of other units. Affected enemies are briefly revealed to you and are considered isolated for the duration.
An ancient vampire roaming across America, the nameless monstrosity known as The Drifter has been preying on the living for generations.
Unlike most vampires, Drifter doesn’t value finery or titles and has naked contempt for vampiric laws and tradition. This refusal to toe the line has made him a marked man all over the North American Baronies; but while Viscounts and Elders cry for his execution, Drifter continues to do what he pleases...
Lore
Unlike the other heroes, Drifter isn't participating in the ritual for a wish, but instead for the carnage.[2] He views the wish as a "bonus".[3]
The Drifter has lived for centuries.[4] His age is unknown, but he refers to New York as "New Amsterdam",[5] which implies he's been around at least since 1665.[6] He also implies that he knew Doc Holliday from the 19th century.[7]
Drifter is not the Troubadour.[8][9] He has never met him before, and only knows him by reputation.[10]
Drifter speaks in a Cajun accent from Louisiana, indicating that he may be associated with 17th century Acadian French immigrants.[11]
Drifter seems to be scared of fire, and expresses relief if he doesn't have to fight Infernus.[16]
Drifter likes to steal his victim's coats.[17][18]
Character interactions
Drifter and Oathkeeper are old friends.[19] Drifter can't believe Lady Geist could lock away "someone as fun as Oathkeeper".[20][21]
Drifter thinks Mina is a "pathetic excuse for a vampire".[22] Mina is terrified of Drifter.[23][24]
Drifter warns Holliday to let go of her obsession with the Troubadour before the Troubadour finds out about her chasing him.[25]
Drifter and Grey Talon have a long history with each other. Drifter refers to Grey Talon by his first name "Wesley".[26] While Grey Talon despises Drifter,[27][28] Drifter holds Talon in high regards.[29][30][31] Drifter enjoys tormenting Talon, seemingly by hurting his loved ones.[32][33] There was a particularly brutal interaction between the two in Oklahoma.[34]Vyper mentions that Drifter is a "legend" in Oklahoma.[35]
Drifter knew Shiv before he joined the Baxter Society.[36] If he kills Shiv, he calls him a "disappointment" and mentions that killing him feels "Shakespearean".[37][38][39] He also mentions that, had Shiv not "put himself in a muzzle, he'd be worried".[40] When hunting Shiv, he refers to himself as an "old friend".[41] How Shiv and Drifter met each other is unknown.
Drifter has killed Venators before,[13] though he had higher expectations for the playable Venator.[42] If they're on the same team, Venator promises to kill Drifter after the ritual.[43]
Drifter doesn't enjoy killing Bebop because he's a machine,[44]Sinclair because they're already dead,[45] and Victor because he's just putting him out of his misery.[46]
Drifter has high expectations for Seven,[47][48] but thinks he still has too much humanity left in him.[49]
Drifter was one of the heroes in a private build who was accidentally leaked on stream in May 2025.[53]
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 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 Hush, Little Baby, a lullaby typically sung by mothers to their children.[54]
↑2026-01-28 - Kaori; Deadlock Discord - Link to Drifter's voice line "I’m exactly who you think I am" in response to speculation about Matt Mercer
↑Hidden King's in-game voice line (Drifter Start): "Revel in the massacre, Drifter, it is the Hidden King's gift to you. All he asks in return... is that you summon him."
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Select): "Fact of the matter is: I do this for free. The Patron's gift is just a bonus."
↑The Doorman's in-game voice line (Drifter Trapped in ult): "It wont be long before you find yourself feeling something that’s eluded you for centuries: fear."
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Select): "The elders of New Amsterdam are soft, clinging to archaic titles like they grant them real power."
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Bloodscent Hunting): "Wesley? It's time we finish this."
↑Grey Talon's in-game voice line (Killed Drifter): "I wasn't expecting to see the Drifter here, but I'm glad he showed up to get what's coming to him!"
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Grey Talon): "The fun had to end sometime, didn't it?"
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Grey Talon): "You had a good run, Talon."
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Calico): "Wesley could never stop me, and you're no Wesley."
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Calico): "Always nice when I get to kill Wesley's friends."
↑Drifter And Grey Talon Conversation 1 - "Did you do it?" - "Wesley... If I was gonna murder your grandkids, we both know I would've tied you down and made you watch."
↑Drifter And Grey Talon Conversation 2 - "The Patrons have a curious sense of humor now, don't they?" - "The silent treatment? Really? Don't tell me you're still raw about Oklahoma."
↑Drifter And Vyper Conversation 1 - "Yeah, it's because they never did time in OKC. Buddy, you're a legend there! You're like the... you're like the... the boogeyman!"
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Shiv): "The Baxter Society made you soft!"
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Shiv): "You're such a disappointment, Shiv."
↑Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Shiv): "You're not the man I thought you were, Shiv."
Rend
16m
16s
spirit damage. If the enemy is in close range, deal bonus 
melee damage.
x1.4
40
x1.2
61.8
8m
Close Range
1
