[Hero Concept] The Pied Piper in Deadlock

[JisBeanGaming]

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a classical folklore figure portrayed across various media—so why not bring him into Deadlock?




Known for luring people into hypnosis with his magical flute, he’s most famously associated with controlling rats. But that’s a misconception—his abilities can be much broader. For example, in Ravenswatch, he casts magical notes at enemies. With some creativity, this could translate into a unique musician-style hero with a folklore twist.


Ability 1 – Enchanted Notes
Fires magical notes in a straight line dealing 100 damage per note. This is a charged ability, starts with 2 charge.

• Channel 1 second → releases 1 note.
• Channel 2 seconds → releases 2 notes.
• Channel 3 seconds → releases 3 notes, and so on.

You can unleash all stored charges in a single cast.

• T1: Deals 55 stacking damage per additional note.
• T2: Increases range
• T3: Increase charge by +2 + increased spirit scaling.

Ability 2 – Harmonic Channel
Channels his flute onto a single target to either buff an ally or debuff an enemy. The longer he channels, the stronger the effect:

• Against enemies: reduces bullet damage by 7% per second (max 4s).
  • T1: Deals 55 damage per second channeled.
  • T2: Also reduces fire rate by 15% + 10% per second channeled.
  • T3: Steals fire rate and bullet damage per second for the remaining duration.

Ability 3 – Resonant Flow
Allows the Piper to move while channeling his spells, gaining bonuses as he levels the ability:

• T1: Move at -25% reduced speed while channeling.
• T2: Move at normal speed while channeling.
• T3: Each second spent channeling grants a 110 barrier for 10 seconds.

Ultimate – Lullaby of Hamelin
Channels his flute, putting all enemies in the area to sleep for up to 4 seconds (allies are unaffected). Sleeping targets cannot be damaged. Allies within the radius are healed for 10% max HP per second.

• T1: +2.5s duration.
• T2: Increased radius.
• T3: Can cast other spells while enemies are asleep.

 

[JisBeanGaming]

Every new hero in deadlock has introduced some sort of new concept in their introduction

Drifter = Isolation mechanic
Victor = Cooldown on first skill is based on how many damage received.
Doorman = Portal, new area with ultimate
Paige = Global ultimate
Billy = Ultimate that yanks, melee steal health mechanic

What i think would be neat to introduce is a hero that can use up all his skill charges the longer he casts the spell, that is where my idea for the first skill come from. However having a channeling hero in a fast paced moba shooter would be a problem, thats why i thought of adding a passive that allows him to move while channeling the spell.

 

[Jaeger-der-schatten]

i like it but maybe change the ult to something like becomes invincable wile healing allys and summons a swarm of rats that deal dmg to enemys so u are basicly a lokel weather phenominon while casting it but cant be interacted with (but u should never be able to shoot while chaneling and the t3 of the ult feels a bit strong)

i think those changes are good cause as it is right now the ult looks like a u win this fight no matter what type of ult cause of the reset for ur team that at least needs a ur allys are also set asleep to be any kind of ballenced

 

[bebopdeadlock]

4 seconds
10% max HP per second.

• T1: +2.5s duration.

That is unbelievably OP, 65% max HP heal to all allies while enemies are asleep? Put healing booster atop and you got 78%. At this point, you can just give everyone a rejuv every time you cast it and call it a day.

 

[JisBeanGaming]

After strong considerations from the feedback, ive altogether remaked most of the abilities of the hero, hope you guys find it entertaining.






Design notes:
At max upgrade, the persistent stacking damage of this ability works like Bristleback’s Quill Spray in Dota 2, with stacking damage that persists across casts as long as the debuff doesn’t expire. the debuff lasts 15 seconds , and each new hit refreshes the duration.


E.g. Damage scaling by channel time:

• 1s channel: 65 damage
• 2s channel: 65 + 65 + 15 = 145 damage
• 3s channel: 65 + 65 + 65 + 15 + 30 = 180 damage
• 4s channel: 65 + 65 + 65 + 65 + 15 + 30 + 45 = 350 damage
• 5s channel: 65 + 65 + 65 + 65 + 65 + 15 + 30 + 45 + 60 = 475 damage

Key mechanic:

• Stacks carry over between casts.
• If you hit an enemy again before the 12s debuff expires, the stacks are maintained and the duration is refreshed.

Playstyle options:

1. Full Channel (Kotl Illuminate style): Hold the cast for max channel to release a big hit at long range.
2. Stacking Casts (Bristleback Quill style): Cast repeatedly to build damage over time and punish enemies who stay in range. T3 upgrade allows to insta cast the first charge.

Design notes:
A targettable sleep dagger that allows him to drag enemy out of position with, but you have to be at melee range for this to work, but with T3 upgrade and more ability range items, this allow for player to play like a mini Mo & Krill Combo to your enemies. The downside is? You are also exposing yourself to enemies.

Torment pulse + Melee items might be a fun viable meme build on this hero, since torment pulse wont wake up the enemy.



Design notes:
Inherently, Pied Piper's health boon should be lower similarly to Mina's so this makes him a bit fragile in close range, (since his folklore depiction is of a scrawny model and surely he would be the same form in deadlock). This skill would allow him to be slightly tankier in fights though it is conditional on him proccing the bullet stacks.


Design notes:
No notes, just an imagery of a giant rat suplexing you would be hilarious enough to make you want this to be in the game.