Viscous build guide

Concerns of The Deep? I'm Punchin'

by Vinyl MixVersion 261Updated Oct 4, 2026Guide #5756

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Observed usage

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Published guide

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Author's notes

"Goo hits harder than you think, doesn't it?" The 1st 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 Puddle Punch (3), melee and your gun. You'll be punching anyone in your way! Extra credit goes to Amba! Join the Viscous Discord: discord.gg/viscord

Item categories

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 a brawler-type playstyle: Puddle Punching! ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Puddle Punch (3) is used to displace targets, this includes enemies and allies alike. It can be used on yourself to boost around the map. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Puddle Punch (3) can be parried. If enemies are parrying it, try to bait them into wasting their parry by targeting around them, but not them directly. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 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! ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Join the Viscous Discord: discord.gg/viscord
Author's category · 0 items
No items listed.
2Early game
Game stage · 6 items · Buy left to right. Use Puddle Punch (3) to heal yourself with Melee Lifesteal. Use your Alt-Fire (Right Click) to deal a burst of damage to the enemy once you get Express Shot.
1. 1
  Close Quarters
  More damage at close range, which happens a lot during laning phase. |Can be sold for a slot|
2. 2
  Extra Regen
  Some decent sustain. Will get upgraded. |Upgrades into: Healing Booster|
3. 3
  Monster Rounds
3Lane Extrasoptional
Author's category · 5 items · Buy ONE if struggling to remain in lane, to not miss out on souls. Headshot Booster is only if you seek more damage.
1. 1
  Healing Rite
  A decent amount of healing, useful when facing burst damage. Just make sure to hide when using this. |Upgrades into: Rescue Beam|
2. 2
  Rebuttal
  Only get if you're facing a melee-heavy lane. |Can be sold for a slot|
3. 3
  Grit
4Mid game
Game stage · 12 items · Buy left to right. If the enemy tends to parry you, try to puddle punch near them to bait them. Don't be afraid to get a survival item if you're struggling to stay alive!
1. 1
  Spirit Strike
  Extra spirit damage when you use Puddle Punch (3). Has a cooldown. |Upgrade into: Spirit Snatch|
2. 2
  Spirit Snatch
  Built from Spirit Strike
  The enemy gets weaker and you get stronger! Works with Puddle Punch (3). Mind the cooldown. Never sell this!
3. 3
5Survival - Mid-Gameoptional
Author's category · 10 items · If you're struggling, don't wait too long to grab one of these, so that you die less!
1. 1
  Weapon Shielding
  Built from Grit
  Taking too much GUN damage, too quickly? Take this. It'll give you a nice Barrier and out of combat regen.
2. 2
  Spirit Shielding
  Built from Grit
  A strong barrier that'll help you stay alive during fights. You think that Spirit isn't the issue? Take a different Vitality Tier 2, like Reactive Barrier against CC! |Can be sold for a slot|
3. 3
6Late gameoptional
Game stage · 11 items · These items are organized in an order of suggestion. Buy as you see fit. You cannot buy them all. It'll depend on your current match and what would be most efficient.
1. 1
  Transcendent Cooldown
  Built from Superior Cooldown
  Use everything... More often! Such as Spirit Snatch, Lifestrike, any actives and more!
2. 2
  Tankbuster
  Lot more damage when triggered by Splatter (1) or Goo Ball (4).
3. 3
7Survival - Late Gameoptional
Author's category · 9 items · If you find yourself struggling to survive during late game fights, pick ONE! They'll allow you to survive much more!
1. 1
  Witchmail
2. 2
  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!
3. 3
  Unstoppable
8Counter Activesoptional
Author's category · 9 items · Helps you deal with various threats you might encounter. Cursed Relic will shutdown any carry!
1. 1
  Spirit Sap
  Use it before engaging to debuff your target. Usually purchased for Focus Lens later. |Upgrades into: Focus Lens|
2. 2
  Slowing Hex
  Slows those pesky mobility heroes. Useful against: Apollo, Calico, Celeste, Mina, Pocket, Rem and more.
3. 3
  Disarming Hex
9Optionals & Situationalsoptional
Author's category · 43 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!
1. 1
  Headshot Booster
  Increases your poke potential |Can be sold for a slot|
2. 2
  Weakening Headshot
  Lower bullet resistance means more melee damage. |Upgrade into: Crippling Headshot|
3. 3

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.

Published ability order

Published ability order: unlocks and upgrades in the author's order, one row per ability in slot order
SplatterSplatter	Splatter: Ability unlocked, step 1				Splatter: 1 AP upgrade, step 5	Splatter: 2 AP upgrade, step 6