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.
+1 Max Steal Targets All Summons now apply Essence Theft
Borrowed Decree
0.66s
20m
16s
x0.04
0
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
Active: 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
Stun
0s
Stun Duration
-80%
Move Speed
180Summon Health
x8
40Melee Damage
x0.5
20sSummon Lifetime
1.25sSlow Duration
6.5mExplosion Radius
4sTime to Summon
1
+25% Ghoul Speed -15s Cooldown
2
+10s Duration -0.3s Time To Spawn
5
On Death: Deal +5% Current Health as Damage
Notes
Borrowed Decree's gravestone is visible to enemies in the Minimap at all times and the outline can be seen through walls.
Weapon
The Teacher
Beam Weapon
Close Range
35Damage 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.
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]
The Lich knows Grey Talon and warns Graves of him.[28] She also warns Graves about Seven's power.[29]
Graves really likes Yamato, even though she knows she shouldn't like her.[30][31][32]
Graves' mentor wants Abrams' Tome.[33] Graves also thinks her mentor would want to get her hands on Kelvin's stone.[34]
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."[35]
Haze offers a place at the OSIC to Graves, suggesting a job as a Medium.[36]
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.[37]
According to Rem, Graves smells like wet dirt.[40]
On a kill line, Graves mentions Shiv "took something that doesn't belong to him".[41]
Gallery
Graves' icon.
Graves' card.
Graves in-game render.
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
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."
↑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 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 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."
Jar of Dead
4
13s
spirit damage to enemies. 
4
x0.25
16
7m
Search Range
1
x1 HP. They can be destroyed by Weapon Damage and Melee Attacks. They take no Spirit Damage.
