WardenThreat · Lane
Watch for
His delayed catch punishes committing close after spending your escape options.
Do this
Keep Cloak or Satchel available and leave before the catch forces you into his preferred extended fight.
How to play
How to play Pocket in Deadlock
How to play Pocket in Deadlock
DifficultyModerate
WeaponSpreadshot
RoleSpirit Carry
Quick answer
- Your job
- Enter from a side, apply close damage, and escape before enemies can focus you together. You want repeated useful attacks, not one burst that spends every defensive tool and ends in a death.
- Positioning
- Use cover around the edge of a fight with a route back towards allies.
- How to win fights
- Use Barrage to prepare damage while an enemy is occupied or moving predictably, then add shotgun shots when safe.
- When you’re in trouble
- Use your defensive option to avoid the dangerous moment and return towards safety.
Strong at
- Mobile close damageTools help reach a useful shotgun exchange.
- Defensive evasionCloak and Satchel can avoid dangerous replies.
- Group weakeningAffliction applies pressure across nearby committed enemies.
Weak to
- Spent escapeUsing every tool to enter makes the reply dangerous.
- Silence and restrictionDisabled tools undermine the planned exit.
- Non-lethal pressureAffliction alone does not supply the final hit.
How to play Pocket
The full version of the quick answer.
Your goal
Enter from a side, apply close damage, and escape before enemies can focus you together. You want repeated useful attacks, not one burst that spends every defensive tool and ends in a death.
Positioning
Use cover around the edge of a fight with a route back towards allies. Your shotgun wants closer range, but you should not walk through the whole enemy team to use it. Check both your current position and the destination of Flying Cloak before choosing to teleport.
How to fight
- Use Barrage to prepare damage while an enemy is occupied or moving predictably, then add shotgun shots when safe. Avoid remaining an easy stationary target during the cast. Keep Cloak or Enchanter’s Satchel available for the response instead of treating both as extra entry damage.
- Affliction can weaken several nearby enemies when you get a useful opening. Its damage does not finish enemies by itself, so your team still needs a final hit from another source. After applying pressure, leave or change position before everyone turns their attacks onto you.
When an enemy threatens you
Use your defensive option to avoid the dangerous moment and return towards safety. If silence or movement restriction could stop your escape, wait near allies and choose a later opening rather than diving into the threat.
Pocket Items & Ability Order
Popular Pocket Items
See which items Pocket players commonly buy by game stage, with purchase trends for a mobile playstyle built around burst and disruption.
0–9 min
Mystic Burst92%
Monster Rounds72%
Cold Front47%
Extra Regen46%
9–20 min
Tankbuster59%
Swift Striker56%
Compress Cooldown55%
Cultist Sacrifice48%
20–30 min
Spirit Burn60%
Superior Duration46%
Superior Cooldown39%
Greater Expansion39%
30+ min
Transcendent Cooldown30%- Greater Expansion24%
Boundless Spirit17%
Ethereal Shift14%
Pocket Ability Order
Explore Pocket’s popular ability sequences and how players develop lane pressure, damage and flexibility during their opening 10 points.
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Flying Cloak | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 8 | 9 | – |
 Enchanter's Satchel | – | – | 3 | 4 | – | 6 | – | – | – | – |
 Barrage | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | 10 |
 Affliction | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Cloak | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Enchanter's Satchel | – | – | 3 | 4 | – | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Barrage | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Affliction | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Ability point | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Cloak | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 8 | 9 | – |
| Enchanter's Satchel | – | – | 3 | 4 | – | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Barrage | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Affliction | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | – | 10 |
Pocket game plan
Timings are approximate. When teams start grouping and pushing objectives, use the next phase’s advice.
Early game
~0–10 minCollect souls and practise Barrage from a safe moving angle. Keep a defensive option for the enemy reply instead of using everything for damage.
Mid game
~10–25 minClear a useful wave, then approach nearby fights from the side. Check your Cloak destination and preserve a way out after entry.
Late game
~25+ minApply useful damage to committed enemies, then leave before being focused. Affliction weakens targets but needs another damage source to finish them.
Tips
Good to know
- Enchanter's Satchel disarms you but instantly finishes your reload — Satchel mid-reload, then re-engage with a full clip.
- Barrage's damage amp applies to Pocket himself, boosting all your damage — even against targets you never hit with Barrage.
- Affliction is non-lethal and procs no items — use it to set up kills, never to finish them.
Avoid these mistakes
- Spending both Cloak and Satchel just to enter.
- Being silenced or expecting Affliction to deal the finishing hit.
If you’re struggling
Clear safe waves and join distracted enemies from a side; avoid using every escape to reach someone.
One useful tip
Affliction weakens enemies but cannot finish them by itself. You or your teammates must supply the final damage.
Matchups to watch
Heroes that change how you play Pocket. Situational adjustments, not rankings.
BabaThreat · Teamfights
Watch for
A prepared silence threatens a spell-based entry and exit.
Do this
Watch her brew and stay near allied help; avoid using every movement option to enter while she is waiting close.
Grey TalonOpportunity · Mid-game skirmishes
Watch for
A distracted ranged shooter can expose a side opening.
Do this
Approach through cover, check traps and preserve a defensive option instead of spending both Cloak and Satchel just to reach him.
