Apollo, the latest duelist to join the roster in Deadlock’s “Old Gods, New Blood” update, has been hit with a massive wave of nerfs following widespread player complaints regarding his overwhelming mobility and tankiness.
The Reign of Terror Ends
Since his introduction, Apollo dominated matches by abusing his “Flawless Advance” ability. This move allowed him to leap into the air, hover, and strike with precision, healing himself upon connection when upgraded. This combination made him nearly impossible to target or escape, especially when paired with his “Disengaging Sigil,” which previously ignored “Slowing Hex”—the standard item intended to counter hyper-mobile heroes.
For many players, particularly those relying on support or squishy ranged characters, facing Apollo became a miserable experience. Teamfights frequently devolved into one-sided encounters where the duelist would zip across the map with high-speed mobility, leaving backline players with no viable defense.
Specifics of the Apollo Overhaul
Valve has responded to the community outcry with significant adjustments to bring the hero back in line. The changes focus heavily on his survivability and damage output:
- Flawless Advance: The hit radius has been reduced, base damage decreased, spirit scaling slashed, and the healing effect nerfed.
- Disengaging Sigil: Now properly countered by “Slowing Hex,” making it a much more accessible purchase for players looking to keep him in check.
- Itani Lo sahn (Ultimate): This ability also received a downgrade. It can now be interrupted, putting it on cooldown; it no longer hits targets behind him; and both its base damage and spirit scaling have been lowered.
Community Reaction
The sentiment on the game’s subreddit has been overwhelmingly positive, with players celebrating the developer’s swift intervention. Comments ranged from “Damn they beat his ass” to the colorful observation that “Yoshi took him out back,” reflecting the relief among the player base that the character’s dominance has finally been addressed.
