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DeadlockDeadlock Yamato Guide and Overview

In this Deadlock Yamato guide, you’ll learn the fundamentals of his abilities, unique play styles, and fundamental tips.

Yamato's hero tags are: Relentless, Acrobatics, Pursuer

Voice Actor: Unknown

Deadlock Yamato Overview

Yamato is an explosive character that can go god mode with her ultimate that lets her become invincible and resets all of her ability cooldowns.

She takes dedication to learn, but once mastered, can really dominate with her outplay potential.

Lore

Born to criminal royalty, Kaori and her brother Yamato always knew they were destined to run The 7th Moon after their father's passing. For years they ran the organization as equals; leading to profit, success, and plans for expansion to the United States.

The idea was simple. Kaori would stay in Japan and maintain things at home, while Yamato would travel to America to set up an international presence. Unfortunately for the siblings; this plan didn't sit well with some of their more insecure underlings, who bristled at the idea of being led by Kaori in Japan.

The coup was swift and violent. Yamato gave his life protecting Kaori, but in doing so ensured that she and a handful of loyalists were able to escape Japan for America.

When she arrived stateside, the contact her brother was supposed to meet greeted her and her retinue. Unfamiliar with the gender of Japanese names, the man addressed her as Yamato. She thought to correct him, but decided that the best way to keep her brother's memory alive was to take his name and live out his dream

Strengths and Weaknesses Summary

High skill ceiling
Mobility
Strong duelist

Squishy early
Long charge time for Power Slash
Weak without Ultimate

Deadlock Yamato Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

One of the highest skill ceilings.
Among best in class for chasing down enemies due to mobility.
Strong duelist, skirmisher, and split pusher.

Weaknesses

Very fragile at the start.
Needs to scale to get going.
Engaging without ultimate is dangerous.

Deadlock Yamato Abilities

Underlined = Scales with Spirit

Power Slash (1)
Channel to increase damage over 1.5 seconds, then release a fully-charged sword strike. Press [1] or [left-click] to trigger the strike early, dealing partial damage.
12s Cooldown	145 Full Charge Damage	22m Slash Length

Power Slash (1)

power slash

Channel to increase damage over 1.5 seconds, then release a fully-charged sword strike. Press [1] or [left-click] to trigger the strike early, dealing partial damage.

12s Cooldown

145 Full Charge Damage

22m Slash Length

Power Slash Upgrades
1 AP	2 AP	5 AP
40% Slow for 3s	-4s Cooldown	+150 Full Charge Damage, +8m Range

Maxing Power Slash gives the ability utility with Bullet Resist while channeling and a movement slow, along with a damage boost upon fully charging.

Tips for Power Slash

Reactivate Power Slash early if you know the enemy will get behind cover.
After using Shadow Transformation, Power Slash's charge is faster.
Power Slash has a pretty thick projectile so it can clip enemies that are behind thin or shallow cover.

Flying Slash (2)
Throw a grappling hook to reel yourself towards an enemy, damaging and slowing the target when you arrive.
26m Range	36s Cooldown
65 Damage	-50% Movement Slow
2.5s Slow Duration

Flying Slash Upgrades
1 AP	2 AP	5 AP
-18s Cooldown	Gain +35 Spirit for 6s	Can Grapple to ally heroes. Becomes Charged and grants +1 Charges (5s between charges). +15m Cast Range

Maxing Flying Strike grants it additional movement slow, further casting range, and even a boost in Weapon Damage after it lands.

Tips for Flying Strike

If it connects, Flying Slash will dash you to enemies, even if they dash or teleport away.
In addition to being a great engage tool, Flying Slash can also help you escape in a pinch since you can use it on neutral camps and enemy Troopers.
When fully upgraded, Flying Slash can be used on allies and gains an additional Charge and Cast Range, making it much more versatile.

Crimson Slash (3)
Slash enemies in front of you, damaging them and slowing their fire rate. If any enemy heroes are hit, you heal.
13m Range	16s Cooldown
55 damage	55 Heal on hero hit
30% Fire Rate Slow	4s Debuff Duration

Crimson Slash Upgrades
1 AP	2 AP	5 AP
On Hit: +30% Melee Damage for 4s	+6% of Max Health Heal on hero hit	-10s Cooldown

Maximizing Crimson Slash gives Yamato more survivability through increased healing, additional Fire Rate Slow, and by basically halving its cooldown.

Tips for Crimson Slash

Unlike Power Slash which slows your momentum, Crimson Slash maintains your current speed.
Use it with movement techniques like Dash Jump to maximize your positioning for AoE heal procs in fights.

Shadow Transformation (4)
Become infused with Yamato's shadow soul. After an initial invincible transformation, your abilities are refreshed and are 60% faster, and you gain immunity to negative status effects. You are unable to die in this mode.
1.5s Cast Time	130s Cooldown	5s Duration
+60% Ability Speed	+30% Spirit Resist and +30% Bullet Resist	15% Max HP Heal on Kill

Shadow Transformation (4)

shadow transformation

Become infused with Yamato's shadow soul. After an initial invincible transformation, your abilities are refreshed and are 60% faster, and you gain immunity to negative status effects. You are unable to die in this mode.

1.5s Cast Time

130s Cooldown

5s Duration

+60% Ability Speed

+30% Spirit Resist and

+30% Bullet Resist

15% Max HP Heal on Kill

Shadow Transformation Upgrades

1 AP

2 AP

5 AP

+7 Weapon Damage

+4 m/s Move Speed

Reduces cooldown by 25s

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

Maxing Shadow Transformation gives it a whopping 30s cooldown reduction, more move speed, and a longer duration.

Tips for Shadow Transformation

Yamato gets several buffs while transformed, including immunity to any negative status effects, CC, and additional bullet and spirit resist. She also gets lower cooldowns, her abilities are faster, and its duration is extended on takedown.
You are immune to CC while casting Shadow Transformation, so you can use it to avoid CC in a pinch.

Yamato Build Guide

Check out best starter build for Yamato

Hero Overview

Weapon Stats

DPS	60
Bullet Damage	5.08
Ammo	12
Bullets per Second	2.3.8
Light Melee	55
Heavy Melee	128

Vitality Stats

Max Health	650
Health Regen	1
Bullet Resist	0%
Spirit Resist	0%
Move Speed	8.31 m/s
Sprint Speed	2 m/s
Stamina	3

How to Counter Yamato

During the early game, Power Slash does a ton of burst damage. Save Stamina for dodging it and then look to trade since that's where most of her laning power comes from.
Yamato is one of the best duelists in the game, think twice about engaging her if she's ahead and you don't have help nearby.
Use her Shadow Transformation (ult) wind up time to give you space. Try to lose line of sight from her so she can't use Flying Strike to close distance.