D
Deadlock
← Back to Beginner Guide

Game Basics

Deadlock is Valve's 6v6 third-person MOBA shooter. Every match follows the same loop: pick a hero, farm souls, buy items, level abilities, and destroy objectives.

Deadlock objective chain and map overview

Diagram: the push path from lane troopers to the final Patron

1. Win Condition: Destroy the Enemy Patron

Unlike traditional shooters, Deadlock is won by destroying the enemy's Patron, not by kill count. To reach it you must push through three lanes and destroy defenses in order:

  1. Guardian: the outer defense of each lane.
  2. Walker: a large mech behind the Guardian; killing it unlocks an extra item slot.
  3. Base Guardian: protects the entrance to the enemy base.
  4. Shrines: two structures inside the base; both must fall before the Patron is exposed.
  5. Patron: the enemy core. Destroy it to win.

2. Core Resource: Souls

Souls are Deadlock's economy and experience system. You use them to buy items and power up your abilities. Main sources include:

  • Last-hitting Troopers: land the killing blow on enemy minions for souls.
  • Collecting Soul Orbs: after a trooper dies, a soul orb floats upward; collect or shoot it.
  • Soul Denial: shoot the enemy's soul orbs before they collect them to steal income.
  • Jungle and breakables: Denizens, crates, and Golden Statues grant extra souls and permanent buffs.
  • Kills and objectives: hero kills and destroying Guardians/Walkers grant team-wide souls.

Reference: deadlock.io describes the first ~10 minutes as "last-hit troopers to bank souls, secure your own soul orbs, and deny the enemy's."

3. Items and Ability Growth

Press B to open the shop. Items are divided into three categories:

Weapon

Boosts gun damage, fire rate, and ammo. Best for heroes that rely on basic attacks.

Spirit

Improves ability damage, cooldown reduction, and duration. Core for ability-focused heroes.

Vitality

Increases health, armor, shields, and regeneration. Essential for survivability.

4. Tips for New Players

  • Play one or two heroes for your first 20+ games to learn the loop.
  • Don't chase kills into the fog; farming and objectives are worth more.
  • Spend your souls instead of hoarding — an item in hand is better than souls in the bank.
  • After taking Walkers, watch for Mid-Boss and Soul Urn spawn timers.