Deadlock Halloween update reworks the Mid-Boss

The Deadlock Halloween update adds candy cauldrons, a redesigned Mid-Boss pit and big Solomon nerfs. Here are the most important changes in the patch.

FireGhost

November 1, 2026, 09:50 AM4 min read

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The Deadlock Halloween update is live. Valve's October 31 patch adds a seasonal candy event, redesigns the Mid-Boss pit and changes almost every hero and item. The Halloween festivities run until November 2.

PCGamesN notes the patch lands just a month after the big City Never Sleeps overhaul. Much of it is aimed at reining in the newest heroes.

Deadlock Halloween update key facts

Update name: Halloween 2026 + Gameplay Update
Released: October 31, 2026, 00:33 UTC
Event window: through November 2, 2026
Platform: PC (Steam)
Access: still invite-based
Scope: Mid-Boss, map, items and more than 30 heroes

How do the Halloween Cauldrons work?

This year's new addition is Halloween Cauldrons. You will find bubbling cauldrons on the streets of Manhattan during matches. Break one with a Heavy Melee to grab a piece of Candy. Eat it whenever you like to trigger a temporary Sugar Rush buff.

The Hideout also has a spooky new look. Heroes wear masks, and NYC is covered in pumpkins.

A Deadlock hero standing in a dark hall — A scene from Deadlock (Source: Valve / Steam)

Why was the Mid-Boss redesigned?

According to PCGamesN, five of the six newest heroes brought teamfight-winning ultimates, and fights in the Mid-Boss pit had become one-note. Valve made the area a little larger and added more cover.

Mid-Boss health and health per minute up 20%
Resistance reductions are only 50% as effective against it
Roar now triggers at 25% HP instead of 50%
Bounty cut from 3000 (+50/min) to 1500 (+25/min)
The Rejuvenator drops as three crystals around the pit instead of one in the center
Each crystal fully heals whoever breaks it and grants them a 500-soul bounty

The team still gets three Rejuvenators in total. Claiming them now means spreading out, though. Baba's heavy melee stomp only breaks the closest crystal, so she can no longer scoop up all three at once.

Map and comeback changes

Breakables give 10% less growth, while Haunts are 10% stronger and pay out more. Comeback gold for the losing team rises from a maximum of 26% to 30%. Tunnel move speed drops from +70% to +50%. The six latest heroes are no longer tagged as new and can now be banned in Ranked.

A statue under a beam of light on a Deadlock map — A look at the Deadlock map (Source: Valve / Steam)

Hero and item changes

Solomon and Rat King take hits

Solomon is the biggest loser. His base bullet damage falls from 30 to 25, and his gun deals 20% less headshot damage. Rook Battery damage scaling drops from 1.3 to 0.9, and Develop Queen's cooldown goes from 210 to 240 seconds. Rat King's base damage and Scrap Grenade damage are also reduced.

Nurse Harrow's base gun damage is down 10%. Violet and Mirage get sweeping changes, while Abrams gains 5% base gun damage.

Healing items rebalanced

Radiant Regeneration is heavily nerfed, and Divine Barrier's cooldown rises from 45 to 55 seconds. In return, lifesteal items such as Bullet Lifesteal, Spirit Lifesteal, Leech and Infuser are buffed. Healbane can now stack from multiple sources.

In short, the meta is about to shift. Heroes that won fights with a single ultimate have been pulled back, while positioning and lifesteal matter more.

New to Deadlock? Start with our Deadlock heroes guide. More Valve news: Valve on Steam's AI slop problem and the HLX comment that stirred Half-Life 3 hopes.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Deadlock Halloween event last?

Valve's patch notes say the festivities run in-game through November 2, 2026. Until then you can collect candy from cauldrons during matches.

What changed with the Deadlock Mid-Boss?

The pit is bigger and has more cover. The Mid-Boss has 20% more health and half the bounty, and the Rejuvenator now drops as three crystals instead of one.