Shacknews writer TJ Denzer’s top 10 picks for the Deadlock Rat King’s named rats are a ranking of memorable dialogue, not an official in-game tier list. The callouts make the characters stand out through dark jokes, wordplay, and hints about their lives.
Denzer’s October 5, 2026 feature says the Rat King has “around 100 individual voice lines” that call subordinates by name. That is Shacknews’ approximate count, not an independently verified game statistic. Here are Denzer’s ten favorites, in his original order.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Microids House of the Dead Remake Video Game Disc for PlayStation 4 | $34.43 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Deadlock: Planetary Conquest | $3.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Deadlock: Planetary Conquest | $10.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Deadlock 2 the Shrine Wars | $39.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Deadlock Rebels: An AFK Book (Overwatch) | $6.99 | Buy on Amazon |
1. Valerie
“Valerie. She’s a good gal, she’s just got a wandering heart. Gets it from her mother.” Denzer likes the line for the way it gives the Rat King an oddly personal view of his subjects: he seems to know Valerie’s family and character, not just her name.
2. Rabies Ronnie
“Rabies Ronnie has a gift for ya. Surprise, it’s rabies!” The name sets up the gag, and the Rat King delivers the punchline with cheerfully terrible timing.
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- Updated controls optimized for PS4
- Replayable game with scoring and updates
3. Dutch
“Dutch, you got one last job before retirement.” The familiar image of an experienced operator being dragged into one more job gives Dutch an instant role, even in a single line.
4. Stabbin’ Mike
“Stabbin’ Mike, you know what to do.” The name is bluntly specific, which is exactly why Denzer finds it funny. He contrasts Stabbin’ Mike with Bitin’ Mike, another name that makes the rat roster feel absurdly particular.
Rank #2
5. Cathy with a C
“Cathy with a C is even meaner than Kathy with a K.” The spelling distinction is the joke, while the comparison makes Cathy sound like the more intimidating of the two.
6. 2nd Carl
“You’re livin’ in 2nd Carl’s world now.” The numbered name raises the obvious question—what happened to 1st Carl? Denzer says original Carl is fine and appears in another line elsewhere; the joke is that 2nd Carl still sounds like a threat.
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- 5 ways to play! Against PC, 2 player serial or modem, 7 player LAN/internet (Win95 only)
- Windows 95 & MS-DOS Computers, 486 DX@/66 MHz processor or faster
- 8 MB RAM, Win 3.1 or higher, double speed CD-ROM drive
- SVGA color graphics, MS compatible mouse, all major sound cards, NetBIOs compatible LAN
- Internet play via Mplayer and TEN (Win 95 only)
7. Gumdrop
“I brought Gumdrop’s whole polycule.” The line briefly opens a window onto the rats’ relationships and social lives, making Gumdrop memorable for a reason beyond the name.
8. Jimmy T
“Jimmy T brought the whole Silver Bullet Crew.” Denzer plays with the idea of this crew arriving together, but the feature does not establish how many rats it includes.
Rank #4
- Deadlock II the Shrine Wars
- Windows 95, NT
9. Liv
“I’m trustin’ you, Liv.” Denzer wonders whether the line hints that Liv has been unreliable before, but the words alone do not confirm a backstory.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.10. Hera
“Everyone’s got a plan until Hera and her pals show up.” Denzer reads the line as a promise that Hera disrupts opponents’ plans. It is a strong final pick for a list built around how much personality a short callout can suggest.
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Best Value
Source: TJ Denzer, “Top 10 rats of the Deadlock’s Rat King,” Shacknews, October 5, 2026.
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