- Skulls have 20
x1.3 HP. They can be destroyed by Weapon Damage and Melee Attacks. They take no damage from abilities or items. - Each charge of Jar of Dead requires 10 "death", reducible by cooldown reduction (and rounded to the nearest integer).
- Troopers and ghouls drop 1 "death", jungle creeps drop 2 "death", and heroes and midboss drop 5 "death".
Graves: Difference between revisionsGive feedback
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mNo edit summary |
Migrate to AbilitySection template; move Weapon section above Abilities (with help from vergir-bot LLM) |
||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
Graves was released on [[Update:January 29, 2026|January 29, 2026]] as the second winner of the [[Update:January 22, 2026|Old Gods, New Blood]] update contest. | Graves was released on [[Update:January 29, 2026|January 29, 2026]] as the second winner of the [[Update:January 22, 2026|Old Gods, New Blood]] update contest. | ||
== Weapon == | |||
{{WeaponCard|key=hero_necro|weapon_name=The Teacher}} | |||
The Teacher attaches to the target closest to the reticle. It cannot deal headshots and Graves cannot buy headshot items. | |||
== Abilities == | == Abilities == | ||
{{ | |||
| | === Jar of Dead === | ||
| | |||
{{AbilitySection | |||
| hero_name = Graves | |||
| ability_num = 1 | |||
| notes = | |||
* Skulls have {{#invoke:Abilities|get_ability_prop|Jar of Dead|SummonHealth}} {{Boon|1.3}} HP. They can be destroyed by [[Weapon Damage]] and [[Melee Attack]]s. They take no damage from abilities or items. | * Skulls have {{#invoke:Abilities|get_ability_prop|Jar of Dead|SummonHealth}} {{Boon|1.3}} HP. They can be destroyed by [[Weapon Damage]] and [[Melee Attack]]s. They take no damage from abilities or items. | ||
* Each charge of Jar of Dead requires 10 "death", reducible by cooldown reduction (and rounded to the nearest integer). | * Each charge of Jar of Dead requires 10 "death", reducible by cooldown reduction (and rounded to the nearest integer). | ||
* Troopers and ghouls drop 1 "death", jungle creeps drop 2 "death", and heroes and midboss drop 5 "death". | * Troopers and ghouls drop 1 "death", jungle creeps drop 2 "death", and heroes and midboss drop 5 "death". | ||
| | }} | ||
=== Grasping Hands === | |||
{{AbilitySection | |||
| hero_name = Graves | |||
| ability_num = 2 | |||
}} | |||
=== Essence Theft === | |||
{{AbilitySection | |||
| hero_name = Graves | |||
| ability_num = 3 | |||
| notes = | |||
* Structures are affected by spirit resist reduction, but not weapon damage reduction. The buffs are applied to Graves regardless. | * Structures are affected by spirit resist reduction, but not weapon damage reduction. The buffs are applied to Graves regardless. | ||
* The weapon damage reduction is applied as a flat reduction of the [[Weapon Damage]] stat. | * The weapon damage reduction is applied as a flat reduction of the [[Weapon Damage]] stat. | ||
* Buildup is affected by weapon damage falloff ({{#expr:100*{{#invoke:HeroData|get_hero_var|Graves|FalloffEndScale}}}}% at max range). | * Buildup is affected by weapon damage falloff ({{#expr:100*{{#invoke:HeroData|get_hero_var|Graves|FalloffEndScale}}}}% at max range). | ||
| | }} | ||
=== Borrowed Decree === | |||
{{AbilitySection | |||
| hero_name = Graves | |||
| ability_num = 4 | |||
| notes = | |||
* Borrowed Decree's gravestone is visible to enemies in the [[Minimap]] at all times and the outline can be seen through walls. | * Borrowed Decree's gravestone is visible to enemies in the [[Minimap]] at all times and the outline can be seen through walls. | ||
* Ghouls will begin to follow visible enemy heroes within a line-of-sight range of 30 meters, and will continue following the enemy hero (without LOS requirement) until they are more than 30 meters away. | * Ghouls will begin to follow visible enemy heroes within a line-of-sight range of 30 meters, and will continue following the enemy hero (without LOS requirement) until they are more than 30 meters away. | ||
}} | }} | ||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
Revision as of 14:55, 1 May 2026
  | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Information | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Graves is a Hero in Deadlock. The dead have been making a whole lot of demands lately, and only Graves has the courage to oblige. That severed lich hand she found in the cemetery has proven itself a valuable ally, allowing her to latch onto her enemies and steal their power for herself. Her curiosities about the passage of life are further put to use with Jar of Dead, collecting the remains of the fallen, shaking them up, and throwing them back at her enemies to grant those remorseful spirits a final shot at revenge. With Grasping Hands she strikes a deep crack in the earth, allowing those down below to grab onto enemies' ankles and stop them from escaping her reach. And when all else fails, a Borrowed Decree will summon the dead to fight alongside her.
Graves was released on January 29, 2026 as the second winner of the Old Gods, New Blood update contest.
Weapon
The Teacher
Beam Weapon
Close Range
35 Damage Per Second
Falloff Range
7.6m ➞ 17m
The Teacher attaches to the target closest to the reticle. It cannot deal headshots and Graves cannot buy headshot items.
Abilities
Jar of Dead
Jar of Dead
Jar of Dead
4
13s
Passive: Collect death when anything dies nearby and store it in your Jar of Dead.
Active: Throw a jar to summon Deadheads that repeatedly deal
spirit damage to enemies.
Deadheads follow you instead if there's no nearby enemies, and prioritize the target of your weapon.
Active: Throw a jar to summon Deadheads that repeatedly deal
spirit damage to enemies. Deadheads follow you instead if there's no nearby enemies, and prioritize the target of your weapon.
4
Deadheads
x0.25
16
Damage
7m
Search Range
15m
Dash Range
1Collecting death heals 5 health per pickup
2On Hit: Apply 30% Slow for 1s
5+2 Deadheads
+4s Deadhead Lifetime
+4s Deadhead Lifetime
Summons affected by Monster Rounds and Heroic Aura
Debuff duration reduced by Debuff Resist
Effect can be dispelled
CC effect suppressed by UnstoppableGrasping Hands
Grasping Hands
Grasping Hands
24m
5s
34s
Unearth a line of grasping hands, summoning a Ghoul and leaving behind a rift. Enemies who pass through take spirit damage and receive 
immobilize.
Alt-Cast Alternate cast rotates the orientation of the wall.
spirit damage and receive immobilize. Alt-Cast Alternate cast rotates the orientation of the wall.
1
Ghouls Raised
x1.6
90
Damage
Immobilize1s
Immobilize Duration
12s Duration
2+90 Damage and +10m Wall Length
5+1 Ghouls Raised
-14s Cooldown
+0.75s Immobilize Duration
-14s Cooldown
+0.75s Immobilize Duration
Summons affected by Monster Rounds and Heroic AuraDebuff duration reduced by Debuff Resist
Triggers Reactive BarrierEffect can be dispelled
Disable prevented by IndomitableCC effect suppressed by UnstoppableEssence Theft
Essence Theft
Essence Theft
4s
Your weapon steals weapon damage and 
spirit resist over time, up to a maximum amount per target.
weapon damage and spirit resist over time, up to a maximum amount per target.
x0.25
25%
Max Weapon Damage Stolen
10%
Max Spirit Resist Stolen
3 Max Steal Targets
4s
Time for Max Damage
15% Max Spirit Resist Stolen
220% Max Weapon Damage Stolen
5+1 Max Steal Targets
All Summons now apply Essence Theft
All Summons now apply Essence Theft
Effect can be dispelled
On-shot effect prevented by Plated Armor- Structures are affected by spirit resist reduction, but not weapon damage reduction. The buffs are applied to Graves regardless.
- The weapon damage reduction is applied as a flat reduction of the Weapon Damage stat.
- Buildup is affected by weapon damage falloff (50% at max range).
Borrowed Decree
Borrowed Decree
Borrowed Decree
0.66s
20m
16s
x0.04
140s
Innate: Abilities can summon Ghouls that shamble toward the enemy base, dealing 
melee damage. They explode when they approach a hero or objective, dealing spirit damage in an area and applying a brief 
slow
melee damage. They explode when they approach a hero or objective, dealing spirit damage in an area and applying a brief slowActive: Create a gravestone at a target location that summons Ghouls over time. Enemies can destroy the gravestone with two heavy melees.
x1.27
115
Damage
-80%
Move Speed
180
Summon Health
x8
40
Melee Damage
x0.5
20s
Summon Lifetime
1.25s
Slow Duration
6.5m Explosion Radius
4s
Time to Summon
1+25% Ghoul Speed
-15s Cooldown
-15s Cooldown
2+10s Duration
-0.3s Time To Spawn
-0.3s Time To Spawn
5On Death: Deal +5% Current Health as Damage
Summons affected by Monster Rounds and Heroic AuraDebuff duration reduced by Debuff ResistCC effect suppressed by Unstoppable- Borrowed Decree's gravestone is visible to enemies in the Minimap at all times and the outline can be seen through walls.
- Ghouls will begin to follow visible enemy heroes within a line-of-sight range of 30 meters, and will continue following the enemy hero (without LOS requirement) until they are more than 30 meters away.
Background
See Graves/Lore for more story content.
“The daughter of high-power defense attorneys, Darcy Graves grew up in a home where every conversation was a debate, argument, or negotiation. It was exhausting. But while her parents were often too busy meeting with clients or working on cases to bond with her, the dead were always there to listen.
Graves enjoyed her time in the cemetery. It was a quiet place to calm her thoughts and talk through her problems...but one day her one-sided conversations started to change.
It began with a faint whisper. A woman's voice that seemed to respond to Graves' complaints. Intrigued, the teenager listened...and followed the voice's instructions until it guided her to a lead-lined box buried in Van Cortlandt Park. But while most high school students would freak out if they were to unearth a severed lich hand, Graves was certainly not most teens. The hand now free of its prison, the lich's voice grew stronger... It had spent years looking to find a student she could pass her knowledge to, and Graves was eager to learn.
Now a fledgling necromancer, Darcy balances not only her homework at Blackmore Academy...but the demands of graveyard denizens, each of whom have their own unfinished business that they seek her aid in resolving.
Lore
Graves' motivation in the ritual is unknown, but she seems to be fighting on behalf of her mentor: the lich.[1][2][3] Graves idolises the lich and considers her her best friend.[4][5] There are some implications, however, that the lich is just using Graves to get what she wants.[6][7] While occasionally warned about the dangers of a lich's hand, Graves ignores the warnings.[8][9][10]
According to the Patrons, Graves works tirelessly to honor the dead and grant them peace, and many souls are in her debt.[11][12] She considers her role as a voice for the dead as "an honor."[13]
Graves seems to like cats, showing affection for 
Ava (despite pointing out how ugly she is)[14][15] and believing that the world would probably be better off if 90% of humans were replaced by cats.[16]
Graves once wrote an essay about Johann Geist in a humanities course.[17] She's currently writing a paper on Wuthering Heights.[18]
Graves has a sister.[19]
Graves does babysitting.[20]
While Graves' age hasn't been mentioned, she shares classes with 
Apollo, who is 18 years old.[21][22]
Character interactions
- Graves and Apollo are classmates, and are each other's lab partners.[21]
- Graves calls Apollo "the Golden Boy."[23]
- Graves shows interest in trying to help the undead characters, such as
Kelvin, 
Vindicta and 
Victor.[24][25][26] - Graves thinks
Dynamo's jacket is cool.[27] She dislikes 
Infernus' fedora.[28] - The Lich knows
Grey Talon and warns Graves of him.[29] She also warns Graves about 
Seven's power.[30] - Graves really likes
Yamato, even though she knows she shouldn't like her.[31][32][33] - Graves' mentor wants
Abrams' Tome.[34] Graves also thinks her mentor would want to get her hands on Kelvin's stone.[35] - Seven warns Graves that her mentor is using her to "live glories they could not achieve on their own."[9] He also warns Graves that the path she's on will eventually get her killed. Seven warns Graves because he "hates to see talent wasted."[36]
Haze offers a place at the OSIC to Graves, suggesting a job as a Medium.[37]- Infernus offers to help Graves if she ever finds herself in over her head, as a form of payment for Hank saving his life when he was Graves' age.[38]
Holliday and the 
Shopkeeper call Graves a "theatre kid."[39][40]- According to
Rem, Graves smells like wet dirt.[41] - On a kill line, Graves mentions
Shiv "took something that doesn't belong to him".[42]
Update history
View the full update history: Graves/Update history
| Update | Changes |
|---|---|
| |
| |
|
Gallery
-
Graves' icon. -
Graves' card. -
Graves in-game render. -
Graves' select background -
Graves Reference Sheet. -
Graves' typography. -
Graves' Weapon - The Teacher. -
"Vote for Graves" poster/spray from the 1/23/26 major update. -
Damaged "Vote Graves" poster. -
Graves splash art from the vote screen. -
Graves voter sticker. -
Graves' shadow in the hideout. -
Gloat portrait for Graves. -
Critical health portrait for Graves. -
Thanks for voting Graves! -
Rip and tear. -
Graves' Borrowed Decree icon on the minimap.
Trivia
- "Playing With The Dead in the Hideout" is displayed as one's status in the in-game Friends List when playing as Graves in the Hideout.
References
- ↑
The Hidden King's in-game voice line (Graves start): "Your devotion to your mentor is admirable, Graves. Use what she taught you to complete the ritual."
- ↑
Graves' in-game voice line (select): "This should make my mentor happy."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (Unselect): "I think there’s safer ways to help my mentor."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (Upgrade Borrowed Decree): "What's the point of having a lich for a best friend if I can't tap into her power?"
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (upgrade Essence Theft): "I need to appease my mentor."
- ↑
Krill's in-game voice line (killed Graves): "The poor girl didn't even realize she was being used."
- ↑ Haze's in-game voice line (killed Graves): "Killed the lich's pawn."
- ↑ Graves And Grey Talon Conversation 3
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Graves And Seven Conversation 2
- ↑ Graves And Venator Conversation 3
- ↑ The Hidden King's in-game voice line (Graves start): "You work tirelessly to honour the dead and bring them peace. The Hidden King is counting on that same devotion."
- ↑
The Archmother's in-game voice line (Graves start): "Many souls are in your debt, Graves. If you finish the ritual, the Archmother herself will join that number."
- ↑ Graves And Wraith Conversation 1 - "It's not... sweet, for them. It's painful. They see loved ones... hurting and they want to offer comfort. Or... advice, or... anything. To be their voice? It's... it's an honor."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Calico): "That cat rules."
- ↑ Graves And Calico Conversation 3 - "Look--I mean, I think she's great, but... objectively she's ugly as sin."
- ↑ Graves And Silver Conversation 2 - "I'd say... that humans are generally awful with moments of surprising compassion and that we would all probably be better off if ninety percent of us were replaced by cats."
- ↑ Graves And Lady Geist Conversation 1
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (select): "Completing some eldritch ritual beats finishing my paper of Wuthering Heights."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (upgrade Jar of Dead): "These guys do a great job at keeping my sister out of my room."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (upgrade Jar of Dead): "I don't get why people don't like it when I use this babysitting. Kids love pointing at skulls."
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Graves' in-game voice line (killed Apollo): "Great, I killed my lab partner..."
- ↑ Apollo And Celeste Conversation 3 - "Most 18-year-olds aren't about to summon an Elder God."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (ally Apollo killed in lane): "They took out the Golden Boy!"
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Kelvin): "I might be able to help you, Kelvin... not today, obviously, because I killed you, but in the future!"
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Vindicta): "I wish you'd let me help you, Vindicta."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Victor): "You should've came to me for help, Victor."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Dynamo): "If it makes you feel better, I think your jacket's cool."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Infernus): "Lose the fedora."
- ↑ Graves's in-game voice line (killed Grey Talon) - "My mentor warned me about you, Talon."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (Storm Cloud multikill): "My mentor was right about him..."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Yamato): "She's a bitch, but I'm kind of okay with it."
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Yamato): "I get that I'm supposed to not like her, but I can't help it!"
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Yamato): "She's so cool!"
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Abrams): "My mentor says she needs that tome!"
- ↑ Graves' in-game voice line (killed Kelvin): "I bet my mentor would love to get her hands on that stone."
- ↑ Graves And Seven Conversation 1
- ↑ Graves And Haze Conversation 2
- ↑ Graves And Infernus Conversation 3 - "Look. When I was around your age I needed help, and someone gave it to me. It changed my life, and I just wanted you to know that... I'm willing to pay it forward."
- ↑ Graves And Holliday Conversation 3 - "Sooo, do they give you the pack of cloves when you become a theatre kid, or was that something you brought to the table all on your own?"
- ↑ Shopkeeper's in-game voice line (Graves buys t4 item): "I know a theatre kid when I see one."
- ↑ Rem's in-game voice line (killed Graves): "She smells like wet dirt."
- ↑ Graves's in-game voice line - "You took something that doesn't belong to you, Shiv."
Navigation
Heroes
