Intro

This document was created on August 2023.

This build is a refresher for anyone new playing Dredge. Or returning players like myself.

This build is meant to be a core build that you can use in every matchup. Start here, then tweak to your own liking.

Ranked queue no longer exists on the Southeast Asian servers, so I have only used this build in casual queue. The randomness of maps and game modes, and the fact that the entire enemy team will be blind picks as opposed to draft where you can see them, make this an ideal all-around build for a duelist Dredge.

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Build

Pick Hurl as your talent. You will be using your harpoon as your primary damage dealing attack.

This build focuses on maximizing your 1v1 potential.

Dredge will start with +200 health.

Dredge will heal 280 for each successful harpoon.

Dredge will gain a 750 shield when below 50% health (every 30 seconds).

The last two one-point cards are personal preference. Use what you like.

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Playstyle

The idea for this build is to take duels in side lanes when your shield is off cooldown.

Look to control high ground and spam down lanes. The longer the line of sight, the better.

Your harpoon pierces enemies. And has zero damage falloff. If an enemy is alone, you should be able to bully them and take space.

If there are no enemies contesting the side lanes, then spam point with a mix of harpoon and primary fire.

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Howitzer (your gun) vs. Harpoon

Harpoon is a more reliable damage dealing attack than howitzer. It's like a hanzo arrow, but faster, and pierces enemies.

We're taking advantage of its potential to both deal a high amount of piercing damage, and its ability to lifesteal 280 health for you per hit.

Your level 5 shield card will allow you to have a burst of shield health during the midfight when both you and your opponent have taken some damage. While the shield holds, you should be able to heal up some of the damage taken with subsequent harpoon hits.

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Escaping, and playing versus champions that are better than you in the 1v1

Champions like Buck are designed to isolate and delete single targets one at a time. If Buck flies at you, don't engage. Simply teleport away.

Get in the habit of placing one exit of your portal in a safe spot before you begin fighting. The exit should be close enough to the fighting area so you don't have to run too far, but far enough to be hidden from the enemy flanks.

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When to play Dredge?

Play Dredge because it's a fun champion.

Play Dredge if you are nostalgic about the old Pip primary fire.

Dredge excels at duels against other auto-attack based champions. Hurl + Level 5 Harpoon heal card provide an equivalent amount of sustain to champions that run a Level 4-5, 40-50% lifesteal card + auto attacks.

Dredge also excels at locking down popular angles that backline players use. In Paladins, there are a limited number of good spots on high ground, and next to corners. You can deny enemies these spots with your grenades, and force them to play out in the open, or to rotate to alternate, less ideal cover.

Dredge also does a great job at denying point time, and denying re-contest when an enemy is attempting to run back from base. You can dismount the enemy from across the map with either harpoon or howitzer, and further deny them with additional spam attacks. So that they have a miserable time running back from spawn.

Dredge has no damage falloff, so abuse this feature and think of him as a long range artillery champion some of the time, while also having a strong duel potential if someone sneaks up on you.

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Notes

I will be adding more depth to this and my other guides as time goes on.

I have just returned to Paladins after a long break of several years.

So stay tuned!