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{{HeroTabs}}
{{Unreleased}}
{{Infobox hero
| key = hero_priest
| weapon_name = 51:20
| codenames = Priest
| no_icon = true
| no_spirit_resist = true
| no_bullet_resist = true
}}
'''Venator''' is an unreleased [[Hero]] in ''[[Deadlock]]''.

== Abilities ==
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|-|(1) Ability=
{{Ability card v2
| hero_name=Venator
| ability_num=1}}

|-|(2) Ability 2=
{{Ability card v2
| hero_name=Venator
| ability_num=2
}}

|-|(3) Ability 3=
{{Ability card v2
| hero_name=Venator
| ability_num=3
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|-|(4) Ability 4=
{{Ability card v2
| hero_name=Venator
| ability_num=4}}
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== Weapon ==
{{WeaponCard|key=hero_priest|weapon_name=51:20}}

== Background ==

=== Lore ===
The Venators are a group of trained vampire hunting assassins fighting on the behalf of the Catholic Church.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Grey Talon}}'s in-game [[Grey Talon/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Killed the vampire hunter."''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Vyper}}'s in-game [[Vyper/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"You know, you'd think the Vatican could afford better assassins."''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Kelvin}}'s in-game [[Kelvin/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"I never thought I'd be at war with the Vatican!"''</ref> Sent by his superiors at the Vatican to New York, the playable Venator is on a mission.<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Ivy|file=Tengu kill priest 03.mp3|transcription=So, the Vatican sent an assassin? That's... great.}}</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Billy}}'s in-game [[Billy/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Try explaining that you lost to a guy with a goat head to your superiors."''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=The Doorman}}'s in-game [[The Doorman/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Your mission is doomed to fail, Venator."''</ref> While the details of his mission is unknown, he's willing to die to achieve it.<ref>{{PageRef|name=The Doorman}}'s in-game [[The Doorman/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Venator trapped in Baroness): ''"I know you're prepared to die here, Venator, which is good, because you shall."''</ref>

Venator is described as "unhinged" and "angry",<ref>{{PageRef|name=Paige}}'s in-game [[Paige/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"That guy is unhinged!"''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Grey Talon}}'s in-game [[Grey Talon/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"I've seen a few Venators in my time. That one was angrier than most."''</ref> although some characters do show respect to Venator (notably [[Grey Talon]] and [[Vindicta]]).<ref name=":0">{{PageRef|name=Grey Talon}}'s in-game [[Grey Talon/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Wish the Venator was fighting for us."''</ref><ref name=":1">{{PageRef|name=Vindicta}}'s in-game [[Vindicta/Quotes#Enemies|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"I respect you, Venator."''</ref>

Venator's real name is Roark/Rourke.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Mina}}'s in-game [[Mina/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"You're just a man, Roark, and you're gonna die screaming like one."''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Victor}}'s in-game [[Victor/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Took down Roark."''</ref> He is also refered to as "Cain", but only by [[The Doorman]].<ref>{{PageRef|name=The Doorman}}'s in-game [[The Doorman/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (See Venator): ''"I see Cain!"''</ref> Venator is nicknamed "The Sword of Saint Benedict"<ref name=":2">{{VoiceLineCite|name=Drifter|file=Drifter kill priest 03.mp3|transcription=I expected more from the Sword of Saint Benedict.}}</ref> and seems to have some kind of legend to him, although Venator doesn't seem to believe in that legend.<ref>{{PageRef|name=The Doorman}}'s in-game [[The Doorman/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Venator trapped in Baroness): ''"You know, Cain, one day you will actually believe the legend you sell to people, and on that day you will die screaming."''</ref>

While known for hunting vampires,<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Mina|file=Vampirebat kill priest 05.mp3|transcription=Leave the Vampire Nation alone!}}</ref> Venator seems to hunt other monsters too.<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Paige|file=Bookworm kill priest 01.mp3|transcription=I thought you were supposed to hunt monsters!}}</ref> The Venators of the Vatican have a friendly rivalry with the Baxter Society.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Grey Talon}}'s in-game [[Grey Talon/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"So much for a friendly rivalry..."''</ref>

== Character Interactions ==

* {{PageRef|name=Vindicta}} and {{PageRef|name=Bebop}} respect Venator.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{PageRef|name=Bebop}}'s in-game [[Bebop/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Nothing personal, Venator!"''</ref> {{PageRef|name=Grey Talon}} wishes they were fighting on the same side if he kills Venator.<ref name=":0" />
* {{PageRef|name=Drifter}} has killed other Venators before,<ref>{{PageRef|name=Drifter}}'s in-game [[Drifter/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"How many of your order do I gotta kill before you realize you can't stop me?"''</ref> though he had higher expectations for the playable Venator.<ref name=":2" />
* {{PageRef|name=Paradox}} was expecting Venator to come after her at some point, implying the [[Paradox Organisation]] has robbed the Vatican before.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Paradox}}'s in-game [[Paradox/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Was wondering when they'd send you after me."''</ref>
* {{PageRef|name=Vyper}} likes Venator's voice.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Vyper}}'s in-game [[Vyper/Quotes#Removed/Unused Voice Lines|voice line]] (Killed Venator): ''"Oh, I could listen to that guy read me the phone book. He is killing me. Heh ha!"''</ref>

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

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Venator card.png|Venator portrait
File:Venator card leak.png|Leaked Venator portrait
File:Venator Temp Portrait 2.png|Second leaked Venator portrait
File:Venator model.png|Leaked work-in-progress Venator model
File:Priest PandR.png|Crucifixes shown while Penance & Retribution is active.
File:Venator's Censer.png|Venator's censor hint at the hideout.
File:Venator's shadow at the hideout.png|Venator's shadow at the hideout.
File:Venator VoterPoster.jpg|"Vote for Venator" poster/spray from the 1/23/26 major update.
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
* "Venator" means "hunter" in Latin.
* Venator's weapon is named after the Bible passage Jeremiah 51:20: "You are my war club, my weapon for battle - with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms".
* Venator was one of the heroes in a private build who was accidently 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> A playable version of Venator was added to the files in the [[Update:May 8, 2025|Shop Rework Update]]. A new Venator portrait was leaked in a work-in-progress hero select screen posted on 4chan in July 2025. On [[Update:January 20, 2026|20th January 2026]], Venator was teased in the [[Hideout]] with a [[wikipedia:Thurible|thurible]] on a bookshelf.
* Venator originally had the [[Shopkeeper]] voice actor as a temp VO, who made self-aware jokes about his role.The female temp voice (currently on [[Boho]]) called him "the bodega guy".<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Paige|file=Bookworm select 01.mp3|transcription=If you thought the bodega guy was a good temp voice, wait 'til you hear me.|no_pageref_file=true}}</ref>
* Prior to the [[Update:August 18, 2025|Six New Heroes Update]], Venator had an ability called "Potent Vapors", a channel which would heal Venator and grant him movement slow resist at the cost of him being unable to attack throughout its channel. This ability was replaced with "Flashbang AOE".
* "Praying in the Hideout" is unused, but is speculated to be displayed as one's status in the in-game Friends List when playing as Venator in the [[Hideout]].

== References ==
<references />
{{Development History}}{{Hero Navbox}}
[[Category:Unused Heroes]]
[[Category:Heroes]]
[[Category:Venator]]