Viscous build guide
by Vinyl MixVersion 213Updated Oct 4, 2026Guide #106743
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"Expelling goo!" The 5th build in the "Concerns of The Deep" series, made for beginners and for fun. They are not aimed to be the most meta builds. This one is oriented around Splatter (1). You'll be goopin' all over them and dealing huge damage! Extra Credit goes to VeMi! Join the Viscous Discord: discord.gg/viscord
1Welcome to Deadlock! The Concerns of the Deep are a set of 6 builds, created for Beginners and to enjoy various playstyles. So you want to play Viscous but don't know where to start? This build will help you learn his most basic playstyle: Splatter! Splatter bounces twice by default, and 3 times when fully upgraded. Always try to throw it in a way that'll make bounces hit your target for additional damage! Viscous is one of the few characters to have an Alt-Fire (Right Click). It shoots a projectile with a short range that explodes. You can use it to poke your enemies around cover during laning phase! NOTE: After recent changes, Splatter might not be as effective anymore. Testing is ongoing. Join the Viscous Discord: discord.gg/viscord
Author's category · 0 items
No items listed.
2Early game
Game stage · 10 items · Buy left to right. Use Splatter (1) and your Alt-Fire to constantly poke your enemies. If you're struggling, buy a Lane extra. You can also get a different Tier 2 Vitality instead of Spirit Shielding.
Mystic Burst
An increase of damage for Splatter (1). |Upgrade into: Tankbuster|
High-Velocity Rounds
Makes it easier to hit your target and secure/steal souls. |Upgrade into: Express Shot|
Express Shot
3Lane Extrasoptional
Author's category · 10 items · Buy ONE if struggling to remain in lane, to not miss out on souls. Buy Healing Rite if you plan to get Rescue Beam!
Monster Rounds
More damage against Troopers and Neutrals. |Can be sold for a slot|
Extra Regen
Sustain in lane! Buy Healing Rite instead if you plan to build Rescue Beam! |Can be sold for a slot|
Healing Rite
A decent amount of healing, useful when facing burst damage. Just make sure to hide when using this. |Upgrade into: Rescue Beam| |Can be sold for a slot|
4Other Vitality Tier 3optional
Author's category · 6 items · Instead of Veil Walker, you can pick ONE of these to move around the map with ease, save your teammates, or simply survive more.
Rescue Beam
Built from Healing Rite
You can pull people that are in your Cube (2), very useful when enemy teams tend to have enemies like Mo&Krill, Bebop, Holliday, etc... who can pull your allies away.
Stamina Mastery
Allows you to move around with ease, double air-dash and be more mobile in general!
5Survival - Mid-Gameoptional
Author's category · 5 items · If you find yourself having issues with certain enemies, pick ONE to deal with them.
Reactive Barrier
Built from Grit
Useful against Mirage's Tornado, Bebop's Hook, Abrams' Charge, Haze's Sleep, Paige's immobilize, any stuns (Including getting parried!) and more!
Enchanter's Emblem
Sustain, survival, cooldown reduction & damage! Can be replaced by a different Tier 2 Vitality item such as Healbane. |Can be sold for a slot|
6Mid game
Game stage · 6 items · Buy left to right. Instead of Mystic Reverb, if you desperately need Anti-Heal, you can get Spirit Burn instead then Mystic Reverb later on.
Tankbuster
Built from Mystic Burst
Splatter (1) can trigger this easily at this point of the match.
Mystic Reverb
A considerable amount of lifesteal, and lots more damage for Splatter (1). Keep in mind that with Echo Shard, it won't proc for both Splatters in quick succession, since it has a cooldown.
Compress Cooldown
7Survival - Late Gameoptional
Author's category · 5 items · If you find yourself struggling to survive during late game fights, pick ONE.
Indomitable
Built from Reactive Barrier
Basically an Automatic Counterspell against CC. Works against Cursed Relic. If facing many CC, buy Unstoppable. Very useful against Lash's Ult, Vyper's Ult, Bebop's Hook, Doorman's Ult and much more!
Spellbreaker
Allows you to survive with burst spirit damage. Very useful against Apollo, Bebop, Grey Talon, Lash, Mirage, and more.
8Late gameoptional
Game stage · 10 items · After Spirit Burn, it's up to you to get what you deem most useful! You can also get actives. Only get Escalating Exposure AFTER getting Spirit Burn.
Boundless Spirit
A ton more damage for your whole kit, and even more Spirit with Spirit Snatch!
Spirit Burn
Anti-Healing & Extra damage. Your double Splatter (1) with Echo Shard can easily activate this!
Melee Charge
9Activesoptional
Author's category · 10 items · Tailor your playstyle to something that suits you more.
Phantom Strike
Your most powerful tool to use Goo Ball (4) with. Use it to bring down flyers or close the gap!
Colossus
A lot more HP, and resistances. When combined with Goo Ball (4), will allow you to stay alive longer.
Return Fire
Send back some of the damage you take! Useful against: Haze, Drifter, Wraith, Vyper and more.
10Counter-Activesoptional
Author's category · 8 items · Helps you deal with various threats you might encounter. Cursed Relic will shutdown any carry!
Rusted Barrel
Slowing Hex
Useful against: Apollo, Calico, Celeste, Mina, Pocket, Rem and more.
Decay
A decent anti-heal that deals damage scaling with Spirit. Useful against: Abrams, Billy, Mo&Krill, Shiv, Silver and more. DO NOT USE AGAINST VICTOR.
11Situationals & Optionalsoptional
Author's category · 24 items · Items in this category aren't part of the core build, and do not have any form of left to right priority. They are all useful in their own ways, and got annotations for you to understand why to pick them and what they do. You can pick them to experiment and make your very own build!
Headshot Booster
Extra poke with your gun. |Can be sold for a slot|
Recharging Rush
Will grant you a charge of Puddle Punch (3) by dealing gun damage, but also melee damage, which includes Puddle Punch (3) itself!
Categories appear in the author's order. Only the editor's default Early, Mid and Late sections are marked as game stages; the author's own categories keep their names. “Built from” links come from the game's item recipes.
SplatterSplatter | Splatter: Ability unlocked, step 1 | Splatter: 1 AP upgrade, step 5 | Splatter: 2 AP upgrade, step 6 | Splatter: 5 AP upgrade, step 7 |
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Built from High-Velocity Rounds
Use it with your Alt-Fire (Right Click) to deal a nice burst of damage! Shares its cooldown with Mystic Shot, meaning you'll always use both at the same time!
Mystic Shot
Use it with your Alt-Fire (Right Click) to land it easily. Once you have enough Spirit, this can proc Spellbreaker before you use Splatter (1)! With Express Shot, it gives you your 4.8k Gun Spike.
Grit
Useful when going in or trying to get out. Can be skipped if you don't plan to get a Shielding item or another upgrade. |Upgrades into: Shielding Item of your choice|
Spirit Shielding
Built from Grit
Some passive regen, and a nice barrier to endure spirit damage. You can pick a different Vitality T2 instead. |Can be sold for a slot|
Spirit Strike
This can be triggered by Puddle Punch (3). Try to use your it first before Splatter (1) for extra damage! |Upgrade into: Spirit Snatch|
Mystic Expansion
Makes it easier to hit enemies with Splatter (1) bounces. |Upgrade into: Greater Expansion|
Spirit Snatch
Built from Spirit Strike
This can be triggered by Puddle Punch (3). They get weaker, and you get stronger! If you lack the slot for it, buy it as soon as you get a slot!
Veil Walker
A bit of spirit power, and some nice mobility to roam around. Make sure to go through Cosmic Veils (The foggy walls) to trigger the active effect!
Rebuttal
Only get if you're facing a melee-heavy lane. |Can be sold for a slot|
Melee Lifesteal
This can be triggered by Puddle Punch (3). You can also simply hit troopers for some healing too, but reduced. |Can be sold for a slot|
Healbane
An easy to trigger anti-heal, along with some spirit. |Can sold for a slot|
Weapon Shielding
Built from Grit
Some passive regen, and a nice barrier to endure weapon damage. |Can be sold for a slot|
Trophy Collector
If you see that your team is winning, this will help you gain nice bonuses, and win more!
Extra Charge
One more charge of Puddle Punch (3) for mobility. |Can be sold for a slot|
Rusted Barrel
When facing Gun-focused heroes in lane, this will make it more difficult for them to fight you. Great pick if you plan to upgrade it later. |Upgrades into: Disarming Hex|
Warp Stone
Allows you to escape with ease especially if used vertically! Very good against a gun-heavy team. A must-have if you use Goo Ball (4) a lot.
Dispel Magic
Removes Bebop's Bomb, Infernus' Burn, and more! Does NOT remove Pocket's Affliction.
Fortitude
Lots of bonus health. The passive health regen will allow you to never have to go back to Base to heal! The movement speed bonus will help you move around too.
Majestic Leap
A great tool to rotate around the map and dive right into the fight.
Metal Skin
Become immune to bullets! But mind the on-hit effects like Tesla Bullets or Mercurial Magnum! Useful against: Drifter, Haze, Silver, Venator, Vyper, Wraith and more.
Spirit Resilience
Very useful if the enemy team is mostly Spirit oriented. (Check the colored bars when holding TAB!)
Counterspell
Parry ANYTHING. This means almost any abilities such as Geist's Ultimate, Shiv's Ultimate, Lash's Ultimate, etc...
Reduces the cooldown of Splatter (1), for more poke! |Upgrade into: Superior Cooldown|
Superior Cooldown
Built from Compress Cooldown
Get your abilities back faster, such as the Cube (2) & Goo Ball (4)! |Upgrade into: Transcendent Cooldown|
Transcendent Cooldown
Built from Superior Cooldown
Reduces the cooldown of Mystic and Express Shot. Very important to keep using the Alt-Fire for burst damage. Also works on actives!
Greater Expansion
Built from Mystic Expansion
Bigger Splatter (1) results in more hits with bounces! Also makes the rest of your kit easier to hit with.
Divine Barrier
Dispel Magic but stronger, and for an ally too! Works on Ultimate-type debuffs (Drifter, Pocket...)
Unstoppable
This is your pick against many CC in the late game. This especially helps if you tend to get jumped, or to get shutdown while using Goo Ball (4).
Witchmail
You'll take a lot of spirit damage late game, so you'll get a lot of cooldown reduction. Works well with Goo Ball (4).
Crushing Fists
Built from Melee Charge
Diviner's Kevlar
If you tend to use Goo Ball (4) a lot and want more survivability.
Spiritual Overflow
If you tend to use your gun, this will empower your Splatter (1)!
Mystic Vulnerability
Easily triggered by your first Splatter (1) before using Echo Shard. |Upgrade into: Escalating Exposure|
Escalating Exposure
Built from Mystic Vulnerability
ONLY get this if you bought Spirit Burn OR Alchemical Fire! It stacks easily with it. This will amplify YOUR damage, not your teammates'.
Crippling Headshot
If the enemy has a lot of resistances, land a headshot before using Splatter (1)!
Infuser
For damage & survivability. If you have Boundless Spirit, the Spirit gained is increased! Use it before using Splatter (1)!
Guardian Ward
Built from Grit
This will help you and your ally survive more! It also provides you with some more range. |Upgrade into: Divine Barrier|
Spirit Sap
Use it before Splatter (1) for more damage! |Upgrade into: Focus Lens|
Focus Lens
Built from Spirit Sap
Debuff and more damage. A very powerful item to kill a specific target! Increases your burst damage considerably.
Cold Front
A strong slow and more damage. Consider it if you tend to go in a lot, or use Goo Ball (4) quite often!
Arctic Blast
Built from Cold Front
Same as Cold Front, but with more damage and CC potential!
Vortex Web
Throw a SQUID from the DEEP. Pull them into one point and Splatter them! Useful against: Apollo, Calico, Celeste, Holliday, Infernus and many more.
Scourge
If you tend to go in with Goo Ball (4), and want more damage while doing so.
Disarming Hex
Built from Rusted Barrel
More useful than Metal Skin when gun-focused characters have on-hit effects. Useful against: Celeste, Drifter, Graves, Haze, Infernus, Mina and more.
Knockdown
To shutdown ultimates or flying enemies! Useful against: Bebop, Celeste, Grey Talon, Kelvin, Lash, Seven and more.
Silence Wave
This item can counter Indomitable. Useful against anyone who relies on their abilities, such as Apollo, Calico, Pocket, Lady Geist, Victor and more.
Cursed Relic
If an enemy gets out of control, this will help shut them down. Careful of when to use it if they get Unstoppable or Indomitable! Useful against: Anyone.
Ethereal Shift
When your Cube isn't enough. Very useful against telegraphed abilities and ultimates, like Lash's.
Spirit Shredder
Shoot first before using Splatter (1) !
Opening Rounds
Built from High-Velocity Rounds
More damage with your gun during laning phase! Also a bit of spirit on top too! |Can be sold for a slot|
Shadow Weave
To embush people, but also rotate around the map with ease.
Ballistic Enchantment
Built from Mystic Expansion
Increases the size of Splatter (1) for a large amount for easier hits with bounces to hit multiple enemies and empower your gun!
Cultist Sacrifice
Built from Monster Rounds
Will help you farm & deal more damage with your gun. Always use on a Tier 3 Neutral enemy (The biggest, one eyed, alien monster in the jungle).
Spirit Rend
Built from Spirit Shredder
Same as Spirit Shredder Bullets, but with further shredding!
Alchemical Fire
Very powerful during urn fights thanks to all of your spirit power.
Sprint Boots
Helps you go grab boxes with ease, and some out of combat regen to keep you topped up. |Upgrade into: Trophy Collector|
Extra Stamina
One more stamina to move around! |Upgrade into: Arcane Surge|
Spirit Lifesteal
Some decent healing with your double Splatter (1)! |Upgrade into: Infuser|
Debuff Reducer
Lowers the duration of Infernus' Burn, any form of stuns, silence, immobilize and more. |Upgrade into: Spellbreaker|
Restorative Locket
Health but also Stamina upon use. Only take if you tend to frontline a lot and facing ability-spamming enemies.
Enduring Speed
Built from Sprint Boots
The weakest option but also the simplest. It just makes you move around faster.
Healing Nova
Built from Healing Rite
Useful if you tend to teamfight a lot, heals a considerable amount in mid-game.
Bullet Resilience
Very useful if the enemy team is mostly Bullet oriented. (Check the colored bars when holding TAB!)
Juggernaut
Built from Enduring Speed
For mobility & survivability. Very useful against characters who rely on their gun to deal damage!
Extra Spirit
Some spirit for more damage. |Upgrade into: Improved Spirit|
Improved Spirit
Built from Extra Spirit
More spirit means more damage! |Upgrade into: Boundless Spirit|
Arcane Surge
Built from Extra Stamina
Always try to dash-jump before using Splatter (1) or Goo Ball (4). |Can be sold for a slot|
Suppressor
Useful against: Haze, Wraith, Drifter, Infernus, Mina, Mirage, McGinnis, Seven, Vindicta, Vyper, and Warden.
Surge of Power
Built from Extra Spirit
More damage for Splatter (1), and allows you to use your gun more.
Echo Shard
Buy if you want to focus on helping your team survive with The Cube (2), however you can also put Echo Shard on Splatter (1) for more burst!
The CubeThe Cube | The Cube: Ability unlocked, step 2 | The Cube: 1 AP upgrade, step 11 | The Cube: 2 AP upgrade, step 12 | The Cube: 5 AP upgrade, step 13 |
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Puddle PunchPuddle Punch | Puddle Punch: Ability unlocked, step 3 | Puddle Punch: 1 AP upgrade, step 8 | Puddle Punch: 2 AP upgrade, step 9 | Puddle Punch: 5 AP upgrade, step 10 |
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Goo BallGoo Ball | Goo Ball: Ability unlocked, step 4 | Goo Ball: 1 AP upgrade, step 14 | Goo Ball: 2 AP upgrade, step 15 | Goo Ball: 5 AP upgrade, step 16 |
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Unlock1 / 2 / 5 AP upgrade costOrder only; no timings
Current patch: the Oct 14, 2026 update, Oct 14, 2026, 00:00 UTC (approximate: no published release time) to today · ranked and unranked · all match average ranks
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