SinclairThreat · Lane
Watch for
A connected ranged spell sequence can punish your low tolerance for burst.
Do this
Use cover and preserve Sanguine Retreat when his setup is ready; do not remain exposed to complete one more attack.
How to play
How to play Mina in Deadlock
How to play Mina in Deadlock
DifficultyHard
WeaponPistol
RoleSpirit Carry · Gun Carry
Quick answer
- Your job
- Build repeated damage opportunities, then finish a wounded target without getting caught by the reply. Your mobility helps you survive, but your low health makes one careless exposed exchange costly.
- Positioning
- Play around covered side angles near your teammates rather than standing at the very front.
- How to win fights
- Use attacks to build Love Bites pressure, then look for Rake when a target is wounded enough for it to matter.
- When you’re in trouble
- Use your evasive movement towards cover and teammates before you are too low to survive.
Strong at
- Repeated burst setupLove Bites rewards finding safe attack opportunities.
- Evasive movementRetreat tools help avoid a dangerous response.
- Kill recoveryRake can restore health from finishing appropriate targets.
Weak to
- Low tolerance for burstA brief exposed mistake can be costly.
- Disabled escapeControl makes relying on movement much riskier.
- Overlong exchangesStaying visible gives enemies time to answer fully.
How to play Mina
The full version of the quick answer.
Your goal
Build repeated damage opportunities, then finish a wounded target without getting caught by the reply. Your mobility helps you survive, but your low health makes one careless exposed exchange costly.
Positioning
Play around covered side angles near your teammates rather than standing at the very front. Stay close enough to land useful attacks while preserving a route back. Before following a wounded enemy, check whether their teammates can turn and burst you.
How to fight
- Use attacks to build Love Bites pressure, then look for Rake when a target is wounded enough for it to matter. Do not assume your gun alone is the whole plan. Take short opportunities while the enemy is distracted instead of remaining visible until they can unload everything.
- Rake can restore health when it finishes a target, including troopers or camps, so use farming to recover between fights. Keep Sanguine Retreat for avoiding a dangerous response or changing position. Use your larger damage commitment when allies can occupy enemies rather than forcing it alone.
When an enemy threatens you
Use your evasive movement towards cover and teammates before you are too low to survive. If the enemy can stop that movement, wait near allied protection instead of relying on it to rescue every risky attack.
Mina Items & Ability Order
Popular Mina Items
See which items Mina players commonly purchase throughout a match, with a phase breakdown for her mobile harassment and cleanup playstyle.
0–9 min
Extra Spirit98%
Mystic Burst98%
Quicksilver Reload85%
Improved Spirit54%
9–20 min
Stamina Mastery75%
Tankbuster66%
Dispel Magic59%
Extra Stamina56%
20–30 min
Boundless Spirit58%
Spirit Burn46%
Superior Cooldown32%- Tankbuster27%
30+ min
- Spirit Burn21%
Transcendent Cooldown18%
Greater Expansion17%- Superior Cooldown16%
Mina Ability Order
Explore common Mina ability sequences and how players invest early points in pressure, movement and opportunities to finish weakened opponents.
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Love Bites | 1 | – | – | – | – | 6 | – | 8 | – | – |
 Rake | – | 2 | 3 | – | 5 | – | – | – | 9 | – |
 Sanguine Retreat | – | – | – | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | 10 |
 Nox Nostra | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love Bites | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rake | – | 2 | 3 | – | 5 | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Sanguine Retreat | – | – | – | 4 | – | – | – | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Nox Nostra | – | – | – | – | – | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love Bites | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 8 | – | – |
| Rake | – | – | 3 | 4 | – | 6 | – | – | 9 | – |
| Sanguine Retreat | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | 10 |
| Nox Nostra | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |
Mina 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 use Rake to finish troopers when you need recovery. Take short covered attacks and preserve Sanguine Retreat for danger.
Mid game
~10–25 minKeep income moving while looking for repeated Love Bites opportunities. Avoid a long exposed fight against someone ready to burst you.
Late game
~25+ minAttack from the side after enemies commit elsewhere. Help finish wounded targets without following them beyond your team’s ability to protect you.
Tips
Good to know
- Love Bites has a separate proc cooldown per target, so rotate targets in teamfights to trigger more bites.
- Every Love Bite on a hero permanently adds bats to your ultimate, so harass heroes all game to scale it.
- Rake kills don't drop soul orbs from troopers — last-hit troopers with your gun, not the slash.
Avoid these mistakes
- Taking one large burst while your escape is unavailable.
- Staying exposed just to finish one more Love Bites sequence.
If you’re struggling
Recover through safe farming and short attacks instead of trying to survive a long exposed exchange.
One useful tip
Rake can help recover health by finishing troopers or camps; you do not need a hero kill to use its recovery.
Matchups to watch
Heroes that change how you play Mina. Situational adjustments, not rankings.
BillyThreat · Teamfights
Watch for
A close control commitment can deny the movement you were relying on.
Do this
Keep his approach in view and enter after he is occupied rather than following a wounded target directly beside him.
Grey TalonOpportunity · Mid-game skirmishes
Watch for
An isolated ranged target can be distracted aiming at your teammates.
Do this
Use a covered side angle and keep an exit; do not extend the chase through his trap or incoming protection.
