Deadlock Team Fighting Guide: Positioning, Focus Fire and Ultimates

Late in a Deadlock game, almost everything is decided in team fights. A won fight opens the enemy base; a lost one can end the game. Here’s how to win more of them.

Pick the right fights

Before you commit, ask:

1. Are we even in numbers? Never fight 4v6. Wait for teammates, or back off.
2. Are our ultimates ready? Fight right after yours come off cooldown, or right after the enemy used theirs.
3. Who has better ground? High ground, cover and narrow chokepoints favour the team holding them.
4. What do we get for winning? Fights next to an objective (a Walker, the Mid Boss, the Rift) are worth more.

If the answers are bad, don’t fight. Give up a little ground and come back when they’re better.

Positioning by role

Role	Where to stand	Job
Tank / frontliner	In front, closest to the enemy	Start the fight, soak damage, protect carries
Initiator	Out of sight until the engage	Land the big crowd control that starts the fight
Gun carry	Behind the frontline, at your gun’s best range	Shoot whoever is in reach
Spirit carry	Behind or to the side	Wait for the enemy to clump, then unload
Support	Near the carries	Heal, shield and peel
Assassin	On a flank	Catch the enemy carry or support

See hero roles for which heroes do what.

Focus fire

Six players shooting six different targets kills nobody. Pick one target and burst it down.

Good targets:

• The enemy carry or support, if they’re in reach.
• Anyone who’s out of position, low on health, or has just used their escape.
• Anyone without their defensive item: if their Metal Skin is on cooldown, shoot them.

Bad targets:

• The tank, unless they’re the only one in reach. They’re built to soak damage.
• Anyone with an escape ready and full health.

Ping your target so your team follows.

Ultimates

• Hold them for the fight, not for a single kill.
• Use them after the enemy’s escapes, so they can’t dodge.
• Stagger them. Two area ultimates at the same moment can overlap; one after the other covers the whole fight.
• Channelled ultimates need protection. Use them from cover, or buy Unstoppable.

Cleanses and saves

The best teams fight with two kinds of buttons ready:

• Cleanses for themselves: Unstoppable and Dispel Magic. Remember they can’t be used once you’re already stunned.
• Saves for teammates: heals, shields and peels from supports. See active items.

Watch your carry’s health bar, not just the enemy’s.

Fighting around objectives

• At the Mid Boss, the pit is cramped, so area abilities hit everyone. Fight the enemy team before you finish the boss.
• At a Walker, its Stomp stuns everyone within 15 metres for 2 seconds. Don’t fight under it if it’s the enemy’s.
• At the Rift, you have to clear the zone to capture it, so crowd control and area damage are very valuable.

After the fight

A won fight is worth nothing until you use it. As soon as it’s over:

1. Check respawn timers. How long are the enemies down?
2. Take the nearest objective. Walker, Base Guardian, Shrine or the Mid Boss.
3. Secure the souls, then push or reset.

And if you lost the fight, don’t walk back in one at a time. Regroup, defend, and wait for the next window.

Team-fight checklist

1. Even numbers and ultimates ready?
2. Everyone in position for their role?
3. One target, pinged?
4. Ultimates after their escapes?
5. Objective taken after the fight?

Next: Macro: waves, map awareness and trades →