Deadlock Guide Overview

This KB is synthesized from post-patch educational videos and normalized into practical, patch-aware rules.

Current synthesis status

• Sources processed: 5
  • BrcJ9h4mulc - Deadlock Guide For My Employed Friends (F2NKe)
  • X9yhG5vKca4 - How to Lane like an ETERNUS in 2026 (HERESY)
  • wihHFTapEGk - EVERY Deadlock Hero Explained in 30 SECONDS! (Natan)
  • E5CRaB37G5E - STOP HOLDING W: Movement Essentials (Natan)
  • n3EdDdPKed4 - Deadlock Fundamentals: Efficiency (Deathy)
• Confidence level: strong baseline fundamentals for laning, macro, movement basics, and efficiency planning.
• Hero archetype/role-selection baseline has been added (see kb/06-hero-archetypes-and-role-selection.md).
• Movement baseline has been added (see kb/07-movement-mechanics.md).
• Still needs more corroboration for hero-specific and matchup-specific edge cases.

Core framework

• Laning: secure soul advantage through wave priority, matchup-aware trading, and coordinated communication.
• Macro & efficiency: minimize downtime and prioritize actions that push game state forward.
• Objectives: treat kills/pressure as temporary opportunities to convert into durable advantages.
• Itemization: buy for current lane/job, prioritize efficient spikes, and use item passives/actives intentionally.
• Movement: cleaner pathing/stamina usage creates safer farm, better rotations, and fewer avoidable deaths.
• Hero choice: pick archetypes that match your preferred job (frontline, pick setup, utility, side-lane carry) and current team needs.

Caveat policy

• Exact timer values and item tuning can shift with patches.
• When exact numbers are quoted, treat them as “current-source guidance” and re-validate after major updates.

Beginner Fundamentals

Patch/context note

• Synthesized from:
  • BrcJ9h4mulc
  • X9yhG5vKca4
  • wihHFTapEGk
  • E5CRaB37G5E
  • n3EdDdPKed4
• This page is a practical baseline for consistent solo/duo improvement.

Core principles

• Communicate before action in lane (shop, push, rotate, all-in).
• Fight with information, not vibes: regularly check health, items, souls, and ultimate availability before committing.
• Wave first, then fight by default; wave priority creates room to farm, rotate, and pressure safely.
• Stabilize intelligently when behind: safe clears, missing calls, and low-risk pathing beat panic fights.
• Convert windows, don’t admire them: pressure/kill opportunities should become camps, vaults, structures, urn, or boss setup.
• Decision quality > raw mechanics: avoid both extremes (AFK farming and permanent ego-fighting).
• Efficiency mindset: always ask “what is my highest-value next action” instead of wandering or forcing random fights.
• Movement is economy: cleaner stamina usage and routing turns into faster farming, safer rotations, and better fight entries.

Hero selection quick rubric

• Start with heroes whose job is clear to you (frontline brawler, pick/setup, utility support, or scaling side-lane carry).
• Prefer comfort and role clarity over tier-list chasing.
• In lower coordination games, heroes that provide reliable setup or wave control are often easier to convert into wins than purely flashy picks.
• Treat quick roster overviews as orientation, then validate with deeper hero-specific guides before hard committing.

(Primary source for this section: wihHFTapEGk)

Frequent beginner mistakes

• Starting fights without checking item/soul/ult state.
• Fighting inside enemy wave repeatedly and losing HP economy.
• Ignoring objective/value windows to chase low-probability kills.
• Failing to adapt to lane side asymmetry (strong/weak side differences).
• Buying lane items but not playing around their cooldown/value conditions.
• Spending too much time unplanned (idle movement, aimless rotations, late setup to objective timers).
• Weak movement habits (e.g., always holding W in air, poor slide usage, wasteful stamina paths).

Drills / practice goals

1. Big-four check drill: before major trades, mentally check health/items/souls/ults.
2. Wave-priority drill: clear wave first unless you have a specific punish window.
3. Intent-call drill: announce your action before doing it every lane cycle.
4. Conversion drill: after each won skirmish, call the immediate value target out loud.
5. Item-intent drill: when you buy a proc item (e.g., headshot/resto/barrier style effects), actively trigger it on cooldown windows.
6. Efficiency drill: while hitting troopers/camps, pre-plan your next move every wave cycle.
7. Movement drill: focus on one movement habit per day (e.g., dash->slide, release W while air-strafing, zipline crouch exits).

Laning

Patch/context note

• Primary lane synthesis source: X9yhG5vKca4
• Reinforced by:
  • BrcJ9h4mulc
  • E5CRaB37G5E

Lane win condition

• Primary objective is soul advantage, not ego-kills.
• Early guardian damage matters less than building a durable economy lead that converts into midgame objective control.

Core lane loop

1. Check health / items / souls / ults.
2. Clear wave to establish priority.
3. Use priority to take best value action (trade, camp, boxes, buff setup, rotate, reset).
4. Reassess matchup/cooldowns and repeat.

Key lane timers (current-source guidance)

• ~0:00-2:00: limited objective pressure; lane combat and wave control dominate.
• ~2:00: camps/boxes become major soul accelerators.
• ~3:30: early-camp respawn windows can be tracked and re-invaded.
• ~4:30 setup -> ~5:00 bridge buffs: pre-clear wave so you can contest buffs without donating lane value.
• ~6:00: Tier-2 camp control becomes more important.
• Later lane phase: center sacrifices/vaults become very high-value conversion targets.

Trading and positioning rules

• Prefer fights when your side has a temporary spike (items, ult availability, cooldown advantage).
• Use cover/veil aggressively; right-side peeks are often safer for firing angles.
• Slide frequently in combat to preserve ammo and extend effective pressure.
• If outmatched in early windows, lose gracefully and stabilize until objective timings open better options.

Movement fundamentals for lane and rotations

• Treat movement as a resource economy, not just mechanics flair.
• In air, avoid autopilot holding W when air-strafing; release W and strafe intentionally for better control.
• Chain dash -> slide frequently for ammo conservation and cleaner repositioning.
• Exit ziplines with crouch when possible to preserve momentum.
• Prefer low-stamina movement routes (wall jumps, efficient mantles, terrain use) to keep stamina for fights.

Healing trooper decision (high-value nuance)

• Kill early when you want shove priority and healthier allied wave tempo.
• Kill late when you need missing-HP recovery for player sustain.
• Treat this as a wave-by-wave choice based on whether tempo or sustain is more valuable right now.

Matchup framework

• Classify lane opponents by cooldown profile (low-CD pressure vs high-CD windows).
• Track key enemy cooldowns and fight when high-impact tools are down.
• Don’t over-invest poke into heavy sustain targets when squishier teammates are better pressure sinks.

Transition out of lane

• Won lane: convert into camps/vaults/rotations/structure pressure immediately.
• Lost lane: prevent further snowball first; only then rebuild through safe wave-jungle cycles.
• Winning lane but failing to convert often erases the advantage by midgame.

Itemization

Patch/context note

• Expanded primarily from X9yhG5vKca4
• Reinforced by macro-first framing from BrcJ9h4mulc

Core ideas

• Buy for your current lane problem and near-term map job.
• In lane phase, a few high-impact/situational buys usually outperform greedy full-build rushing.
• Efficiency matters: soul spending should produce immediate survivability, pressure, or conversion power.

Lane-phase item heuristics

• Flat early-value items (damage/proc stats) are strongest when HP pools are low.
• Wave-control tools are high value when shoved in or when contesting farm tempo.
• At least one sustain tool is often correct, even when ahead, to maintain pressure uptime.
• Barrier-style defensive procs can be lane-winning if enemy kits trigger them reliably.

Healing options: when to prefer what

• Prefer proc-based sustain if your hero can trigger it consistently.
• Prefer channel/regen choices when you can fit recovery into productive movement windows.
• Re-evaluate sustain based on matchup hitbox reliability, lane volatility, and your ability to safely activate heals.

Scaling and spike logic

• Percent-scaling items typically gain value later; many are lower-impact in early lane unless matchup-specific.
• Prioritize mathematically efficient investment spikes before broad, unfocused shopping.
• Practical rule from source examples: by around early-mid spend thresholds, strong builds usually commit into a clear stat line rather than splitting everywhere.

High-frequency execution rule

If an item is balanced around cooldown procs, play to its cooldown:

• Trigger it intentionally and repeatedly.
• Don’t buy proc items and then ignore proc windows.
• Treat missed/unused procs as lost soul value.

Common build traps

• Buying only for lane and sacrificing all midgame conversion power.
• Copying builds without understanding why each slot exists.
• Panic-disengaging after defensive procs instead of using temporary HP windows to trade back when appropriate.

Map, Objectives, and Rotations

Patch/context note

• Synthesized from:
  • BrcJ9h4mulc
  • X9yhG5vKca4
  • n3EdDdPKed4

Objective priority

• Create lane pressure first, then convert pressure into durable gains.
• Typical conversion ladder: wave priority/pickoff -> camps/vaults/urn pressure -> structures -> boss/base pressure.
• Favor guaranteed value (farm/objective capture) over low-probability chase kills when deciding quickly.

Efficiency operating model

• Efficiency = minimizing downtime while taking actions that improve game state.
• While farming troopers/camps, pre-plan your next action (lane catch, contest objective, rotate, reset).
• “Doing nothing” can be efficient if it preserves a stronger upcoming objective state (e.g., setting up for a favorable objective timing).
• Team efficiency matters more than individual greed: avoid decisions that gain you small value while dropping larger team value.

Practical phase priorities (heuristic)

These are guiding priorities, not hard rules:

• Early lane (pre-8):

  1. Troopers/waves
  2. Towers/kills if realistically available
  3. Boxes
  4. Jungle (situationally higher on fast-jungle heroes)

• 8-15:

  1. Troopers/waves
  2. Urn windows (if contest is favorable)
  3. Center sacrifices/vault control
  4. Tier-3/other high-value camps and mid-map boxes
  5. Remaining structures and kill conversions

• 15-25:

  • Waves first, then convert good fights into urn/walkers/boss setups quickly.

• 25+:

  • Play primarily around finding one favorable fight -> boss/base conversion.

Personal efficiency benchmarks (coaching-style targets)

Use these as rough diagnostics, not strict pass/fail metrics:

• By ~10:00, participate in at least 1-2 sinner’s sacrifice/vault contests when game state allows.
• By ~15:00 on farm-oriented heroes, aim for strong soul pace (often around high-teens thousands in stable games).
• By ~20:00, check trooper damage to ensure you are actually pushing enough waves for your role and lobby context.

Rotation timing and lane responsibility

• If you are the closest player to an unmanaged lane, you effectively own that lane until handed off.
• Clear responsibilities fast to create free players for proactive map actions.
• Avoid over-committing multiple players to low-risk single-lane clears.

Asymmetry rules (important)

• Side lanes are not equal in practical value and safety.
• Strong-side control generally gives easier early economy access and safer pressure tools.
• Losing your strong-side structure can disproportionately damage your team’s ability to hold/contest nearby resources.
• Blue lane offers high volatility: stronger attack angles both ways and faster punish opportunities.

Information habits

• Maintain regular minimap snapshots and count visible/missing enemies before committing to risky pathing.
• Plan around objective timers one wave early (don’t arrive late with uncleared responsibilities).
• Use feints and pivots to force bad enemy rotations instead of telegraphing every play.

From behind

• Default to stabilization: safe lane clears, controlled resource collection, and selective objective contests.
• Avoid desperation fights that hand over more map control than the objective was worth.

Teamfighting

Patch/context note

• Sources:
  • BrcJ9h4mulc
  • X9yhG5vKca4

Fight setup

• Enter fights that connect to a broader objective plan.
• Quick pre-fight check: health, items, souls, ults, nearby numbers.
• Avoid fragmented map states where each player is running a separate mini-plan.

Engage/disengage basics

• Commit hardest when your spike window is active (cooldowns/items/ults) and theirs is not.
• It is valid to posture and disengage if new information flips expected odds.
• Use short danger calls immediately when jumped; delayed comms destroy rescue windows.
• Keep escape routes in mind; don’t donate deaths defending low-value lost positions.

Post-fight conversion

• Kills are temporary opportunities, not the final objective.
• Convert quickly into concrete gains (lane state, camps, vaults, structures, urn, boss setup).
• If no clean conversion exists, reset lane responsibilities and deny enemy recovery time.

Hero Archetypes and Role Selection

Patch/context note

• Primary roster overview: wihHFTapEGk
• Cross-game hero matching: m5_o7MhK2CA
• Patch-volatility/tier context: jbD_H7KXnI8, kYZdmFLrjmY
• Treat this page as hero-selection guidance (playstyle fit first), not a permanent tier-list snapshot.

Archetypes (quick picker)

• Brawlers / Frontliners: get in, stay in, absorb pressure, disrupt space.
• Spirit Nukers / Hit-and-Run Casters: burst windows, flanks, cooldown timing.
• Pick / Setup Heroes: catch and isolate targets for team follow-up.
• Utility / Support: enable teammates (heals, shields, mobility, control).
• M1 Carries (aim-scaling weapon carries): farm into high late-game DPS.

Comprehensive hero list by archetype

Cross-game starting picks (validated beginner mapping)

• Shooter DPS background: start with Haze (simple kit, aim-forward conversion).
• Hero-shooter support background: start with Page or Kelvin.
• Hero-shooter tank background: start with Abrams or Mo & Krill.
• MOBA carry background: start with Seven (scaling carry) or Victor (lower aim requirement).
• MOBA support/roam background: start with Dynamo.
• MOBA mid/playmaker background: start with Paradox (and then test Holliday).

“I liked X game/role before Deadlock” quick recommendations

• MOBA tank/support players: Abrams, Mo & Krill, Kelvin, Dynamo, Viscous, Ivy
• FPS aimer/sniper players: Vindicta, Grey Talon, Fentor, Wraith
• Assassin/roamer players: Haze, Calico, Pocket, Lash, Drifter
• Macro/split-push players: Mirage, Wraith, Drifter, Ram, Doorman
• Enchanter/support mains: Page, Ivy, Dynamo, Viscous
• Juggernaut/bruiser lovers: Victor, Abrams, Shiv, Lady Geist
• Combo/playmaker lovers: Paradox, Holliday, Bebop, Lash

If you keep facing certain meta heroes (build/playstyle adaptation, not counter-pick)

• Vs Celeste-heavy lobbies

  • Playstyle: stay mid-range, avoid clumping on ult bounces, punish when Lighteater is down.
  • Items: early spirit resist + Dispel Magic to remove Lighteater debuff.

• Vs Graves-heavy lobbies

  • Playstyle: avoid long trades in Gravestone, clear summons quickly, fight outside her short range.
  • Items: value AoE/waveclear and anti-sustain pressure.

• Vs Apollo-heavy lobbies

  • Playstyle: bait Repost first, then commit cooldowns; deny follow-up dashes after first engage.
  • Items: spirit resist, Spellbreaker, and slows/disables (Slowing Hex profile) are high value.

• Vs Silver-heavy lobbies

  • Playstyle: kite and space; burst before or right as she is about to enter wolf form.
  • Items: anti-weapon defenses (Metal Skin, disarm effects) are high value.

• Vs Vender-heavy lobbies

  • Playstyle: avoid close corridors/trap zones; force open-space fights.
  • Items: Metal Skin and anti-burst tools versus his weapon/execute windows.

• Vs Rem-heavy lobbies

  • Playstyle: protect sinner timings, clear helper pressure early, and punish Rem when isolated.
  • Items: anti-engage tools and reliable waveclear are priority.

Practical selection method (for climbing)

1. Choose one primary archetype that matches your instincts.
2. Pick 2 heroes in that archetype:
   • one stable/easy gameplan,
   • one high-ceiling hero you can grow into.
3. Play at least 5–10 games each before swapping.
4. Keep one fallback hero with reliable waveclear and self-sufficiency for chaotic lobbies.

Caveats

• Archetype fit is fluid; many heroes are true hybrids.
• Tier strength is highly patch-sensitive and rank-sensitive.
• Cross-game comparisons are about feel and learning style, not exact kit equivalence.

Movement Mechanics (Practical Fundamentals)

Patch/context note

• Primary source: E5CRaB37G5E
• Focus: movement basics and practical tech that improve consistency, not highlight-only tricks.

High-impact habits first

• Slide whenever your speed allows (including after many dashes).
• Use dash -> slide habitually to preserve pressure/ammo and reposition faster.
• In the air, avoid autopilot holding W; air-strafe with lateral inputs + mouse movement for better control.
• Use crouch exits from ziplines to preserve momentum.
• Prefer diagonal air dashes where route/safety allows for faster travel.

Stamina-efficient routing

• Keep track of what consumes stamina and what can preserve it (route choice matters).
• Use wall jumps/terrain interactions to gain distance or height with less stamina burn.
• Save stamina for combat-critical moments instead of spending it all on routine travel.

Practical combat movement notes

• Sliding can be used to cancel/shorten exposure windows after movement commitments.
• Instant movement bursts can improve engage/disengage timing but should be practiced deliberately.
• Heavy melee lunge can serve as emergency micro-reposition if stamina is exhausted.

Learning progression (recommended)

• Do not learn everything at once.
• Add one movement habit at a time in live games (e.g., day 1: dash->slide; day 2: zipline crouch exits; day 3: air-strafe discipline).
• Watch strong players for map-specific route usage, then copy one pattern at a time.

Caveat

• Advanced niche tech (edge/corner variants, niche micro routes) is optional for most players early.
• Prioritize repeatable, fight-relevant movement consistency first.

Source Index