Valve has added Baba to Deadlock as a playable hero. The studio announced her arrival on October 6 under the title ‘Mind the Birds!’ and said she is available now alongside her pigeons.
The character draws on the image of a New York pigeon keeper in Central Park, but her skills turn the bench, birds, tea and yarn around her into weapons. Valve’s announcement gives an outline of those abilities without publishing cooldowns, damage values or upgrade paths.
Baba’s abilities use yarn, tea and a moving bench
Threadsap sends out a spool of yarn that steals spirit from enemies and increases Baba’s power. Her bench can also come to life, carrying her into runs, jumps and kicks. Valve does not identify a separate ability name for the bench in the public announcement.
Baba’s Brews splashes opponents with tea, though the notice only hints that the brews have different properties. Her bird-based ability is called The Birds. Valve has not provided enough detail in this announcement to establish its range, damage or other effects, so those figures should be checked in the current game client rather than inferred from the character description.
Ranked season one will run until November 5
The same notice changes Deadlock’s Ranked schedule. Season one is now due to end on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 2 p.m. PDT. Valve says the next Ranked season will begin immediately afterward.
That timing replaces the earlier end date, although the Baba announcement does not repeat the old date. It also does not describe any changes to matchmaking, ranks or seasonal rewards. The confirmed change is limited to the end time for the current season and the immediate start of the next one.
Another hero reveal is scheduled for Friday
Valve says it will introduce Deadlock’s next hero on Friday at 2 p.m. PDT. The announcement does not name that character or provide a release schedule beyond the reveal time.
Baba’s release follows Deadlock’s recent roster expansion, but the new notice stands on its own: one hero is playable now, one more reveal is scheduled, and the Ranked calendar has moved. Players looking for exact ability values will need the live client or later patch notes, since Valve’s post focuses on theme and availability.
Sources
- Reporting source: GamerHeadlines
- Primary source: Valve’s official Deadlock announcement
