Deadlock is one of the more ambitious games Valve has put out in years — and also one of the harder ones to understand from a standing start. It's a hero shooter in the vein of Overwatch or Valorant, but it sits on top of a MOBA economy borrowed from Dota 2. The combination is unusual, and if you come in expecting a pure shooter, you'll have a confusing first few hours.
This guide explains how the game actually works, so you can spend less time being confused and more time getting better.
What Kind of Game Is Deadlock?
Deadlock is a 6v6, third-person hero shooter with a lane-based MOBA structure. Each team has six players, each playing a different hero, and the map is divided into four lanes connecting both bases.
You fight to push lanes, take objectives, and eventually destroy the enemy's base. Unlike a traditional FPS, winning gunfights isn't the whole game — economy, objectives, and itemisation matter just as much.
If you've played Dota 2 or League of Legends, the macro structure will feel familiar. If you haven't, expect your first 10-15 games to be spent learning the map and objectives more than anything else.
Souls: The Core Economy
Everything in Deadlock runs on Souls — the game's currency. You earn Souls by:
- Farming Soul Orbs that spawn in lane on minion deaths
- Killing enemy heroes
- Killing jungle camps
- Taking objectives
Souls are used to buy items in the shop, accessible at any point during the game. Items are divided into three categories — Weapon, Vitality, and Spirit — and upgrading your build as the game progresses is what turns your hero from weak to strong.
The key beginner habit: don't ignore farming. A player who farms efficiently will outscale opponents even if they're losing gunfights. In your early games, prioritise Soul Orb collection over fighting.
How Lanes Work
The map has four lanes, each with a set of objectives called Walkers you need to destroy to push toward the enemy base. Behind the Walkers are Guardians, and behind those is the enemy Patron — their base structure.
Each lane starts with two players. One pushes, the other supports or rotates. As the game develops, lanes become less relevant and the game transitions to 6v6 teamfights around major objectives.
In your first games, stick to your lane. Don't roam early unless you have a clear kill opportunity. Staying in lane and farming is always the safer and usually more impactful decision when you're still learning.
Hero Abilities and Scaling
Unlike CS2 or Valorant where your power level is relatively flat, in Deadlock your hero gets significantly stronger as you buy items. A hero with good items will beat the same hero with bad items almost every time, regardless of mechanical skill.
Each hero has four abilities, levelled up as the game progresses, and some can be upgraded with Spirit items. You don't need to fully understand ability interactions on day one. Focus on: knowing what your abilities do, casting them at sensible times, and buying items that match your hero's favoured category.
The Major Objectives
Two objectives define the mid and late game:
Urn: A neutral objective that spawns in the centre of the map. Picking it up and delivering it to the enemy base deals significant damage. Fighting over the Urn is where a lot of mid-game teamfights happen.
Midboss: A powerful neutral boss that spawns in the centre of the map. Defeating it gives your entire team a powerful buff and significantly accelerates your push. Teams that take this usually win.
When your team calls to contest either of these, prioritise it over everything else on the map.
The Most Common Beginner Mistakes
Ignoring farm: Soul Orbs disappear quickly. Missing them means your items lag behind your opponents.
Over-rotating early: Leaving your lane to help another lane usually results in both lanes going badly. Unless your lane is already won, stay put.
Not buying items: The shop is open all game. Check it after every death or when backing to base. Sitting on 3,000 unspent Souls is a significant handicap.
Fighting 1v1 without information: Deadlock rewards team coordination. Picking fights alone when your team isn't nearby usually results in death, even if you're mechanically ahead.
Building randomly: Match your item categories to your hero. A hero that scales with Spirit ability power doesn't benefit much from Weapon items. Check the recommended build in the hero select screen.
How to Get Better Faster
The players who improve quickest in Deadlock understand what they're doing wrong — not just which kills they're missing.
After a loss, ask: did I farm enough? Did I buy items efficiently? Did I play around my team's movements or was I solo across the map? Those questions usually reveal more than re-watching individual gunfights.
Deadlock has a high ceiling. The fundamentals are learnable, and the gap between someone who understands the economy and objectives versus someone who doesn't is enormous at every level of play.
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