Every Deadlock player made these mistakes. Fixing even a handful of them will make a big difference to your win rate.
Farming and economy
1. Not shooting your soul orbs
When a trooper dies, half its souls float up as an orb. If you don’t shoot it, you lose those souls. Fix: after every last hit, flick up and shoot the orb. Even better, finish troopers off with melee for the full souls instantly.
2. Never denying
Enemy orbs can be shot too. Every orb you deny is souls taken from your opponent. Fix: in lane, treat enemy orbs as targets just as important as troopers.
3. Sitting on unspent souls
Souls in your bank do nothing in a fight. Fix: whenever you pass a shop with 800+ souls, buy something.
4. Dying with a big haunted bank
Souls from the jungle, crates and Sinner’s Sacrifice are haunted. They secure slowly, and part of them drops on death as a soul bag the enemy can take. Fix: after a big jungle farm, play safe until those souls have been secured.
5. Ignoring crates and the jungle
Crates are worth more and more as the game goes on, and jungle camps provide steady income. Fix: on your way between lanes, break crates and clear the camps on your path.
6. Forgetting the ultimate
Your ultimate unlocks at 3,800 souls, and many beginners forget to unlock it for minutes. Fix: check for the unlock prompt every time you shop.
Fighting
7. Standing still while shooting
A still target is easy to hit. Fix: strafe, crouch and dash while you shoot.
8. Chasing kills into the enemy side
Chasing a low-health enemy past their Guardian or into a group gets you killed. Fix: let them go unless you’re sure you’ll win, and look at the minimap first.
9. Fighting while outnumbered
Six-on-five is a loss almost every time. Fix: count the enemies before engaging. Missing enemies on the minimap may be about to ambush you.
10. Spamming parry
A missed parry puts it on a 4.5-second cooldown, leaving you open to the exact melee you were trying to stop. Fix: only parry when you see a heavy melee wind up.
11. Heavy meleeing someone who’s waiting for it
The same rule works in reverse: a slow heavy melee into a player who’s watching you is an invitation to be parried and stunned. Fix: use light melee to finish, and heavy melee on targets that are already stunned or not looking.
12. Using your ultimate on one low target
Most ultimates are your best team-fight tool. Fix: save it for a fight that matters, unless it guarantees a kill on a key enemy.
13. Not building defence
Beginners often buy only damage. Fix: include health, regen or resist items, and add bullet or spirit resist depending on which kind of damage is killing you.
Map and objectives
14. Never looking at the minimap
Fix: glance at it every few seconds. It’s the best way to avoid ganks.
15. Farming while the team fights
Souls matter, but a lost 5v6 fight costs your team far more than one camp is worth. Fix: when your team groups for an objective in the mid game, join them.
16. Ignoring the Soul Urn
The Urn gives souls and permanent stat buffs, and it starts at 10:00. Fix: escort or carry it with your team, and contest the enemy’s Urn runs. A melee hit makes the carrier drop it.
17. Hitting the Patron without troopers
The Patron has backdoor protection: it regenerates much faster when none of your troopers are nearby. Fix: push in alongside a trooper wave.
18. Forgetting the Mid Boss
The Mid Boss gives 3,000 team souls and the Rejuvenator, which gives your team revives for three minutes. Fix: track its timer and take it, or contest it, when the enemy is down players.
Mindset
19. Switching heroes every match
Fix: stick with one or two heroes until you know them well. You’ll learn the game, not just the hero.
20. Tilting after a bad start
Deadlock has strong comeback mechanics: teams that are behind get bigger bounties, extra income and better Urn rewards. Games really can turn around. Fix: keep playing for objectives instead of giving up.
Want a structured plan? Follow your first 10 matches.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest beginner mistake in Deadlock?
Not securing soul orbs. Half of every trooper's souls float up as an orb, and if you don't shoot it, you lose that half, or worse, the enemy denies it. Over a laning phase that adds up to thousands of souls.
Should I always fight in Deadlock?
No. Fight when you have a number, item or cooldown advantage. Taking even fights you didn't need to take is how leads get thrown away, especially since the enemy gets comeback bounties for killing players who are ahead.
Numbers on this page are checked against the game and the community-run Deadlock Wiki. Spotted something a patch changed? Tell us.