Rat King is real, but you can’t play him yet. Valve added him on September 29, 2026 as one of six new heroes in the City Never Sleeps update. Players vote on the release order. The first new hero drops on Friday, October 2, then two more arrive every week, on Tuesdays and Fridays.
| Rat King | Details |
|---|---|
| Status | Revealed, not playable yet |
| Valve’s words | “Scrappy, Regal, Tenacious” |
| Earliest release | October 2, 2026 at 2 PM PT |
| Release days | Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 PM PT |
| Abilities | Not revealed yet |
| Origin | A fan concept that became a meme |
What You Will Read:
Who Is Rat King in Deadlock?
He’s a giant rat with a crown. I laughed out loud at his poster. Deadlock is set in the Cursed Apple, a cursed version of New York, so a rat hero was overdue.
Players pulled his model from the game files. Here’s what stands out:
- A crown of sharp sticks and a torn red cape
- A big machine gun that stands on its own little legs
- Tiny rats on his coat, with one riding on the gun
- A small rat holding a pizza slice bigger than its body
The pizza rat is my favorite detail. Players see it as a nod to New York’s famous Pizza Rat. It also fits Valve’s own pizza joke, since Yoshi promised a heads up “or order a ton of pizza” before this patch.
Some players say he looks taller than Abrams. Others say you can hear a few of his voice lines when you vote for him, and one Steam user claims he mentions Long Island. I haven’t confirmed any of that yet.
When Does Rat King Release?
Rat King has no fixed date because the community vote decides his slot. If he wins the first vote, he’s out October 2. If he comes last, you’re waiting until October 20.
Deadlock New Hero Release Schedule
Valve confirmed October 2 and the Tuesday and Friday pattern, and I worked out the rest from that. Every release is at 2 PM PT (9 PM UTC).
| Slot | Date |
|---|---|
| 1st hero | Friday, October 2 |
| 2nd hero | Tuesday, October 6 |
| 3rd hero | Friday, October 9 |
| 4th hero | Tuesday, October 13 |
| 5th hero | Friday, October 16 |
| 6th hero | Tuesday, October 20 |
How the Hero Vote Works
- You vote in the pregame lobby before each match.
- Votes from the winning team count double.
- Your first win of the day doubles your votes too.
- After the first release, you also earn New Hero Priority Tokens by playing.
Campaign posters are back as well. My vote goes to Rat King, no contest.
Is Rat King Winning the Vote?
I haven’t seen official totals from Valve. A Discord poll that went around Reddit had him far ahead:
| Hero | Share (votes) |
|---|---|
| Rat King | 38% (9,348) |
| Violet | 16% (3,860) |
| Baba | 13% (3,083) |
| Solomon | 12% (3,009) |
| Deadman Danny | 12% (2,982) |
| Nurse Harrow | 9% (2,112) |
That’s 24,394 votes in a community poll, not the in-game vote. Real lobbies look mixed: some players mostly see Rat King votes, others mostly Baba. I think Rat King goes first.
Rat King Easter Eggs in the Hideout
Walk down the tunnel to Rem’s Hideout and look at the wall. There’s a huge shadow of Rat King there, spiky crown and all. It’s my favorite find of the update.
The other new heroes hiding in the Hideout too:
- Deadman Danny: outside the window near the training area
- Solomon: by the fireplace
- Baba: by the trophy wall
- Violet: on the long stairs
- Nurse Harrow: near the Curiosity Shop
One player also says rat traps were hidden in the Hideout before this update, one of them under the voting table. If so, Valve was teasing him for a while.
Rat King Abilities: What We Know So Far
Valve hasn’t revealed his abilities. I’ll add them here once he’s out. Here are the guesses I keep seeing, mine included:
- The tiny rats could be minions that chase enemies. That’s my bet.
- Many players hope he can use the tunnels like Rem.
- Some think he could turn into a pack of rats, the way Calico turns into a cat.
- One player spotted a new ping line, “going to rat,” and thinks it’s tied to his kit.
Rat King vs the Other City Never Sleeps Heroes
| Hero | Valve’s words | Poster |
|---|---|---|
| Rat King | “Scrappy, Regal, Tenacious” | Crowned rat with a pizza slice |
| Baba | “Cackling, Beady, Hexing” | Old woman on a bench with birds |
| Nurse Harrow | “Strict, Terrifying, Savior” | Nurse with a glowing syringe |
| Deadman Danny | “Reckless, High-Flying, Explosive” | Skeleton pilot in goggles |
| Solomon | “Strategist, Focused, Checkmate” | Man at a chessboard |
| Violet | “Ambitious, Nimble, Creative” | Painter with a brush |
Rat King is my pick. Baba is a close second.
FAQ
Do I need an invite to play Rat King?
Yes, for now. Deadlock is still invite-only, so a friend who already has the game needs to invite you.
Is Rat King a tank?
Nobody knows yet. His big model and the word “Tenacious” make me think he’ll be tanky, but that’s only a guess.
Who voices Rat King?
I haven’t seen Valve name his voice actor. A few players wondered if he shares one with Twitch from League of Legends, but others say they sound nothing alike.
Will Rat King be weak?
No one can tell before his kit is out. A Reddit thread already called him “the weakest of them all,” but that was about his theme, not his kit.
