Drifter
Stalker · Bloodthirsty · Cruel
Lore
An ancient vampire roaming across America, the nameless monstrosity known as The Drifter has been preying on the living for generations.
Unlike most vampires, Drifter doesn’t value finery or titles and has naked contempt for vampiric laws and tradition. This refusal to toe the line has made him a marked man all over the North American Baronies; but while Viscounts and Elders cry for his execution, Drifter continues to do what he pleases...
Challenging to learn · Crimson Grasp
The Oracle’s file on Drifter What fans say about Drifter
In-game biography · Source notes · Art from Deadlock Wiki · Game assets © Valve
Drifter’s abilities
Rend
Swipe at enemies in a cone ahead of you, dealing spirit damage. If the enemy is in close range, deal bonus melee damage.
- Damage
- 40 + 1.4 × Spirit
- Close Range
- 8m
Upgrades
- 1 AP
+40 Damage
- 2 AP
-8.0s Cooldown
- 5 AP
Deals 55% Heavy Melee Damage Silences enemies for 2s if close range
Base values with no items, from the Deadlock API, November 2, 2026. Patches change them.
The file on Drifter
Everything confirmed. Pick a box, then open any source to see the proof.
Origins
How Drifter got here.
Drifter is a nameless, ancient vampire who has hunted across America for generations.
SourceDrifter’s biography
In the game“An ancient vampire roaming across America”
Drifter’s biography “preying on the living for generations”
Drifter’s biography He has no use for titles or vampire law, and is a marked man in the North American Baronies.
SourceDrifter’s biography
In the game“naked contempt for vampiric laws and tradition”
Drifter’s biography “a marked man all over the North American Baronies”
Drifter’s biography
Why Drifter is in the ritual
Their own words first. The Patrons want something, so read theirs as offers.
Mostly, it seems, because he enjoys it. Both Patrons sell it to him as a massacre.
SourceThe Archmother, The Hidden King
In the game“Revel in the massacre, Drifter, it is my gift to you. All I ask in return is that you summon The Archmother.”
The Archmother, to Drifter, as a match begins “Enjoy yourself, Drifter… rend their flesh and complete the ritual.”
The Hidden King, to Drifter, as a match begins He's been here before, going by what they say.
SourceThe Archmother
In the game“Welcome back to New York, Drifter, oh how we missed you.”
The Archmother, to Drifter, as a match begins Wraith won't bet on his body count, in case he doesn't finish the ritual.
SourceWraith
In the game“I know where you're going with this: here's the problem with gambling on body counts with you. You're a psychotic killing machine, which means if I incentivize you to kill more on top of that, there's a non zero chance that you don’t finish the ritual because you want to pad your numbers.”
Wraith, to Drifter, before a match
Factions and organizations
Who they work with, fight and answer to.
The Vampire Barony
He calls the Viscount “Simon”, and Mina says all of New York's vampires know who he is.
SourceDrifter, Mina
In the game“Then why aren’t you being a good little vampire and following Simon's orders?”
Drifter, to Mina, before a match “Everyone in the Barony of New York knows who you are.”
Mina, to Drifter, before a match The OSIC
It isn't hunting him, Haze says. It's using him.
SourceDrifter, Haze
In the game“OSIC finally coming for me?”
Drifter, to Haze, before a match “No we're using you. If we were coming for you you'd already be dead.”
Haze, to Drifter, before a match The Baxter Society
He calls Calico its B team and says it made her soft.
SourceDrifter
In the game“I see the Baxter society is sending their B team to help me.”
Drifter, to Calico, before a match “The Baxter Society made you soft.”
Drifter, on killing Shiv The Vatican
He asks when it's going to give up.
SourceDrifter
In the game“When's the Vatican gonna give up?”
Drifter, on killing Venator
Cool facts
The small things worth knowing.
Drifter is old enough to call the Viscount by his first name, Simon.
SourceDrifter, Mina
In the game“Then why aren’t you being a good little vampire and following Simon's orders?”
Drifter, to Mina, before a match “Because if you're old enough to call The Viscount by his first name you're probably strong enough to tear me in half.”
Mina, to Drifter, before a match Mina promises to lift The Venery on Drifter, purely because ignoring it would make her look weak.
SourceMina
In the game“When I'm Viscount, I'll lift The Venery on you.”
Mina, to Drifter, before a match “It's not kind, it's practical. You're just gonna ignore it anyway, and it would make me look weak.”
Mina, to Drifter, before a match Haze tells Drifter the OSIC isn't hunting him, it's using him.
SourceDrifter, Haze
In the game“OSIC finally coming for me?”
Drifter, to Haze, before a match “No we're using you. If we were coming for you you'd already be dead.”
Haze, to Drifter, before a match Drifter warns Dynamo what failure costs: Marla.
SourceDrifter
In the game“No professor, fail today and she'll die for you.”
Drifter, to Dynamo, before a match
Loading the voice lines…