Violet is playable now in Deadlock, Valve announced on October 16, 2026 at 5 PM EDT, making her the fifth hero released from the City Never Sleeps vote. Valve’s hero spotlight, “Paint the Town,” also names the last one: Nurse Harrow arrives Tuesday, October 20 at 2 PM PDT (5 PM EDT).
The Details
Valve introduces Violet as a painter who approaches the ritual “with the same precision she does her art.” Her kit, with ability names as Valve gives them:
- Living Ink, which Valve says both “empowers her bullets” and “draws mere inspiration into reality.”
- Flow State, in which her ink “glides easily,” weaving toward danger to deal damage or away from it for a quick getaway.
- Still Life, which captures an enemy’s likeness. The spotlight does not spell out the effect beyond that.
- Abstract Landscape, her showpiece, which surrounds Violet “and those nearby” with her “biggest and most ambitious piece yet.”
Valve has not posted numbers, so damage, durations and cooldowns will come from the in-game descriptions and later patch notes. The Rat King’s kit was retuned three days after his release, so expect Violet’s to move too.
Violet follows the Rat King (October 2), Baba (October 6), Solomon (October 9) and Deadman Danny (October 13). When Danny launched, Valve said only Violet and Nurse Harrow were left, and players voted in the pregame lobby on which came first. Violet took Friday’s slot. Valve thanked players for “voting once again” and called next week “the culmination of our City Never Sleeps update.”
What This Means for Players
If Violet is not in your hero picks yet, our guide to unlocking and playing the new heroes covers how City Never Sleeps releases reach your roster. On paper Flow State doubles as an engage tool and an escape. That makes Violet a hero to learn in unranked first: our best beginner heroes list covers safer picks while you do.
For how the update has changed matches beyond the new heroes, see every City Never Sleeps change that matters. Our Deadman Danny story covers the previous release, and every Deadlock guide lives on our Deadlock hub.
When and Where
- Violet: out now in Deadlock on PC.
- Nurse Harrow, the final City Never Sleeps hero: Tuesday, October 20 at 2 PM PDT (5 PM EDT).
If you still need access to the game, our guide to getting into Deadlock explains how.
Source: Valve, “Paint the Town,” Deadlock on Steam, October 16, 2026.