Valve Nerfs Celeste, Buffs Apollo in Deadlock
Valve's November 5 balance update adjusts several Deadlock heroes ahead of the Beta Season 2 launch.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in eSports
Valve released a Deadlock balance update on November 5, 2026, nerfing Celeste and Baba while buffing Apollo, Mo & Krill, Nurse Harrow, and Rat King. The changes also make Healbane's stack diminishing 20% more aggressive as Beta Season 1 ends and Beta Season 2 begins.
Why it matters
The update targets the current competitive meta before the new season launches, shifting which heroes are viable for players. Adjusting Healbane's stack diminishing directly changes how sustained healing functions in matches.
Valve's patch notes list Healbane at 4 stacks falling from 82.2% to 72% and Celeste's Shining Wonder cooldown rising from 160s to 170s. Competitive impact on win rates has not yet been reported.
The players
Valve
Valve is the video game developer and publisher behind Deadlock, a hero shooter MOBA that it continues to balance through regular patches.
The details
Celeste and Baba receive nerfs, including a Baba's Brew cooldown increase from 27s to 28s and reduced Spirit Resistance scaling from 0.7 to 0.5. Apollo, Mo & Krill, Nurse Harrow, and Rat King receive buffs, such as an 8% bullet damage increase for Nurse Harrow and Rat King ammo rising from 24 to 26.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: Valve releases the Deadlock balance update.
Beta Season 1 ends and Beta Season 2 launches following the update.
Season Trajectory
The November 5 update continues Valve's pattern of adjusting hero balance between Deadlock's beta seasons. By shifting stats before Beta Season 2, it reshapes which heroes compete for roster spots in the next phase of play.
Players who main Celeste, Baba, Healbane, or the buffed heroes will need to adjust builds and strategies in the new season. Shifts in cooldowns and stack diminishing alter practical choices in matches and fantasy-style hero selection.
The takeaway
Balance patches like this one can reshape which heroes dominate a season, so watching early pick rates after Beta Season 2 begins will show how much the changes matter in practice.
What happens next
Beta Season 2 launches after Beta Season 1 concludes, the next scheduled milestone for the balance changes.
Further reading
Explore more eSports coverage for context on competitive game balance changes.
