HazeOpportunity · Teamfights
Watch for
She needs space and uninterrupted shooting to build useful damage.
Do this
Approach with allied help and use disruption to deny her shooting window, without chasing away from your team.
How to play
How to play Billy in Deadlock
How to play Billy in Deadlock
DifficultyHard
WeaponClose Range
RoleFrontline · Gun Carry
Quick answer
- Your job
- Stay close to a useful target, interrupt their movement, and combine gunfire with melee while teammates help. You are trying to keep a favourable fight going, not simply land the most punches.
- Positioning
- Approach from a corner or the side with allies within shooting distance.
- How to win fights
- Once Blasted is unlocked, melee hits help restore ammunition.
- When you’re in trouble
- Move back towards nearby allies and use your disruption to stop pursuit.
Strong at
- Sustained gunfireMelee ammunition recovery helps combine shooting with close attacks.
- Repeated disruptionKnock-ups create openings to maintain a close fight.
- Close-fight durabilityHis tools reward maintaining a supported exchange.
Weak to
- Distant targetsEnemies can keep shooting while he struggles to reach them.
- Predictable meleeRepeated punches can be anticipated and parried.
- Disabled toolsSilence or spent approach abilities can leave him exposed.
How to play Billy
The full version of the quick answer.
Your goal
Stay close to a useful target, interrupt their movement, and combine gunfire with melee while teammates help. You are trying to keep a favourable fight going, not simply land the most punches.
Positioning
Approach from a corner or the side with allies within shooting distance. Fight where enemies cannot easily keep retreating in a straight line. Do not spend Rising Ram crossing open ground if it leaves you alone beyond your team’s reach.
How to fight
- Once Blasted is unlocked, melee hits help restore ammunition. Activate it for a close fight you can maintain, then weave gunfire with safe melee attacks. Use Rising Ram and Bashdown to create openings rather than throwing both out while still too far away.
- Watch enemy parries and use shooting when another punch is predictable. Chain Gang is useful when nearby enemies can be pulled into a fight your team wants; check that allies are ready and keep targets in a useful position rather than chasing every escape.
When an enemy threatens you
Move back towards nearby allies and use your disruption to stop pursuit. If you are silenced or your approach tools are spent, do not assume more health means you can keep walking through gunfire.
Billy Items & Ability Order
Popular Billy Items
Compare popular Billy purchases across each game stage, with item trends relevant to his melee pressure and committed close-range fights.
0–9 min
Melee Lifesteal91%
Close Quarters85%
Monster Rounds61%
Stalker56%
9–20 min
Spirit Snatch65%
Lifestrike62%
Spirit Strike48%
Bullet Resist Shredder43%
20–30 min
Rapid Recharge37%
Crushing Fists33%
Spirit Resilience32%- Spirit Snatch23%
30+ min
- Crushing Fists19%
Colossus15%
Scourge11%- Spirit Resilience10%
Billy Ability Order
See how Billy players distribute early upgrades between damage, engagement tools and the staying power needed for extended brawls.
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Blasted | 1 | 2 | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – |
 Bashdown | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | 9 | 10 |
 Rising Ram | – | – | – | 4 | – | 6 | – | 8 | – | – |
 Chain Gang | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blasted | – | 2 | 3 | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bashdown | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 9 | 10 |
| Rising Ram | – | – | – | 4 | – | 6 | – | 8 | – | – |
| Chain Gang | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blasted | 1 | 2 | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bashdown | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | 9 | – |
| Rising Ram | – | – | – | 4 | – | 6 | – | 8 | – | – |
| Chain Gang | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | 10 |
Billy game plan
Timings are approximate. When teams start grouping and pushing objectives, use the next phase’s advice.
Early game
~0–10 minCollect souls and practise shooting between safe melee hits once Blasted is unlocked. Do not assume every enemy will allow repeated punches.
Mid game
~10–25 minApproach from cover with allied damage nearby. Use your knock-ups to keep a reachable enemy in a fight your team can win.
Late game
~25+ minUse Chain Gang when allies can attack the pulled enemies. Maintain a useful close exchange without following one target far beyond your team.
Tips
Good to know
- Meleeing McGinnis's wall breaks segments faster since your light attacks don't interrupt reload.
- Rising Ram's cooldown halves on impact, so land it on the first target to chain into a second.
- Re-entering the tether radius before it ends re-tethers runners — cutting corners keeps them chained.
Avoid these mistakes
- Enemies keeping their distance after Rising Ram is used.
- Being silenced or repeating predictable melee attacks.
If you’re struggling
Use control to stop enemies reaching your damage dealer rather than chasing past your team.
One useful tip
Light melee can help maintain your gunfire without repeatedly risking an obvious heavy punch.
Matchups to watch
Heroes that change how you play Billy. Situational adjustments, not rankings.
VindictaThreat · Lane
Watch for
Aerial ranged pressure can waste your approach without giving close contact.
Do this
Use cover and wait for a reachable position instead of spending Rising Ram on an unsupported open chase.
PocketOpportunity · Teamfights
Watch for
Pocket relies on movement and evasion during a close attack.
Do this
Threaten Chain Gang with allies ready, but keep shooting and avoid assuming every defensive option is already unavailable.
