Modifiers

Namespace: DeadworksManaged.Api

Modifiers are buffs/debuffs applied to entities. They can alter gameplay states, apply visual effects, and control movement.

Adding Modifiers

Use CBaseEntity.AddModifier() with a VData name and KeyValues3 parameters:

using var kv = new KeyValues3();
kv.SetFloat("duration", 3.0f);
pawn.AddModifier("modifier_citadel_knockdown", kv);

AddModifier Parameters

entity.AddModifier(
    string name,            // Modifier VData name (e.g. "modifier_citadel_knockdown")
    KeyValues3? kv,         // Parameters (duration, etc.) (optional)
    CBaseEntity? caster,    // Entity that applied the modifier (optional)
    CBaseEntity? ability,   // Ability that caused the modifier (optional)
    int team                // (optional, defaults to 0)
);

Overriding Ability Property Values

A second overload takes a Dictionary<string, float> of per-instance ability property overrides. Use it to apply modifiers that normally read values from a parent ability without needing a real ability, or to override the ability's default values. Property names match the VData's m_vecAutoRegisterModifierValueFromAbilityPropertyName entries:

pawn.AddModifier("ability_doorman_bomb/debuff", kv: kv,
    abilityValues: new() { ["SlowPercent"] = 100.0f });

KeyValues3

Wraps a native KeyValues3 handle. Create, set typed members, pass to AddModifier, then dispose.

Important: Always Dispose

// Using statement ensures proper cleanup
using var kv = new KeyValues3();
kv.SetFloat("duration", 5.0f);
kv.SetString("effect", "burning");
pawn.AddModifier("my_modifier", kv);
// kv is automatically disposed here

Properties

Property	Type	Description
IsValid	bool	true if underlying native handle is alive

Setter Methods

Method	Description
SetString(string key, string value)	Set a string value
SetBool(string key, bool value)	Set a boolean value
SetInt(string key, int value)	Set a signed 32-bit integer
SetUInt(string key, uint value)	Set an unsigned 32-bit integer
SetInt64(string key, long value)	Set a signed 64-bit integer
SetUInt64(string key, ulong value)	Set an unsigned 64-bit integer
SetFloat(string key, float value)	Set a single-precision float
SetDouble(string key, double value)	Set a double-precision float
SetVector(string key, Vector3 value)	Set a 3D vector

CModifierProperty

Manages modifier state bits and active modifier instances on an entity. Access via entity.ModifierProp.

// Enable unlimited air jumps
pawn.ModifierProp.SetModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirJumps, true);
pawn.ModifierProp.SetModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirDashes, true);

// Check a state
bool hasState = pawn.ModifierProp.HasModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirJumps);

// Disable
pawn.ModifierProp.SetModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirJumps, false);

// Enumerate active modifiers
foreach (var mod in pawn.ModifierProp.Modifiers)
    Console.WriteLine(mod.SubclassVData?.Name);

// Check by name
if (pawn.ModifierProp.HasModifier("modifier_citadel_knockdown")) { /* ... */ }

Method / Property	Returns	Description
SetModifierState(EModifierState, bool)	void	Sets or clears a modifier state bit
HasModifierState(EModifierState)	bool	Returns true if state bit is set
HasModifier(string name)	bool	Returns true if the entity has an active modifier with the given subclass VData name
Modifiers	IReadOnlyList<CBaseModifier>	All active modifier instances on the entity
Owner	CBaseEntity?	The entity this modifier property belongs to

Removing a modifier

Remove is a method on the entity itself, not on ModifierProp:

// By name — removes the first instance matching that VData name
pawn.RemoveModifier("modifier_citadel_knockdown");

// By instance — use when you held on to a CBaseModifier from AddModifier
var mod = pawn.AddModifier("modifier_...", kv);
pawn.RemoveModifier(mod);

EModifierState

Enum containing all modifier state flags (302 values). Key examples:

Value	Description
UnlimitedAirJumps	Allow unlimited air jumps
UnlimitedAirDashes	Allow unlimited air dashes
(many more)	Covers movement, visibility, combat, hero-specific states

CBaseModifier

Wraps a native CBaseModifier instance — a buff/debuff applied to an entity. Returned by AddModifier.

EKnockDownTypes

Knockdown animation type applied to a hero.

Common Modifier Patterns

Knockdown with Duration

using var kv = new KeyValues3();
kv.SetFloat("duration", 3.0f);
pawn.AddModifier("modifier_citadel_knockdown", kv);

Toggling Movement States

// Enable
var mp = pawn.ModifierProp;
mp.SetModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirJumps, true);
mp.SetModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirDashes, true);

// After duration, disable
Timer.Once(20.Seconds(), () =>
{
    mp.SetModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirJumps, false);
    mp.SetModifierState(EModifierState.UnlimitedAirDashes, false);
});

AddAbility + AddModifier Pattern

Many game modifiers read properties from their parent ability (e.g., ModelScaleGrowth, ActiveMoveSpeedPenalty). The simplest way to supply those values is the abilityValues overload shown above — no real ability needed. Alternatively, you can add the actual ability first and pass the returned ability entity as the 4th parameter to AddModifier:

// 1. Add the item ability — returns the ability entity
var ability = pawn.AddAbility("upgrade_shrink_ray", 0);
if (ability == null) return;

// 2. Apply modifier, passing the ability so it can read VData properties
using var kv = new KeyValues3();
kv.SetFloat("duration", 30.0f);
pawn.AddModifier("modifier_shrink_ray", kv, pawn, ability);

// 3. Remove the ability after the modifier is applied
pawn.RemoveAbility("upgrade_shrink_ray");

EModifierState Reference

State behavior is inconsistent — some flags are honored by the client, others are only meaningful when set by internal C++ modifier code. When in doubt, try setting the flag every tick (from OnGameFrame or a 1-tick timer): several states that "don't work" when set once do work when sustained.

Examples

Raw Value	Name	Description
11	Immobilized	Prevents all movement
38	AdditionalAirMoves	Extra air moves
39	UnlimitedAirDashes	Allow unlimited air dashes
40	UnlimitedAirJumps	Allow unlimited air jumps
68	VisibleToEnemy	Reveal on the minimap to the enemy team. Must be set every tick to stay reliable for human players (bots work with a single call).
69	InfiniteClip	Infinite ammo, no reload needed
115	UnitStatusHealthHidden	Hides the healthbar above the hero. Set every tick.
116	UnitStatusHidden	Hides the whole unit status / nameplate panel. Set every tick.
118	FriendlyFireEnabled	Enables friendly-fire for bullet damage only. Abilities and melee still ignore teammates; see the FFA recipe in team-and-hero-management.

Try setting every tick before giving up

The Discord dump has several cases of "doesn't work" turning into "works when set every tick." Before writing off a state, try:

public override void OnGameFrame(bool simulating, bool firstTick, bool lastTick)
{
    if (!simulating) return;
    foreach (var pawn in Players.GetAllPawns())
        pawn.ModifierProp?.SetModifierState(EModifierState.VisibleToEnemy, true);
}

You can also cast raw integer values to EModifierState for states not in the managed enum:

pawn.ModifierProp?.SetModifierState((EModifierState)69, true); // InfiniteClip

note

EModifierState has 302 values total. The raw values follow the MODIFIER_STATE_ prefix pattern from VData (e.g., MODIFIER_STATE_INFINITE_CLIP = 69).

Discovering Modifier Names

Deadlock has hundreds of modifiers. Useful sources:

• modifier_dump_list in the server console — lists currently-known modifiers. Results can vary between invocations; if it looks short, run it again after a map fully loads.
• modifier_dump — lists modifiers currently active on an entity. Useful for discovering subclassed modifiers.
• Deadlock modding modifier list — community-maintained dump.
• scripts/modifiers.vdata (extracted from pak01_dir.vpk) — the authoritative standalone modifier definitions.
• scripts/abilities.vdata — abilities contain inline modifier subclasses under Modifiers blocks. These are referenced as upgrade_<item>/modifier_<name> in VData but you call AddModifier with just the bare modifier name.

Tools for browsing the VDATA: source2viewer-cli (decompile and grep), and s2v.app (web browser for game files).

See Also

• Entities — AddModifier on CBaseEntity
• Players — ModifierProp on CCitadelPlayerPawn
• Timers — Timed modifier application
• Roll The Dice Example — Modifier effects in practice