Soul Economy Explained
Master the soul system: last-hitting, denying, neutral camps, and when to push vs farm.
14 Deadlock Timers You Need To Know — by Deathy
The Soul System Deep Dive
Souls are the lifeblood of Deadlock's economy. Every decision in the game revolves around soul collection and denial. Unlike traditional MOBAs where gold and experience are separate resources, Deadlock combines both into a single soul system. This means falling behind in souls impacts both your item progression and your hero's power curve simultaneously. Understanding the nuances of soul generation, collection, and denial is the single most important skill to develop for ranked play.
Last-Hitting Mechanics
When a trooper dies, it releases a soul orb that floats briefly before rising. You must last-hit the trooper to generate the orb, then collect it by walking close enough. The timing window for last-hitting is generous compared to games like Dota 2 or League of Legends, making it accessible for new players while still rewarding precision. Troopers spawn in waves of four: three standard troopers and one siege trooper every third wave. Standard troopers are worth approximately 140 souls, while siege troopers are worth roughly 210. Practice your last-hitting in the sandbox mode before entering live matches.
Denial Strategies
Denying is the mechanic that separates Deadlock from other MOBAs. When an enemy trooper dies, both you and the enemy laner can shoot the rising soul orb to deny it. A successful denial grants the denying player a portion of the souls while denying the full amount to the enemy team. The denial window is brief — approximately 2-3 seconds — so you must react quickly. Prioritize denying siege troopers over standard ones, as they represent significantly more soul value. Denying becomes increasingly important in higher skill brackets where small soul advantages compound into significant power spikes.
Jungle Camps and Farming Patterns
Neutral jungle camps are scattered throughout the map between lanes. These camps respawn after a set timer and provide a consistent source of bonus souls outside of lane farming. The standard farming rotation involves clearing your lane wave, then dipping into the nearby jungle to take a camp before the next wave arrives. This pattern maximizes your souls-per-minute efficiency. Medium camps are soloable by most heroes early on, while large camps and the Urn require team coordination. Time spent walking between lanes without farming is wasted potential — always plan your rotation path to include at least one camp.
When to Farm vs Fight
Knowing when to farm and when to fight is a crucial decision that changes as the game progresses. In the early game (0-10 minutes), prioritize farming above all else. A kill is worth approximately 300 souls, but missing two waves of troopers while attempting a kill costs you similar value with none of the risk. In the mid game (10-25 minutes), look for fights near objective timers — pushing a lane before an Urn spawn gives you both farm and fight pressure. In the late game (25+ minutes), group with your team and fight for map control. A death in the late game can cost you the match due to prolonged respawn timers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do souls work in Deadlock?
Souls function as both gold and experience. You earn them by last-hitting troopers, denying enemy souls, killing jungle creeps, and eliminating heroes.
What is denying in Deadlock?
Denying is the mechanic where you shoot the soul orb released by a dying enemy trooper to prevent the enemy team from collecting its full value.
How many souls is a kill worth?
A hero kill grants approximately 300 base souls, scaling up with kill streaks and the target's soul count.
What is souls-per-minute and why does it matter?
Souls-per-minute (SPM) measures your farming efficiency. Top players average 800-1000 SPM. Tracking your SPM helps identify whether you are farming efficiently or wasting time.