Deadlock throws shooting, abilities, movement and an entire item shop at you at once. The good news? You do not need to master all of it to stop feeling lost. Learn the soul economy, protect your lane, and take fights that actually lead somewhere.
Quick answer: Deadlock is a 6v6 shooter-MOBA. Earn souls from troopers and objectives, spend them on items, grow stronger, and push through enemy defenses to defeat the Patron. For your first games, prioritize waves and staying alive over chasing kills.
By Deadlock Item Builder · New player guideYour first-game checklist
| Focus | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Souls | Secure trooper waves | Souls buy items and grow your hero |
| Position | Play near cover and your lane partner | You can escape without surrendering every orb |
| Shop | Spend your souls regularly | Unspent power doesn't help you win the next fight |
| Map | Look before leaving lane | An unattended wave can cost you income and a structure |
| Fights | Follow teammates after pushing | A coordinated objective is worth more than a solo chase |
How does a Deadlock match work?
You begin in a lane with an ally. Troopers move toward the enemy base, while both teams fight to collect souls and pressure defensive structures. As the match develops, players rotate between lanes, clear neutral camps, contest objectives, and group for teamfights. The aim is not the biggest kill count; it is pushing your team toward the enemy Patron.
An easy way to think about the match is farm, spend, fight, convert. Farm enough to afford your next useful purchase, spend before you fight, then use the advantage to take a lane, objective, or safer part of the map.
Learn souls before worrying about kills
Troopers are your most dependable income. Stay near dying troopers, collect the ground reward safely, and shoot the floating soul orb when the enemy can contest it. You do not need the final bullet on every trooper to be eligible for its souls, but killing a trooper with melee can instantly secure the floating portion. Enemy players can deny exposed orbs, so securing your own income generally comes before trying to steal theirs.
If you fall behind, resist the temptation to force a desperate fight. Catch the next safe wave, clear nearby resources when you have time, and return to the shop. Read our Deadlock Souls & Farming Guide for the full economy breakdown.
Win lane by protecting your health and income
The first part of the match is a small economy contest disguised as a brawl. You and your lane partner want to collect more resources than your opponents while keeping enough health to stay on the map.
- Shoot the wave before overcommitting to a fight. Troopers can punish players who run past them.
- Use cover and the bridge. Good angles make it harder for enemies to damage you for free.
- Respect cooldowns. If an opponent misses the ability they need to engage, that is your chance for a better trade.
- Buy sustain when necessary. An item that keeps you farming can be worth more than a damage purchase you never survive long enough to use.
Avoid judging your lane only by whether the first Guardian falls. Dying repeatedly to defend it can leave you even farther behind.
Pick one hero and learn a simple job
A familiar hero teaches you the map faster than changing characters every match. Start with a straightforward playstyle: Seven for farming and area pressure, Haze for sustained gun damage, or McGinnis for holding positions and pushing objectives. If you prefer helping teammates, Paige is worth exploring.
Open the Best Deadlock Heroes for Beginners guide, then use the How to Play directory for that hero's positioning and early-, mid-, and late-game plan.
What to buy in Deadlock
Items enhance your weapon, durability, or spirit abilities. A beginner build is a useful starting point, but it is not a promise that the same purchases work in every match.
Buy items that support your hero's main damage or team role. Then ask what keeps killing you. If a single enemy is the problem, DIB's Counter Item Helper can help you find a situational answer without rebuilding everything from scratch.
What changes after laning?
Once lanes start opening, clear a wave before rotating, look for isolated teammates who need help, and be ready for neutral objectives. A successful fight should become something tangible: a structure, a safe jungle clear, or objective control. Check the Game Timers page when learning when those opportunities appear.
Common beginner mistakes
- Chasing a low-health enemy while two waves die unattended.
- Holding a full wallet instead of shopping for a major fight.
- Standing in the open to trade damage you cannot heal back.
- Following a copied build without understanding your hero's job.
- Mistaking a kill for a win when the enemy takes the objective anyway.
Frequently asked questions
Is Deadlock more like a shooter or a MOBA?
What should I focus on first in Deadlock?
Which Deadlock hero should I learn first?
Do I need a perfect build to win?
Keep building your knowledge
4 minHero selectionBest Deadlock Heroes for Beginners: Who Should You Play First?
Seven, Haze, McGinnis, Paige and more: easy heroes with an obvious game plan.
4 minEconomy & farmingDeadlock Souls & Farming Guide: Earn More and Fall Behind Less
Secure and deny orbs, unsecured souls, and why you keep falling behind.
3 minMap & macroDeadlock Lanes & Rotations Guide: When to Push, Farm and Roam
Wave priority, when to rotate, when to jungle and how to turn pressure into objectives.
Hero guidesHow to Play: Hero Guides
A beginner game plan for every hero.