
How to play VenatorHow to play
47.2% win rate · #30 of 44 · Devout · Arms Expert · Tactical
Updated 2026-10-30 01:19 UTC · n = 3,827,247 matches
How to play Venator
1Hex-Lined Snap Trap
2Consecrating Grenade
3Ira DominiYour combo: Catch them in a Snap Trap (immobilise 1.25s, reveals them), burn them with Consecrating Grenade (−30% healing), then execute with Ira Domini under 8% health.
Don’t waste: Traps last 30s: lay them where enemies will walk, ahead of the fight.
Edge: Fight near walls, where Gutshot stuns.
From community hero guides, Oct 2026 patches, checked against deadlock.wiki. The same combo from the other side is on how to counter Venator.
Your kit

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.

Fire a blast with your shotgun, dealing weapon damage and pushing enemies back. Enemies near a wall receive stun and take bonus weapon damage.

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.

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.
Skill order
Max first:
Ira Domini›
Consecrating Grenade›
Hex-Lined Snap Trap›
Gutshot
From the most common upgrade order (67k matches): the order abilities reach their last tier.
| 10m | 21m | 32m | 43m | 54m | 66m | 77m | 88m | 912m | 1013m | 1114m | 1218m | 1319m | 1422m | 1530m | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Consecrating GrenadeAbility 1 | I | II | III | ||||||||||||
GutshotAbility 2 | I | II | |||||||||||||
Hex-Lined Snap TrapAbility 3 | I | II | III | ||||||||||||
Ira DominiUltimate | I | II | III |
unlock I II III upgrade tiers · column labels are the average minute of each step
Build path with timings
Restorative Shot~2:15 · 77%
sold ~28:33
Monster Rounds~4:38 · 43%
sold ~13:14
Close Quarters~4:54 · 58%
sold ~23:45
Extra Health~8:14 · 47%
→ Fortitude
Swift Striker~9:56 · 56%
Battle Vest~11:55 · 68%
Fortitude~16:05 · 52%
Hollow Point~20:10 · 51%
Spirit Resilience~24:57 · 39%
Vampiric Burst~29:50 · 45%
Items that win most on Venator
+8.8 pp · 8% buy it
+7.4 pp · 9% buy it
+7.3 pp · 5% buy it
+6.7 pp · 34% buy it
+6.3 pp · 8% buy it
+6.2 pp · 1% buy it
Lanes you win
Lanes to play safe
When they counter you
−7.9 ppRat KingBuy against Rat King:
Ethereal Shift+3.3 pp
Juggernaut+2.9 pp
Refresher+2.8 pp
−7.0 ppGravesBuy against Graves:
Armor Piercer+2.8 pp
Plated Armor+2.7 pp
Cursed Relic+2.3 pp
−6.8 ppPaigeBuy against Paige:
Magic Carpet+1.7 pp
Armor Piercer+1.6 pp
Spellbreaker+1.6 pp
Best teammates
54.7% together
54.2% together
53.6% together
53.0% together
51.7% together
51.7% together
Notes from the best builds
ULTIMATE BUFFS MAKE ME SPLURGE! YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@ftFades
#Citadel_HeroBuilds_Early: L-R every game (Basic ahh start but its compi so no need to change it up) Once you buy EVERYTHING in this category, you have gun and hp invest as well as max ult for first rift
Mid L-R: each buy is timed for gun investments (sell resto for slots)
Over Spirit Res: or with
Late dmg options: NOT L-R different EVERY MATCH (Left is highest prio)
50.3% over 50k games · open build →Twitch.tv/Parzelion
#Citadel_HeroBuilds_EarlyGame: L --> R For best Results Twitch.tv/Parzelion
Mid/Late Game: Can buy Rapid Recharge/Ballistic before 6ks
49.5% over 40k games · open build →