Minor Update - 09-16-2026 · Sep 16, 2026
- Crimson Slash T3 now also increases the heal spirit scaling by +0.4
- Flying Slash light melee scaling increased from 1.0 to 1.2
Assassin · Hard to play · Spreadshot
Yamato build & counters
Yamato is a assassin in Deadlock (“Delivers charged attacks with finesse”). Since the 10-05-2026 patch Yamato has a 47.2% win rate over 141,550 games, which is C tier across all ranks and A tier in Phantom to Eternus games. The most-bought Yamato items after the first shop are Stalker, Spirit Snatch and Boundless Spirit. Most players max Flying Slash first. Yamato's hardest matchup is Paige.
- Tier
- C
- Win rate
- 47.2% −0.5
- Pick rate
- 25.9%
- KDA
- 2.62
- Souls / game
- 38,932
- Games
- 141,550
Tier by rank
- All ranksC47.2%
- Initiate – AcolyteB48.0%
- Sentinel – RitualistB48.6%
- Emissary – OracleB48.5%
- Phantom – EternusA51.0%
Best Yamato items
The items Yamato players buy most at each shop tier this patch, with the win rate of the players who bought them. Late items show higher win rates because winning players can afford them, so compare items within a tier.
Tier 1 · 800 souls
Melee Lifesteal77% buy · 47.7% win
Restorative Shot76% buy · 47.5% win
Spirit Strike74% buy · 47.2% win
Extra Regen51% buy · 47.9% win
Tier 2 · 1,600 souls
Stalker63% buy · 48.5% win
Healing Booster60% buy · 48.4% win
Mystic Shot58% buy · 47.1% win
Improved Spirit51% buy · 46.0% win
Tier 3 · 3,200 souls
Spirit Snatch69% buy · 47.7% win
Lifestrike53% buy · 49.2% win
Radiant Regeneration52% buy · 48.9% win
Torment Pulse48% buy · 47.9% win
Tier 4 · 6,400 souls
Boundless Spirit38% buy · 51.1% win
Transcendent Cooldown25% buy · 51.1% win
Mystic Reverb24% buy · 54.7% win
Refresher20% buy · 58.1% win
Abilities and skill order
1. Power Slash
Channel to increase damage over 1.4 seconds, then release a fully-charged sword strike. Press Ability 1 or to trigger the strike early, dealing partial damage.
2. Flying Slash
Throw a grappling hook to reel yourself towards an enemy, dealingmelee damage and slowing the target when you arrive.
3. Crimson Slash
Slash enemies in front of you, damaging them and slowing their fire rate. If any enemy heroes are hit, you heal.
4. Shadow Transformation · ultimate
Become infused with Yamato's shadow soul. After an initial invincible transformation your abilities are refreshed and are 60% faster. You gain immunity to negative status effects and have greatly increased bullet and spirit resist. When you get a hero kill, you heal and the duration is extended.
Most common skill order
- 3
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 2
- 4
- 2
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 4
- 4
- 4
- 1
- 1
Numbers match the abilities above: each box is one ability point, left to right. This exact order wins 60.2% of 9,311 games. Flying Slash is maxed first in 73% of common orders.
Yamato counters and matchups
How to counter Yamato
Enemies that lower Yamato's win rate most
Percentage points against Yamato's overall win rate of 47.2%, all ranks, pairs with at least 300 games.
Recent official changes
Minor Update - 07-28-2026 · Jul 28, 2026
- Flying Slash T2 reduced from +40 Spirit Power to +35
- Flying Slash T3 charges from +2 to +1
- Flying Slash T3 Charge Time increased from 4s to 5s
Minor Update - 07-09-2026 · Jul 9, 2026
- Flying Slash range reduced from 28m to 26m
- Flying Slash T3 Charge Delay increased from 3s to 4s
- Flying Slash T3 Ally Targeting now requires alt cast input
About Yamato
Yamato uses precise strikes to decimate her rivals. However, such damaging attacks often will leave her exposed, so she needs to make every shot count.
From the hero description in the game files.
FAQ
What is the best Yamato build?
By purchase rate this patch: tier 1: Melee Lifesteal, Restorative Shot; tier 2: Stalker, Healing Booster; tier 3: Spirit Snatch, Lifestrike; tier 4: Boundless Spirit, Transcendent Cooldown. Percentages above show how often Yamato players buy each item and how often they win when they do.
How do you counter Yamato?
Pick heroes Yamato struggles against. Yamato wins least often when the enemy team has Paige, Graves and Seven. Win rates compare games with that enemy against Yamato's overall 47.2%.
Updated Oct 13, 2026.