Deadlock Beginner's Guide
Everything you need to know to start playing Deadlock — souls, lanes, objectives, and first hero picks.
The COMPLETE Deadlock Beginner's Guide — by Paz
Getting Started with Deadlock
Deadlock is Valve's hybrid MOBA-shooter that blends third-person shooting with traditional MOBA mechanics. Before jumping into your first match, take time to understand the core systems that drive every decision in the game. Your first few matches will feel overwhelming, but focusing on a few key fundamentals will accelerate your learning curve significantly. Start by completing the tutorial to get a feel for movement, shooting, and basic soul collection.
Understanding Souls
Souls are the primary resource in Deadlock, functioning as both experience points and currency. You earn souls by last-hitting troopers, denying enemy souls, killing neutral jungle creeps, and eliminating enemy heroes. Trooper waves spawn every 30 seconds from the 0-minute mark, with the first wave arriving in lane at 0:30. A standard trooper kill grants roughly 140 souls, while siege troopers grant around 210. Souls are also shared with nearby allies, making lane partnership a strategic decision. Use the Z key to check your soul count and the stat window to track your soul income per minute.
Lane Assignments and Setup
Deadlock features four lanes arranged in a cross pattern on a square map. Teams consist of six players, typically assigned in a 2-2-1-1 formation: two players in the two side lanes and one player in each of the two center lanes. During the laning phase (roughly the first 8 minutes), your primary goal is to secure last hits while denying the enemy team as many souls as possible. Pay attention to your lane assignment during the pre-match countdown and communicate with your team to ensure balanced coverage. If you find yourself in a 1v1 situation, play cautiously and focus on farming safely rather than taking unnecessary risks.
Hero Selection for New Players
As a beginner, choose heroes with straightforward kits and forgiving mechanics. Brawler-type heroes like Abrams and Shiv offer high durability and simpler ability rotations, letting you focus on macro gameplay rather than complex combos. Marksman heroes like Wraith and Haze provide ranged safety while you learn positioning. Avoid mechanically intensive heroes like Pocket or Lash until you have a solid grasp of core mechanics. Each hero has a recommended build path visible in the shop — use these default builds until you understand item interactions well enough to customize.
Objectives and Map Awareness
Beyond killing enemies, Deadlock has several key objectives. The Guardian is the first defensive structure in each lane — destroy it to open the path forward. The Walker is the second layer of defense, significantly tougher and requiring team coordination to bring down. Neutral camps in the jungle provide bonus souls and buffs, with the Urn being the most valuable neutral objective. Keep an eye on the minimap and ping missing enemies from your lane. Map awareness separates average players from great ones. Develop the habit of checking your minimap between every last hit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deadlock?
Deadlock is a third-person MOBA-shooter developed by Valve, combining hero-based ability combat with precision shooting mechanics.
How long does a typical Deadlock match last?
A standard Deadlock match runs between 30 and 45 minutes, though matches can extend beyond an hour in close games.
What are souls in Deadlock?
Souls are the primary resource in Deadlock used to purchase items and level up abilities. They are earned by last-hitting troopers, killing jungle creeps, and eliminating enemies.
How many players are on a Deadlock team?
Each team has six players, typically arranged in a 2-2-1-1 lane distribution across four lanes.