Halloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan NowHalloween DealsAmazon USOctober picks are moving - compare before checkoutAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › Deadlock

How to Counter Deadlock’s Chess-Themed Hero Solomon: Positioning, Items, and Team Tactics

By Freedom251 Team · · 11 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

To counter Solomon, deny him the space and timing his chess-piece abilities need. Track every bishop he places, break the straight paths of Rook Battery, keep an escape route before committing, and spread out when his queen threatens an area. Choose defensive items for the specific threat you can actually answer—not simply the most expensive tier—and coordinate your movement instead of reacting as five separate players.

Solomon is Deadlock’s chess-themed hero, using bishops, a knight, rooks and a queen. He became available in-game with the October 9, 2026 patch, so exact values and item interactions can change quickly. Check the live descriptions in the client and the current Solomon hero reference before relying on a number or interaction.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What Solomon is trying to do

Solomon wins fights by turning portions of the map into a puzzle opponents must solve under pressure. His abilities create delayed danger, restrict movement, or punish players who remain on a predictable path. The counter is therefore less about finding one magic item and more about preserving options: keep moving, maintain line-of-sight breaks, avoid walking into prepared squares, and leave room to disengage.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The current hero reference describes four chess-piece abilities. The October 9 patch notes at undeadlock.com also summarize the newly released hero and note that his ultimate can execute low-health heroes. Because this is an early release, treat the descriptions below as the practical shape of his kit rather than permanent balance values.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
Logitech G502 Hero Wired Gaming Mouse - Black | High performance, 25,600 DPI, RGB, adjustable weights, 11 programmable buttons, on-board memory, PC/Mac
  • HERO Gaming Sensor: Next generation HERO mouse sensor delivers precision tracking up to 25600 DPI with zero smoothing, filtering or acceleration
  • 11 programmable buttons and dual mode hyper-fast scroll wheel: The Logitech wired gaming mouse gives you fully customizable control over your gameplay
  • Adjustable weights: Match your playing style. Arrange up to five 3.6 g weights for a personalized weight and balance configuration
  • LIGHTSYNC technology: Logitech G LIGHTSYNC technology provides fully customizable RGB lighting that can also synchronize with your gaming (requires Logitech Gaming Software)
  • Mechanical Switch Button Tensioning: A metal spring tensioning system and metal pivot hinges are built into left and right computer gaming mouse buttons for a crisp, clean click feel with rapid click feedback
Ability What it threatens What you should do
Setup Bishop Placed bishops can move through enemies, slow and deal spirit damage, then activate damaging squares that punish anyone stepping on them. Solomon can recall them. Mark their locations, avoid the delayed squares, and re-check the battlefield after he moves or recalls a bishop.
Kingside Knight Promoting an ally grants barrier and stamina. Self-casting turns Solomon into a king with more barrier but no stamina. The moving piece is invulnerable while traveling. Do not waste damage trying to hit the traveling piece. Reassess the target after the promotion and be ready for the temporary durability.
Rook Battery Two rooks travel forward, deal spirit damage and immobilize on hit. They can reflect from a wall, and Solomon can split their path. Do not stand still in a straight lane near a wall. Change direction as they launch and remember that a wall does not necessarily end the threat.
Develop Queen The queen damages an area, then releases lines of damaging squares that stun. The patch notes describe an execution threat against low-health heroes. Keep an exit before the cast, spread out, and leave the affected area instead of trying to finish a low-health target inside it.

One player described the difficult part of the hero as needing to “constantly position correctly.” That is an individual observation, not a measured community consensus, but it captures the central matchup lesson: your location and escape options matter as much as your build.

Positioning rules that deny his setup

Read bishops as temporary terrain

Setup Bishop is strongest when you forget where the pieces are. A bishop that appears harmless can later move through a fight, slow targets and damage them, while its squares become a delayed hazard. Before contesting an objective, crossing a doorway or retreating along a familiar route, identify every bishop on the likely path.

  • Take a different angle. Use a side route or a vertical change rather than walking through the square Solomon prepared.
  • Do not anchor to the original location. He can move a bishop and can recall it, so a safe-looking lane can become dangerous after you have checked it once.
  • Separate scouting from commitment. Let one player reveal the route while the rest keep distance; do not send the whole team into an unverified cluster of squares.
  • Use the delay. If a bishop begins moving or its squares activate, disengage first. Re-enter only after the hazard has passed or your team has another route.

The goal is not to memorize a fixed counter pattern. It is to keep updating the map whenever Solomon changes a bishop’s position.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Break Rook Battery’s line

Rook Battery rewards a stationary target. The pair travels forward, immobilizes on a hit and can reflect from a wall; Solomon can also split the path. Near a wall, avoid presenting a clean corridor that lets both rooks reach you or a teammate.

  1. Watch Solomon’s facing and the lane in front of him before taking a shot or objective interaction.
  2. When the rooks launch, move laterally or diagonally rather than backing up in the same line.
  3. Expect a bounce at a wall and continue moving until both trajectories are clear.
  4. If the path splits, choose the opening that increases distance from both projectiles, not merely the one that avoids the first visible rook.

Do not assume a wall is cover by itself. The reflection is part of the ability, so a corner can become a second launch angle.

Rank #2
Sale
Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse - Black | 12,000 DPI, Lightweight, 6 Programmable Buttons, 250h Battery, On-Board Memory, Compatible with PC and Mac
  • The next-generation optical HERO sensor delivers incredible performance and up to 10x the power efficiency over previous generations, with 400 IPS precision and up to 12,000 DPI sensitivity
  • Ultra-fast LIGHTSPEED wireless technology gives you a lag-free gaming experience, delivering incredible responsiveness and reliability with 1 ms report rate for competition-level performance
  • G305 wireless mouse boasts an incredible 250 hours of continuous gameplay on just 1 AA battery; switch to Endurance mode via Logitech G HUB software and extend battery life up to 9 months
  • Wireless does not have to mean heavy, G305 lightweight mouse provides high maneuverability coming in at only 3.4 oz thanks to efficient lightweight mechanical design and ultra-efficient battery usage
  • The durable, compact design with built-in nano receiver storage makes G305 not just a great portable desktop mouse, but also a great laptop travel companion, use with a gaming laptop and play anywhere

Preserve an exit before a fight starts

Solomon has immobilization and stun in addition to area damage. Entering a confined room, narrow stairwell or dead-end lane without an exit lets one control hit decide the engagement. Before you commit, identify a route that remains usable if your first target survives.

  • Fight from the side of an area rather than its center when the queen is available.
  • Keep one movement option unoccupied so you can leave when a bishop square or rook lane appears.
  • Do not chase a retreating Solomon through a prepared zone unless your team has already cleared another path.
  • When your escape route closes, stop advancing; forcing a fight in a trap gives his control abilities maximum value.

Spread out without losing support

Develop Queen damages an area and then creates stunning lines of squares. Grouping every teammate in one threatened patch allows a single cast to disrupt the whole formation. Use spacing that lets players help one another while denying Solomon one high-value target zone.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

This does not mean scattering so far that nobody can respond. Maintain overlapping sightlines, but leave enough distance that one area effect cannot catch everyone. If one player is forced out by the queen, the others should still have room to cover the retreat.

How to respond to each chess piece during a fight

Against Setup Bishop

When Solomon places a bishop, call its location immediately and treat the nearby squares as suspect. If he moves it, update the call rather than assuming the first warning remains accurate. During a retreat, avoid running through the original placement just because the bishop is no longer visibly there; the delayed activation is the danger.

Against Kingside Knight

Kingside Knight changes the durability calculation. An ally promotion grants barrier and stamina, while self-casting makes Solomon a king with a larger barrier but no stamina. The moving piece is invulnerable during travel, so shooting it while it travels is wasted attention. Wait for the piece to finish, then reassess whether the protected target can still be isolated.

Rank #3
Sale
Razer Basilisk V3 Customizable RGB Wired Ergonomic Gaming Mouse, Black | Fastest Gaming Mouse Switch, Chroma RGB Lighting, 26K DPI Optical Sensor, 11 Programmable Buttons, HyperScroll Tilt Wheel
  • ICONIC ERGONOMIC DESIGN WITH THUMB REST — PC gaming mouse favored by millions worldwide with a form factor that perfectly supports the hand while its buttons are optimally positioned for quick and easy access
  • 11 PROGRAMMABLE BUTTONS — Assign macros and secondary functions across 11 programmable buttons to execute essential actions like push-to-talk, ping, and more
  • HYPERSCROLL TILT WHEEL — Speed through content with a scroll wheel that free-spins until its stopped or switch to tactile mode for more precision and satisfying feedback that’s ideal for cycling through weapons or skills
  • 11 RAZER CHROMA RGB LIGHTING ZONES — Customize each zone from over 16.8 million colors and countless lighting effects, all while it reacts dynamically with over 150 Chroma integrated games
  • OPTICAL MOUSE SWITCHES GEN 2 — With zero unintended misclicks these switches provide crisp, responsive execution at a blistering 0.2ms actuation speed for up to 70 million clicks

If Solomon promotes a teammate to start a push, give ground rather than trading into the barrier without a plan. If he self-casts, deny him an easy chase: the extra barrier can absorb your first burst, but he does not gain the stamina described for an ally promotion.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Against Rook Battery

Keep your camera and movement oriented toward the launch lane whenever Solomon is in range. A player immobilized by one rook is an easy follow-up target for the other, for a bishop hazard or for the queen. Dodge first, then return fire. If you are already slowed or trapped, prioritize reaching cover and calling the direction rather than forcing damage.

Against Develop Queen

Save your most decisive commitment for after the queen’s area and stun pattern has been respected. The ability first damages an area and then releases lines of damaging squares that stun. Leave the affected space as soon as it appears; do not wait for the stun lines to become obvious. The patch notes’ execution warning makes low-health players especially vulnerable, so retreat before you reach a health total at which a finishing effect can decide the fight.

Choosing items without chasing a mythical hard counter

Deadlock’s mechanics guide advises selecting items for the fight and the action they enable, rather than automatically buying a higher tier because it is affordable. It also distinguishes passive effects from active effects that require a timely button press. Apply that principle here: identify whether Solomon is winning through a projectile line, a control effect, delayed area damage or the durability from his knight, then buy an effect you can use against that threat.

When a parry effect fits your play

The current Counterspell item reference says its next parry protects against damage and effects from enemy abilities and items. That makes it a candidate for players who can reliably time a parry when Solomon commits a control effect. The available references do not establish Counterspell as a uniquely effective or universally recommended Solomon answer.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #4
Sale
Redragon M612 Wired RGB Optical Gaming Mouse 8000 DPI Remapping Keys | Stable Lag-Free Connection, Redefine Keybinding Macro, Vibing Backlight, Ergonomic Grip Body Comfort
  • Pentakill, 5 DPI Levels - Geared with 5 redefinable DPI levels (default as: 500/1000/2000/3000/4000), easy to switch between different game needs. Dedicated demand of DPI options between 500-8000 is also available to be processed by software.
  • Any Button is Reassignable - 11 programmable buttons are all editable with customizable tactical keybinds in whatever game or work you are engaging. 1 rapid fire + 2 side macro buttons offer you a better gaming and working experience.
  • Comfort Grip with Details - The skin-friendly frosted coating is the main comfort grip of the mouse surface, which offers you the most enjoyable fingerprint-free tactility. The left side equipped with rubber texture strengthened the friction and made the mouse easier to control.
  • 5 Decent Backlit Modes - Turn the backlit on and make some kills in your gaming battlefield. The hyped dynamic RGB backlit vibe will never let you down when decorating your gaming space, it would be better with other Redragon accessories with lights on.
  • Fatigue Killer with Ergonomic Design - Solid frame with a streamlined and general claw-grip design offers a satisfying and comfortable gaming experience with less fatigue even though after hours of use.

Choose it only if you understand its timing and can press it under pressure. An active that sits unused does not protect you from a bishop square, a rook immobilize or a queen stun. Practice the trigger in situations where you can recognize Solomon’s cast, and verify the live description because item behavior can change.

Build for the threat actually deciding the fight

  • Repeated immobilizes are the problem: favor an effect you can activate in time to avoid or survive the control, provided your hero and economy support it.
  • Delayed squares are the problem: prioritize mobility and route discipline; a defensive purchase cannot compensate for repeatedly walking into marked terrain.
  • Barriered targets are the problem: stop wasting your burst into the Kingside Knight protection and coordinate damage after the promotion’s value has been spent.
  • Long, predictable lanes are the problem: buy or use tools that help you change angle, then fight from positions that do not give Rook Battery a straight approach.

No official Solomon matchup guide or controlled test establishes a shopping list of proven counters. Treat item recommendations as conditional choices and check the current client’s descriptions, costs and cooldowns before committing your souls.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Team tactics and communication

Use short, location-based calls

Solomon’s hazards are easier to beat when the team shares the same map picture. Call “bishop left doorway,” “rooks from mid,” or “queen active—back out” rather than giving a long explanation during the cast. Update the call when a bishop moves or is recalled.

Keep alternate routes open

Do not funnel the whole team through one entrance while Solomon has his area tools ready. Preserve a second route around an objective, and avoid standing on top of the player who is checking the first path. Alternate routes give immobilized or stunned teammates a chance to escape and stop one cast from controlling everyone.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Punish control abilities after they are spent

If Solomon uses a control ability to initiate and fails to secure a target, coordinate pressure while that tool is unavailable. Deadlock’s mechanics reference explains that even a durable initiator needs team follow-up; forcing him to spend control without converting it creates a window to contest space or attack his backline. Do not chase blindly into a remaining bishop or rook lane just because one ability is on cooldown.

Best Value
Logitech G PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE Wireless Gaming Mouse - Black/White | Customizable Rapid Trigger Magnetic Analog Switches, Adjustable Click Haptics, 61g Lightweight, USB-C, <8K, For PC/Mac
  • Designed With Pros, Engineered to Win: Designed alongside the world’s best esports athletes, the Logitech G PRO X2 SUPERSTRIKE wireless gaming mouse delivers the fastest, fully customizable click
  • Dominate with industry-leading speed: 30 ms faster clicks for peak performance in every esports match and deep customization with 10-level actuation points and 5-level rapid trigger reset
  • Haptic Feedback: This breakthrough haptic gaming mouse with Haptic Inductive Trigger System (HITS) gives real-time feedback for an unmatched immersive experience for any game scenario or play style
  • Precision from Within: The HERO 2 sensor in this PC gaming mouse delivers tracking at over 888 IPS, 88 g-force, and up to 44,000 DPI — ensuring the pinpoint accuracy that champions rely on for every play
  • Play Longer : With 60-90 hours battery life and LIGHTSPEED Wireless, this rechargeable gaming mouse(with included USB-A to USB-C cable) delivers lag-free 8 kHz polling for uninterrupted focus

Assign one player to track the queen

During a prolonged engagement, designate one teammate to watch for Develop Queen and announce its start. The others can maintain pressure, clear a route or protect a low-health ally instead of all five players turning independently and losing sight of their targets. The assignment is a coordination method derived from the documented kit, not a published matchup statistic.

Coordinate the response to Kingside Knight

When Solomon promotes an ally, identify the protected target and stop splitting damage across several barriered players. Either disengage until the protection loses value or focus the same target with a planned burst after the movement phase. If he self-casts, call the larger barrier so teammates do not mistake the temporary durability for permanent immunity.

A practical fight sequence

  1. Before contact, locate the pieces. Note bishops, walls that could reflect rooks, available exits and the likely queen landing area.
  2. Choose a formation. Keep enough spacing to avoid one area effect catching everyone while preserving sightlines for help.
  3. Force Solomon to reveal a tool. Poke from an angle that does not require your team to cross a prepared square or stand in a rook lane.
  4. Dodge before trading. When Rook Battery launches or a bishop hazard activates, move first. Damage comes after the control threat has passed.
  5. Reassess after Kingside Knight. Identify whether the promotion protected an ally or Solomon himself, then decide whether to disengage or focus after the barrier window.
  6. Respect the queen at low health. A damaged teammate should leave the area rather than gamble on a final hit while the stun lines and execution threat are active.
  7. Counter-push after a miss. If Solomon spends a control ability without securing a target, use the resulting window to take space together, keeping one escape route open.

Common mistakes and their fixes

Mistake Why it fails Fix
Walking through a known bishop location during a retreat The delayed squares can punish the route even after the bishop appears inactive. Rotate through an unprepared lane and update the call if Solomon recalls or moves the piece.
Backing straight away from Rook Battery beside a wall The rooks travel forward and may reflect, while a straight retreat remains easy to predict. Change direction and continue moving until both trajectories are clear.
Grouping tightly around an objective Develop Queen’s area damage and stun lines gain maximum value against a single cluster. Hold overlapping but separated positions with a second route available.
Chasing into a room with no exit Immobilize, stun and delayed hazards leave no recovery path. Stop at the edge, wait for a control tool, or force Solomon out before entering.
Buying an item solely because it is a higher tier The item may not answer the effect deciding the fight, and an active may go unused. Follow the mechanics guide’s principle: buy for the action you need and can execute.
All teammates reacting to the queen independently Uncoordinated movement abandons targets and can still leave someone inside the stun pattern. Assign a caller, announce the cast, and move through the planned exit together.

How to keep the matchup current

Solomon is newly released, and the hero reference, patch notes and item descriptions can change as balance updates arrive. The October 9, 2026 patch made him available, while the current reference documents the chess-piece effects. Before a ranked session, read the in-game ability text, verify any barrier, damage, stun or cooldown value, and check whether item wording has changed.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Do not treat an ability panel’s win-rate display as authoritative matchup evidence unless its date range, source and methodology are clear. No established statistic in the available material proves that one item or hero is a universal Solomon counter. Use your own match review to identify the recurring failure—walking into squares, missing rook dodges, poor spacing or late retreats—and adjust for that specific problem.

The matchup in one sentence

Make Solomon solve your movement instead of making your team solve his puzzle: keep changing angles, avoid his prepared squares and reflected lanes, preserve an exit, and commit together only after his control tools have been spent.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Deadlockhero countersItemspositioningSolomonteam tactics

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.