Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade is Rat King’s first ability and one of his best lane-pressure tools. The grenade detonates several times, deals Bullet Damage and applies a slow, while the final detonation has a longer fuse, larger radius and stronger effect.
Opponents can melee the grenade to knock it away, so predictable throws are easy to counter. Rat King gets more value from placing it behind an enemy, on a narrow route or somewhere that forces the target to leave cover.
Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade October 30 damage and fuse changes
Valve reduced the grenade’s damage in the October 30, 2026 update. Base damage falls from 70 to 60, the Tier 2 damage bonus falls from 70 to 60, and the larger Tier 3 final blast falls from 300 to 275. The grenade still forces enemies to move, but the lower damage and longer fuses give them more room to react.
| Scrap Grenade stat | Before | After October 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Base damage | 70 | 60 |
| Tier 2 bonus damage | 70 | 60 |
| Tier 3 final blast | 300 | 275 |
| First bounce fuse | 0.8 seconds | 0.9 seconds |
| Later bounces | 0.7 seconds | 0.8 seconds |
| Tier 3 final explosion | 1.5 seconds | 1.6 seconds |
Each blast now takes a little longer to go off. Instead of throwing where an opponent is standing, aim for the route they’re about to use or combine it with a slow so they can’t easily walk out.
Meleeing a Scrap Grenade now leaves at least 0.4 seconds on the fuse. If it had less time remaining, the timer is extended to 0.4 seconds, giving the defender a chance to move away after the hit.
The Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade can still work well in a narrow corridor or across a retreat route, where enemies have less room to avoid every explosion. Just expect the lower damage and longer fuses to affect your timing. The same update also reduces Rule, Ratannia!’s knock-up duration by half and raises its cooldown from 160 to 180 seconds.
For the broader balance changes, read our Deadlock October 30 patch notes. The Halloween event in that release also adds Cauldrons with Candy and Sugar Rush through November 2.
Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade: how the explosions work
The grenade does not explode once and disappear. It controls a small area through repeated detonations, forcing opponents to keep moving or absorb several waves of damage.
The slow helps hold targets near the next blast. The final detonation is deliberately more threatening, so standing beside the grenade becomes increasingly risky.
Can you melee Scrap Grenade away?
Yes. The live ability explicitly allows opponents to melee the grenade and knock it away from its current position.
That gives defenders an active answer to Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade, but only when approaching the grenade is safe. Running directly into Rat King’s gun and Rat Swarm to punch it can be worse than leaving the area.
How the slow helps Rat King
The slow makes Sovereign’s Decree shots easier to land and gives Rat Swarm more time to stay attached. It can also make a later Rule, Ratannia! banner harder to escape.
Rat King does not need every explosion to hit. Forcing a bad route or making an enemy spend stamina can be enough value from one cast.
What changes at T3?
T3 adds an additional final bigger detonation to Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade. The stronger closing blast increases the cost of staying in the controlled area for too long.
Use it across retreat paths, stairs or doorways where enemies must choose between eating the final blast and taking a worse route.
Best places to throw Scrap Grenade
Narrow stairs, objective entrances, lane corners and rooms with limited exits are ideal. The ability is also strong after a teammate lands crowd control because the target has less time to melee it away.
Open ground is weaker because players can simply leave. Geometry is what turns Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade from chip damage into real area denial.
How to use it in lane
Throw the grenade around last-hit positions and escape routes rather than using it randomly on cooldown. Repeated explosions can pressure the enemy away from the wave while Rat King continues firing.
Save some casts for moments when the opponent actually needs to stand somewhere. That makes each Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade more difficult to ignore.
How to counter Scrap Grenade
Melee it away when safe, leave before the final detonation and avoid wasting every dash if Rat Swarm is also available.
The grenade is strongest when multiple Rat King mechanics overlap. Separating those threats makes the ability much easier to manage.
Does Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade have a smaller radius in Street Brawl?
Yes, in Street Brawl specifically. The October 30 patch cuts the explosion radius from eight to six metres and the large explosion radius from 14 to 10 metres for that mode. These radius reductions are in Valve’s Street Brawl section, so don’t apply them to standard matches.
The Deadlock Rat King Scrap Grenade still works as an area-denial tool in regular games. Land it across the route an enemy wants to take and use the longer fuse to time your follow-up. Our Rule, Ratannia! guide covers the other major Rat King nerfs.
Related Guides
Official source: Valve, Halloween 2026 + Gameplay Update.
