- T3 heavy melee deals +5 bonus damage to vampires (
Drifter, 
Mina, and enemies with 
Vampiric Burst active).
VenatorGive feedback
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.
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“I'll drive a stake through their heart!
Venator was released on February 5, 2026 as the fourth winner of the Old Gods, New Blood update contest.
Weapon
51:20
Rapid Fire
Medium Range
63 Damage Per Second
Falloff Range
18m ➞ 47m
Abilities
Consecrating Grenade
Consecrating Grenade
4.5m
25s
Fire a grenade that bounces before exploding, dealing weapon damage and setting enemies on fire.
Burning targets deal
pure damage to enemies in the area and suffer from reduced healing.
weapon damage and setting enemies on fire. Burning targets deal
pure damage to enemies in the area and suffer from reduced healing.
x1
35
Damage
-30%
Healing Reduction
On Hit:
x1.6
10
Damage Per Second
3.5s
Burn Duration
4.5m
Burn Radius
1-5s Cooldown
2+1.5m Radius & +1s Burn Duration
5-20% Healing Reduction and allow Charges
Debuff duration reduced by Debuff Resist
Effect can be dispelledGutshot
Gutshot
10m
23s
Fire a blast with your shotgun, dealing weapon damage and pushing enemies back. Enemies near a wall receive 
stun and take bonus weapon damage.
weapon damage and pushing enemies back. Enemies near a wall receive stun and take bonus weapon damage.
x0.7
60
Damage
On Wall Hit:
x0.8
30
Bonus Damage
On Wall Hit:
Stun0.6s
Stun Duration
7m
Wall Stun Range
125 Damage
2-10s Ability Cooldown and +0.4s Stun Duration
5On Wall Stun: Your next heavy melee is blessed
Debuff duration reduced by Debuff Resist
Triggers Reactive Barrier
Disable prevented by Indomitable
CC effect suppressed by UnstoppableHex-Lined Snap Trap
Hex-Lined Snap Trap
2m
2
8s
28s
Kick a trap that arms after a brief delay.
The trap springs on the first enemy it touches, dealing
spirit damage, applying 
immobilize, and revealing enemies for a duration afterwards.
The trap springs on the first enemy it touches, dealing
spirit damage, applying immobilize, and revealing enemies for a duration afterwards.
x2.2
80
Damage
Immobilize1.25s
Immobilize Duration
6s
Reveal Duration
30s
Lifetime
1-11s Cooldown
21s Immobilize Duration
5+1 Charge
Deal +30% damage against revealed targets
Deal +30% damage against revealed targets
Debuff duration reduced by Debuff Resist Triggers Reactive Barrier Effect can be dispelled Disable prevented by Indomitable CC effect suppressed by Unstoppable- Enemies can disarm the trap by shooting at it. It is not affected by abilities, items or melee attacks.
- When looking directly upwards, the trap will be thrown very far behind the player.
Ira Domini
Ira Domini
15s
160s
Load your crossbow with 3 stakes, dealing massively increased weapon damage.
The final stake is blessed, dealing bonus pure damage and executing low-health enemies.
weapon damage.The final stake is blessed, dealing bonus
pure damage and executing low-health enemies.
x1.5
120
Damage
While Blessed:
x3
115
Bonus Damage
While Blessed:
8%
Execute Threshold
1While Active: Gain 1.2 m/s Move Speed
2-15s Ability Cooldown and +65 Bonus Damage
5All Stakes are Blessed
On-shot effect prevented by Plated Armor- Ira Domini is affected by disarm.
- The bolts are hitscan and can pierce through enemies.
- It deals 30% critical headshot damage.
- It deals +5 bonus damage to vampires ( Drifter, Mina, and enemies with Vampiric Burst active).
Background
See Venator/Lore for more story content.
“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.
Lore
Venator's real name is Quinn Rourke.[1][2] He is commonly referred to by his title, "Father",[2][3] which is ordinary for Catholic priests.
Venator's mission and motivation in the ritual is to kill the Patrons.[4][5] He's willing to die to achieve his mission.[6]
There are less than 24 active Venators,[7] though more have been killed in the past.[8] The Roman numeral "48" under his name may indicate that he is the 48th Venator. While there are multiple Venators, they usually work alone.[9]
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.[10][11] His zealous behavior often causes him to be called "angry" and "unhinged".[12] He does, however, judge people based on their actions rather than their appearances or species.[13]
The Venators of St. Benedict have a friendly rivalry with the Baxter Society.[14] Venator respects the Baxter Society, though he doesn't always agree with them.[15]
Venator refers to himself as a Carnifex, a Latin word for executioner.[16]
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,[17] 
Graves' lich hand,[18] and Oathkeeper.[19] - Akin to
Silver, Venator doesn't believe in 
Shiv's change of heart, waiting for him to slip up and ruin his "charade".[20][21] 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.[22] - Venator prays with
Bebop for the sake of Ms. Shelly,[23] and prays with 
Holliday to try and make her feel better about The Troubadour's massacre in Macomb.[24] - Venator respects Grey Talon, referring to him by his first name and promising to pray for his deceased family.[25][26] While on opposing teams, Grey Talon wishes they were fighting on the same side.[27]
- 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."[28][29] - Venator and Silver get along with each other, planning to go drink whiskey together after the ritual.[30][31]
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.[32][33]- Drifter has killed other Venators before,[8] though he had higher expectations for the playable Venator.[34] If they're on the same team, Venator promises to kill Drifter after the ritual.[35]
Paradox was expecting Venator to come after her at some point, implying the Paradox Organisation has robbed the Vatican before.[36]
Vyper likes Venator's voice.[37]- When killing
Calico, Venator references the 30 pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus, presumably referring to Calico leaving the Baxter Society.[38]
Update history
View the full update history: Venator/Update history
| Update | Changes |
|---|---|
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Gallery
-
Venator's portrait. -
Venator's icon. -
Venator in-game render. -
Venator's select background. -
Venator Reference Sheet. -
Venator's weapon, 51:20. -
Venator's typography. -
"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! -
For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
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.[39] 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.[40][41][42]
- 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".[43]
- 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.[44] - 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.[45] Additionally its under-barrel grenade launcher has been decorated to resemble a typical Ave Maria "Votive candle"[46] commonly found in Catholic home altars. This is also coupled with some Rosary beads[47] in place of a sling harness.
References
- ↑ His signature is viewable on his thanks for voting poster.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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."
- ↑ Venator And Graves Conversation 1 - "Believe me, Father, I already regret meeting you."
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Drifter'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's other hero interactions
- ↑ 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 Abrams Conversation 1 - "You should have handed over the Tome the moment it came into your possession."
- ↑ Venator And Graves Conversation 3
- ↑ Venator And Lady Geist Conversation 2 - "When this is over, I'm cutting off your arm."
- ↑ Venator's in-game voice line (killed Shiv) - "There is no redeeming you, Shiv."
- ↑ Venator And Shiv Conversation 3 - "How much longer do you think you can keep the charade up? <-> A month? A year?"
- ↑ Venator And Grey Talon Conversation 3
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Venator And Holliday Conversation 3
- ↑ Venator And Grey Talon Conversation 1 - "You're staring into the abyss, Wesley. We both know where that leads."
- ↑ Venator's in-game voice line (killed Grey Talon): "I'll pray for your family, Grey Talon."
- ↑ Grey Talon's in-game voice line (Killed Venator): "Wish the Venator was fighting for us."
- ↑ Venator's in-game voice line (killed Paige): "I'm sorry, Paige. Your brother is beyond saving."
- ↑ Venator's in-game voice line (killed Paige): "She's thrown away her life to save someone who doesn't deserve it!"
- ↑ Silver And Venator Conversation 3
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Venator And Drifter Conversation 1 - "After the ritual's complete, I'm going to drive a stake in your heart."
- ↑ Paradox's in-game voice line (Killed Venator): "Was wondering when they'd send you after me."
- ↑ Vyper's in-game voice line (Killed Venator): "Oh, I could listen to that guy read me the phone book. He is killing me. Heh ha!"
- ↑ Venator's in-game voice line - "I hope your thirty pieces of silver was worth it, Calico."
- ↑ 2025-05-01 - atahutahatena on Reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumors - Streamer accidentally leaks hero roster of a more "secret" private Deadlock pre-alpha playtest build
- ↑ Mina's in-game voice line (Killed Venator): "You're just a man, Rourke, and you're gonna die screaming like one."
- ↑
Victor's in-game voice line (Killed Venator): "Took down Rourke."
- ↑ 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."
- ↑ Update:February 12, 2026
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_MP5
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votive_candle
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary#Rosary_beads
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