How to Play Deadlock

Deadlock is one of the most ambitious multiplayer experiences to emerge in recent years — blending the strategic depth of MOBA titles with the fast-paced action of a third-person shooter. Whether you’re coming from first-person shooters, MOBAs like Dota 2 or League of Legends, or this genre mashup is entirely new to you, getting started can feel overwhelming. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start playing Deadlock effectively, from core objectives to basic strategies and helpful tips for beginners. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Understanding the Basics

At its core, Deadlock pits two teams of six players against each other in a 6v6 competitive match. Each game unfolds on a large urban map with four distinct lanes running from one base to the other. Your objective is simple in theory: work with your team to gain economic and map control, destroy enemy buildings, and ultimately defeat the opposing team’s Patron — a powerful central entity — to secure victory. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Matches typically begin with all players being transported to random lanes via ziplines. Each player is encouraged to focus on collecting “souls” — the in-game currency — by defeating enemy minions (troopers), neutral jungle camps, and opposing heroes. Souls are used to purchase items and upgrades that make your hero stronger as the match progresses. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Selecting Your Hero

Deadlock boasts a diverse roster of heroes, each with a unique set of abilities and playstyles. To enter a standard match, you currently select three heroes before queueing up — the game then randomly picks one of your chosen heroes to play that match. This system encourages flexibility and helps ensure you’re comfortable with multiple characters. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

For beginners, it’s helpful to start with a few heroes that complement your playstyle. You can experiment in bot matches or sandbox mode before diving into a competitive match. Don’t worry too much at first about mastering every hero — focus instead on learning their core abilities and how they interact with items from the in-game shop. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Objectives Throughout the Match

A typical Deadlock match is divided into phases. Early on, you’ll focus on the laning phase (roughly the first 10 minutes), where your main goal is to collect souls by last-hitting enemy troopers and confirming the floating soul orbs they drop when defeated. Your team also earns souls when nearby teammates secure these orbs. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Past the 10-minute mark, neutral objectives like Spirit Urns and jungle camps become crucial to maintaining an economic edge. These objectives grant large soul rewards, and securing them often dictates which team gets stronger as the game progresses. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Movement and Map Awareness

Deadlock’s map is rich with traversal tools — ziplines, jump pads, teleporters, and more all help you rotate between lanes and respond to changing situations. Learning the map and how to use these features effectively is key to both offense and defense. For instance, ziplines allow you to quickly return to base or join a skirmish, while teleporters enable fast cross-lane rotations. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Item Shop and Build Strategy

Purchasing items during a match is essential to enhancing your hero’s capabilities. Items fall into three main categories:

• Weapon upgrades — increase damage and firing efficiency.
• Vitality items — boost health, defense, and survivability.
• Spirit items — improve ability effectiveness and cooldowns.

Each category has several tiers and can transform how a hero performs as the game evolves. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Beginners should start with recommended builds for their chosen hero, which can be found in the in-game shop or community resources. These premade builds take the guesswork out of itemization and help you focus on learning mechanics and positioning during matches. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Teamplay and Communication

Deadlock is a team game at heart. While individual skill matters, coordinated strategy and communication often determine the outcome of matches. Use pings to alert teammates to enemy positions or objectives, and watch the mini-map frequently to track enemy movements and objectives. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

A valuable tip for new players is to prioritize defending your structures and objectives alongside your team. Unified pushes or coordinated defenses are far more effective than lone wolf plays — especially as matches reach the mid and late game where team fights are decisive. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Advanced Play and Resource Management

As you gain experience, you’ll learn that Deadlock isn’t just about raw kills — it’s also about controlling resources and objectives. Denying enemy soul orbs, timing neutral camp clears, and managing inventory space with flex slots earned from objectives all contribute to a stronger economic position. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Understanding when to push a lane, defend, or rotate to objectives can elevate your game from basic laning to strategic play. Keeping an eye on your team’s net worth (displayed at the top of the HUD) helps you gauge both your team’s strength and whether it’s safe to commit to a fight or objective. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Tracking Performance and Meta Trends

If you want to dive even deeper into Deadlock’s evolving competitive landscape, tools like Deadlock Hero Stats provide valuable insights into win rates, pick rates, and other performance metrics for each hero. This information can help you choose which characters to focus on and how their performance shifts across skill brackets and patches. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Final Tips for New Players

Newcomers should expect a learning curve. Deadlock combines complex mechanics from multiple genres, and many players report that it can take time to become comfortable with its depth. Start with bot matches and practice modes to build confidence, and don’t be discouraged if your first few games feel chaotic. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Remember: patience and practice are your allies. Learn from each match, experiment with different heroes and builds, and most importantly — communicate and cooperate with your team. With time and experience, you’ll find yourself mastering the unique blend of strategy and action that makes Deadlock truly stand out.