* Venator's selection voice line "Ours is not to question what is necessary. Ours is to have the will to do whatever it takes" is likely a reference to Alfred Tennyson's poem [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45319/the-charge-of-the-light-brigade ''The Charge of the Light Brigade'']: "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die".
* Venator's selection voice line "Ours is not to question what is necessary. Ours is to have the will to do whatever it takes" is likely a reference to Alfred Tennyson's poem [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45319/the-charge-of-the-light-brigade ''The Charge of the Light Brigade'']: "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die".
* Venator had the largest winning margin in the [[Old Gods, New Blood]] hero contest, winning by an 11% difference over {{HeroIcon|Celeste}}.<ref>[[Update:February 12, 2026]]</ref>
* Venator had the largest winning margin in the [[Old Gods, New Blood]] hero contest, winning by an 11% difference over {{HeroIcon|Celeste}}.<ref>[[Update:February 12, 2026]]</ref>
* While a little anachronistic, Venator's weapon appears to be loosely based on a Heckler & Koch MP5, which officially entered service in 1966 but was designed as early as 1964.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP5</ref> Additionally its under-barrel grenade launcher has been decorated to resemble a typical Ave Maria "Votive candle"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votive_candle</ref> commonly found in Catholic home altars. This is also coupled with some Rosary beads<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary#Rosary_beads</ref> in place of a sling harness.
* Venator's weapon appears to be loosely based on a Heckler & Koch MP5, which officially entered service in 1966 but was designed as early as 1964.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP5</ref> Additionally its under-barrel grenade launcher has been decorated to resemble a typical Ave Maria "Votive candle"<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votive_candle</ref> commonly found in Catholic home altars. This is also coupled with some Rosary beads<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary#Rosary_beads</ref> in place of a sling harness.
Internal namesCodenames used for this hero in the game files:
Priest
Venator is a Hero in Deadlock. He doesn't walk the righteous path, he blazes the trail so that others may do so safely. His biggest challenge is knowing which weapon to use first. Firing a Consecrating Grenade into the fray softens up his enemies and keeps them from restoring health, and his Hex-Lined Snap Trap scatters across the ground to lock them in place. A Gutshot from his shotgun will knock back enemies who get too close, and when the time is right, Ira Domini will rid the world of evil once and for all.
The Venators of St. Benedict are a Vatican-sanctioned order whose members are deployed to regions with a high concentration of supernatural predators. Few in number, their modus operandi is to observe, identify, and exterminate. They are methodical, they are precise, and once they identify a threat to the flock they are relentless.
But even amongst those who are called The Sword Of St. Benedict, one stands apart from the others. A man whose hardened heart has allowed him to pay terrible prices in the name of the greater good... and he has once again been dispatched to New York.
Venator's mission and motivation in the ritual is to kill the Patrons.[3][4] He's willing to die to achieve his mission.[5]
There are less than 24 active Venators,[6] though more have been killed in the past.[7] The Roman numeral "48" under his name may indicate that he is the 48th Venator. While there are multiple Venators, they usually work alone.[8]
Venator showcases that he's willing to do whatever he can for the greater good, burdening himself with the sins he commits for the sake of others.[9][10] His zealous behavior often causes him to be called "angry" and "unhinged".[11] He does, however, judge people based on their actions rather than their appearances or species.[12]
The Venators of St. Benedict have a friendly rivalry with the Baxter Society.[13] Venator respects the Baxter Society, though he doesn't always agree with them.[14]
Venator refers to himself as a Carnifex, a Latin word for executioner.[15]
Venator's accent is Irish.
Character interactions
As a hunter of the wicked, Venator showcases righteous anger towards malevolent creatures and objects, including Abrams' Tome,[16]Graves' lich hand,[17] and Oathkeeper.[18]
Akin to Silver, Venator doesn't believe in Shiv's change of heart, waiting for him to slip up and ruin his "charade".[19][20] He expresses surprise with Grey Talon's choice of replacement as his protégé, trusting that Shiv should be dead and warning Grey Talon that, if Shiv strays from the path of redemption, the Venators of St. Benedict will come for him.[21]
Venator respects Grey Talon, referring to him by his first name and promising to pray for his deceased family.[24][25] While on opposing teams, Grey Talon wishes they were fighting on the same side.[26]
Venator believes Paige's brother, Bryce, is beyond saving, expressing remorse that she's "thrown away her life to save someone who doesn't deserve it."[27][28]
Venator and Silver get along with each other, planning to go drink whiskey together after the ritual.[29][30]
The Archmother and The Hidden King know Venator sees them as his enemy, but each try to convince Venator to work with them to kill the other Patron.[31][32]
Drifter has killed other Venators before,[7] though he had higher expectations for the playable Venator.[33] If they're on the same team, Venator promises to kill Drifter after the ritual.[34]
Paradox was expecting Venator to come after her at some point, implying the Paradox Organisation has robbed the Vatican before.[35]
When killing Calico, Venator references the 30 pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus, presumably referring to Calico leaving the Baxter Society.[37]
"Vote for Venator" poster/spray from the 1/23/26 major update.
Damaged "Vote Venator" poster.
Venator splash art from the vote screen.
Venator voter sticker.
Venator's censer hint at the hideout.
Venator's shadow in the hideout.
Leaked Venator portrait.
Leaked work-in-progress Venator model.
Gloat portrait for Venator.
Critical health portrait for Venator.
Thanks for voting Venator!
Veni, vidi, vici.
Trivia
"Venator" means "hunter" in Latin.
Venator's weapon is named after the Bible passage Jeremiah 51:20: "Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms".
One of Venator's voice lines for upgrading Gutshot, "I long for the day when this will be a plowshare" references the phase "beating swords into plowshares" which comes from the Bible passage Isaiah 2:4.
His ultimate ability, "Ira Domini", translates to "Wrath of the Lord" in Latin.
Venator was one of the heroes in a private build who was accidently leaked on stream in May 2025.[38] A playable version of Venator was added to the files in the Shop Rework Update. A new Venator portrait was leaked in a work-in-progress hero select screen posted on 4chan in July 2025. On 20th January 2026, Venator was teased in the Hideout with a thurible on a bookshelf.
Before he was named "Quinn", Venator was named "Cain" during development before his release.[39][40][41]
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".[42]
Prior to the 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 Consecrating Grenade.
Additionally, prior to the Old Gods, New Blood update, Venator used to have an ability called "Penace and Retribution", a passive that would grant Venator stacking bullet and spirit resistances as he took sustained damage. This ability was replaced with Hex-Lined Snap Trap.
"Blessing Ammunition in the Hideout" is displayed as one's status in the in-game Friends List when playing as Venator in the Hideout.
Venator's selection voice line "Ours is not to question what is necessary. Ours is to have the will to do whatever it takes" is likely a reference to Alfred Tennyson's poem The Charge of the Light Brigade: "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die".
Venator had the largest winning margin in the Old Gods, New Blood hero contest, winning by an 11% difference over Celeste.[43]
Venator's weapon appears to be loosely based on a Heckler & Koch MP5, which officially entered service in 1966 but was designed as early as 1964.[44] Additionally its under-barrel grenade launcher has been decorated to resemble a typical Ave Maria "Votive candle"[45] commonly found in Catholic home altars. This is also coupled with some Rosary beads[46] in place of a sling harness.
References
↑His signature is viewable on his thanks for voting poster.
↑The Archmother's in-game voice line (Venator start): "Father Quinn, I know you question if this is the right course of action, but it is! The Hidden King threatens us all."
↑The Archmother's in-game voice line (Venator start): "You have slain the things of people's nightmares, but you have never faced someone like the Hidden King. Together, with the Archmother, you have a way to end his reign!"
↑The Hidden King's in-game voice line (Venator start): "Venator, your faith is like iron, your fury righteous, and both will be needed to stop the Archmother!"
↑The Doorman's in-game voice line (Venator trapped in Baroness): "I know you're prepared to die here, Venator, which is good, because you shall."
↑Venator's in-game voice line - "Less than two dozen men and women have the honor of being called Venator."
↑ 7.07.1Drifter's in-game voice line (Killed Venator): "How many of your order do I gotta kill before you realize you can't stop me?"
↑Venator's in-game voice line (last alive): "A Venator is used to working alone."
↑Venator's in-game voice line (select): "I don't get to walk the Righteous path. I blaze the trail so that others may do so safely."
↑Venator And Abrams Conversation 3 - "I don't blame you for not having the stomach to do what needed to be done, but sleep easy knowing that what happening in that brownstone is my burden alone, not yours."
↑Venator And Apollo Conversation 2 - "Young man, I don't care about the circumstances of your birth, I care about who you are. I don't give a damn if you look like a monster… but if you act like one, I will put you down."
↑Grey Talon's in-game voice line (Killed Venator): "So much for a friendly rivalry..."
↑Venator's in-game voice line (killed Grey Talon) - "I don't always agree with the Baxter Society, but I've always respected them."
↑Venator's in-game voice line - "The Carnifex Right is not somethin' to be taken lightly."
↑Venator And Bebop Conversation 2 - "Of course. Lord, please guide Bebop's hand, may his aim be true, and his resolve unshaken by the screams of his enemies, for he fights not for himself but for the life of a good woman. Amen."
↑Silver's in-game voice line (killed Venator): "See ya at the bar later, Father."
↑The Hidden King's in-game voice line (Venator start): "Venator, I know you have no love for the Hidden King, but the Archmother is a tyrant! And together, we can usurp her!"
↑The Archmother's in-game voice line (Venator start): "Thank you for realising that the Archmother is not your enemy today. May your hunt be successful, Father."
↑Drifter's in-game voice line - "I expected more from the Sword of Saint Benedict."
↑The Doorman's in-game 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."
↑Paige's in-game voice line - "If you thought the bodega guy was a good temp voice, wait 'til you hear me."
Consecrating Grenade
4.5m
25s
weapon damage and setting enemies on fire. 
pure damage to enemies in the area and suffer from reduced healing.
x1
35
-30%
x1.6
3.5s
Burn Duration
4.5m
Burn Radius
1
