Deadlock Calico Guide
Calico is an assassin with 740 health and a spreadshot / close range kit. What each ability does and when to request Calico on a boost.
Calico is a burst assassin built around picking one target, hitting it with Gloom Bombs and Leaping Slash, and leaving through Return to Shadows before anyone can answer. The booster is leveraging her map presence: Ava turns her into a fast cat that hides from the minimap and travels through vents, so she shows up at fights the enemy did not plan for.
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Ability kit
Calico snapshot
Deadlock Wiki lists Calico as a assassin with 740 base health, 6.8 move speed, 3 stamina, and a spreadshot / close range weapon profile.
The ability set is Gloom Bombs, Leaping Slash, Ava, Return to Shadows.
Calico is a burst assassin built around picking one target, hitting it with Gloom Bombs and Leaping Slash, and leaving through Return to Shadows before anyone can answer. The booster is leveraging her map presence: Ava turns her into a fast cat that hides from the minimap and travels through vents, so she shows up at fights the enemy did not plan for.
Solo boost fit
In a solo boost the booster plays Calico on your account as a roaming pick hero. Gloom Bombs land the delayed spirit burst, Leaping Slash closes the gap and heals a little when it connects with a hero, and Return to Shadows makes her untargetable so she can dive a squishy target and get out. The risk is that she is a melee-range assassin whose untargetable escape sits on a long cooldown, so the booster manages Return to Shadows carefully and keeps Ava in reserve for repositioning instead of forcing fights while it is down.
Duo boost notes
In a duo boost you play Calico on your own account and the booster plays alongside you. Coordinate around Gloom Bombs and Return to Shadows: you call the target, the booster commits first to draw attention, and you drop the bombs and follow with Leaping Slash once the enemy has turned. Between fights, use Ava to rotate through the vents to wherever the booster is, so the two of you hit the same target at the same time instead of trading solo picks.
When to request this hero
Request Calico by name when your account already has games on her and you want the climb to look like an assassin player's match history. If you mostly want the fastest, most stable ranks, let the booster pick, because Calico's melee-range kit and long escape cooldown make her a higher-variance choice than a hero who wins from range.
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FAST ANSWERS
Should I request Calico for a Deadlock boost?
Yes, if you want the games played on an assassin that dives and escapes, since our Eternus 6 boosters are comfortable running Gloom Bombs into Leaping Slash and leaving through Return to Shadows. If you have no preference, letting the booster pick usually gives a steadier climb.
Is Calico better for solo or duo boosting?
Calico works in both, but she is easier as a solo boost because the booster can pick targets and time Return to Shadows without waiting on anyone. In a duo she needs you and the booster to commit on the same target, since her damage is short range and her untargetable escape is on a long cooldown.
What makes Calico different to boost with?
Ava is the difference. Calico turns into a cat that hides from the minimap, builds speed the longer it goes untouched, and travels through vents, so she reaches fights from angles the enemy is not watching. Add the double burst from Return to Shadows, once on the way out and again on the way back, and she punishes anyone who stands still.