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Nigger - in the English language, nigger is a racial slur directed at black people. Starting in the 1990s,[1] references to nigger have been increasingly replaced by the euphemistic contraction "the N-word", notably in cases where nigger is mentioned but not directly used.[2] In an instance of linguistic reappropriation, the term nigger is also used casually and fraternally among African Americans, most commonly in the form of nigga, whose spelling reflects the phonology of African-American English.[2][3]

Relentless

Acrobatics

Pursuer

Weapon Stats
Damage Per Second:	63.2
Bullet Damage:	Hero Not Found+0.33+0.154
Pellets per shot:	5
Ammo:	12x0.15x0.15
Bullets per sec:	2.38
Reload Time:	2.44s
Bullet Velocity:	254m/s
Light Melee:	Hero Not Found+2.67+1.58
Heavy Melee:	Hero Not Found+4.95+3.68

Information

Release Date:	April 16, 2024

Abilities

Channel to increase damage over 1.4 seconds, then release a fully-charged sword strike.
Press Ability 1 or Fire to trigger the strike early, dealing partial damage.

x1.85

145

Full Charge Damage

22m

Slash Length

60% Bullet Resist

1

+40% Movement Slow for 3s

2

-4s Ability Cooldown

5

+8m Cast Range
+150 Damage and Increases Spirit Power scaling

Throw a grappling hook to reel yourself towards an enemy, dealing Light melee damage and slowing the target when you arrive.

x1

55

Damage

-50%

Move Speed

2.5s Slow Duration

1

-18s Cooldown

2

Gain +35 Spirit Power for 6s

5

Alt-Cast to Grapple allies
+15m Cast Range
Gains 1 extra charge

Slash enemies in front of you, damaging them and slowing their fire rate. If any enemy heroes are hit, you heal.

x0.37

55

Damage

x1.04

55

Heal on hero hit

-30%

Fire Rate

4s Debuff Duration

1

On Hit : +30% Melee Damage for 4s

2

On Hero Hit : +6% Max Health Heal

5

-10s Cooldown and increases scaling

Become infused with Yamato's shadow soul. After an initial invincible transformation your abilities are refreshed and are 60% faster. You gain immunity to negative status effects and have greatly increased bullet and spirit resist.
When you get a hero kill, you heal and the duration is extended.

5s

Duration

60%

Ability Speed

15%

Max Health Heal

30% Bullet Resist

30% Spirit Resist

2s Duration On Kill

1

+7 Weapon Damage

2

+4m Move Speed and -20 Cooldown

5

+3s Duration
+30% Bullet Resist
+30% Spirit Resist

Weapon

Sister's Lament

Spreadshot

Close Range

63 Damage Per Second

Falloff Range

20m ➞ 46m

Update history

Main article: Update history

View the full update history: Yamato/Update history

Update	Changes
July 28, 2026	Flying Slash T2 reduced from +40 Spirit Power to +35. Flying Slash T3 charges from +2 to +1. Flying Slash T3 Charge Time increased from 4s to 5s.
July 9, 2026	Flying Slash range reduced from 28m to 26m. Flying Slash T3 Charge Delay increased from 3s to 4s. Flying Slash T3 Ally Targeting now requires alt cast input.
June 30, 2026	Shadow Transformation cooldown increased from 130s to 150s. (Global ult change) Shadow Transformation T2 reduced from -25s Cooldown to -20s. (Global ult change)

Background

“

犯罪組織のボスの家に生まれたカオリと兄のヤマトは、父の死後、セブンスムーンの運営を引き継ぐ運命にあることをずっと自覚していた。彼らは何年もの間、二頭体制で組織を運営し、利益と成功をもたらし、アメリカへの進出も計画していた。
計画は単純だった。カオリは日本に残って国内を統制し、ヤマトはアメリカに渡り国際的な拠点を作るはずだった。兄妹にとって不運だったのは、カオリが日本で指揮をとるという計画を快く思わない部下たちがいたことだった。
反逆は迅速かつ暴力的だった。ヤマトが命を犠牲にしてカオリを守ったおかげで、カオリは一握りの部下たちと共に日本からアメリカへ逃れることができた。
アメリカに到着したカオリとその一行を迎え入れたのは、ヤマトを出迎えるはずの人物だった。その男は日本人の名前には馴染みがなく、カオリのことを「ヤマト」と呼んだ。カオリは間違いを正そうかと思ったが、兄を記憶に留める最善の方法は、自分がヤマトの
名前を受け継ぎ、彼の夢をかなえることだと決意した。

— A FATE'S TALE

“

Born into a family of crime bosses, Kaori and her brother Yamato always knew they were destined to take over control of the Seventh Moon after their father's death. Together they ran the organization for years, bringing it profit and success, and even planning an expansion into America.
The plan was simple: Kaori would remain in Japan to control the country, while Yamato would travel to America to establish an international base. Unfortunately for the siblings, some of their subordinates were not happy about Kaori's plan to take command in Japan.
The rebellion was swift and violent. Yamato sacrificed his life to protect Kaori, and Kaori was saved by a handful of loyal members.
Together with her subordinates, she managed to escape from Japan to the United States. When Kaori and her group arrived in the United States, they were greeted by a man who was supposed to greet Yamato. He was not familiar with Japanese names and did not know Kaori.
"Yamato." Kaori thought about correcting his mistake, but...
She decided that the best way to remember her brother was to take on the Yamato name and make his dream come true.

— A FATE'S TALE

Character interactions

Yamato respects Grey Talon for his age and skill.^[1]^[2]
Yamato may apologize after killing Vindicta.^[3]
After killing Mo & Krill, Yamato may say she wants to turn them into a coat and a hat, respectively.^[4]
Yamato thanks Ivy for taking care of Mendoza.^[5]
Vyper says Yamato murdered a guy for owing the Seventh Moon a "C-Note" ($100).^[6]

Gallery

Portrait
Minimap icon
In-game render
Winter skin
Model sheet
Weapon - Sister's Lament
Temporary minimap icon (2024-09-12 update)
Neon Prime Yamato
Neon Prime color palette
Concept art - "Yokai"
Concept art
Concept art
Concept art - "Schoolgirl"
Concept art - "Anisha"

Trivia

Yamato's design in the Early Development Build of Deadlock is temporary and based on an alien model from when the game was still called Neon Prime.
- Yoshi has shared early concept art of Yamato's upcoming redesign.^[7]
Yamato's character model has different colors for her clothes compared to her portrait.
Yamato and Haze are currently the only heroes whose Ammo is directly affected by Spirit Power.
Yamato is the only hero who doesn't have the default melee attack damage of 63 (light) and 116 (heavy) - instead, Yamato has 69 (light) and 128 (heavy).
Yamato is the tallest hero in the game.
Most of Yamato's lines are in Japanese, but she can also speak English.
- Yamato's original voice actor wasn't a native Japanese speaker. This was changed after she was recast in the 2024-10-10 Update.

References

↑ Yamato's in-game voice line (translated) - "An admirable warrior, despite being an enemy."
↑ Yamato's in-game voice line (translated) - "Unbelievable strength for an old man."
↑ Yamato's in-game voice line (translated) - "It's a shame to kill someone like you."
↑ Yamato's in-game voice line (translated) - "I'll make a coat from the big one, and a hat from the small one."
↑ Yamato's in-game voice line (translated) - "Thanks for taking care of Mendoza."
↑ Vyper's in-game voice line - "I know a guy who owed the Seventh Moon a C-note... well, I knew a guy who owed the Seventh Moon a C-Note... Yamato murdered the shit out of him."
↑ 2024-08-10 - Yoshi; Deadlock Discord - "Regarding yamato question, can share some of the early concepts we have, none are final or anything, just exploration level (...) early concepts for new direction i mean"