A Deadlock Beginner Guide: Advice I Wish I Had When I Started

considering how much i'm enjoying deadlock, i thought it would be a good idea to make a "things i wish i knew before i started" style guide like i've done in the past for other games. this guide is NOT "how to play deadlock," this guide is more for those who have started playing the game already and are looking to further their knowledge at a very basic level. this guide assumes you have basic understanding of how MOBAs work (although i do include a short overview in case you don't), and a very low level understanding of deadlock. that being said, if there is interest in such a thing, i'm open to something a bit more comprehensive. i'm also interested in doing some character guides if my interest continues, which i anticipate it will.

intro - 0:00
basic recommendations - 0:24
if you've never played a MOBA - 3:06
intro to deadlock tips - 6:13
denies win lanes - 6:49
denying denies wins lanes - 7:52
spam abilities - 8:55
buy early, buy often - 9:44
sell late, sell often(?) - 10:26
practice active items - 11:30
the jungle - 12:00
hit the boxes - 12:31
movement is (almost) everything - 12:50
objectives give power (kinda) - 14:33
charge melee the rejuv - 15:16
base defense is bad - 16:03
early game respawns are QUICK - 17:08

edited by: meeeeeeee

Epic Games Store Creator Code: HelloDatto

[Zinthos.]

Pro tip: Don't run into the enemy base thinking it's your base 😂

[SirCamWA]

Hello, Datto!
Can't wait for Datto to transcend to being the optimal dps Deadlock guy :)

[irrelephents]

I genuinely had no clue how MOBAs really worked, so the quick overview was pretty nice just to have a better grasp of the base concepts. Thanks for the breakdown and beginner options!

[groovytonyYT]

Pro tip: hold down ALT and you can draw on the map. Use it to coordinate with your teammates, or express your artistic talents, both are valid use cases

[BenAM.Barron]

This is a great intro!
For movement, I would recommend learning to dash-slide constantly. The slide carries your dash momentum for a bit, and is generally a fast way to move around the map. Especially on ramps/stairs. Also, sliding gives you unlimited ammo, which allows some characters to DUMP into an enemy for free.

[TeeBeeOhh]

this video should have the raid guide music, just saying

[Stubbaroni]

I think the “sell late, sell often” was the part that I got caught up on trying it out for myself, as someone who’s moba experience is Smite

[vincentgirard]

Starter tip: most of the buils you can browse are catered to the builder’s playstyle. If you want your best experience, find one with items you want to build, BUT build your own into it and see what suits the hero best. Wraith has a lot of gun builds, but speccing into spirit cooldown and damage for her first ability can be a deadly combo too! Just an example.

[kaihartley]

Very good guide, Datto! To add on, I'd suggest getting to know the zip lines better. If you get on the zip line, you can be shot and stunned for a few seconds which makes escapes hard. Make sure to run a little further than you would think so you can escape safely. After three seconds of riding a zip line, you will get a blue shield that prevents the stun, but you can still take damage during this time. Keep that in mind if you are playing against a Grey Talon or a Vindicta as they have long range high damage attacks that can still kill you.

As for using the zipline speed boost, there's a really long cooldown. Don't use it out the gate. That doesn't actually do anything since you can't really rush someone early and expect a kill without minions or weakening them. Use it when you first die. That'll let you rocket right back to the fight and clean up anyone who doesn't follow rule 13. In the later game, use it only to save a lane guardian or walker or help your team out with a group fight. I often play assassin type characters like Lash and Yamato and being able to zip quickly and then jump past the enemy team makes for some great ganking.

[traveldanielle]

wow, Deadlock sounds SO fun!! Thanks for all the hot tips! I love hot tips from a hot guy. Do you wanna go out sometime?

[prismriot]

A tip I want to add for players new to MOBAS in general. Unless you are going true tank, investing into damage early is often more impactful than investing into defense. I generally grab the healing item first but that’s a personal QOL thing for me. A follow-up, a VERY important one for any moba: if you are losing lane, THAT is when you build beefy early. If you’re getting stomped, it doesn’t matter how much damage you buy, they will have bought MORE, so they will win damage trades every time. At that point your goal is not to kill them, your goal is to get defensive items so can farm minions and SURVIVE.

[Regulith]

I don't intend to play the game myself but I'm here to voice my support for more deadlock content because it's fun to watch

[draecas]

This is exactly the kinda vid I've been waiting for, and I'm really glad you made it. I'm here for Datto Does Deadlock

[theycallmeturtle]

Fun fact: The VA for the Patron on the Sapphire team also does the voice of Savathûn in D2

[botanical]

On the movement section, the momentum from the dash jump is STRONG. Most characters who lose movement or get slowed down by their own ability, like Viscous' Cube or Pocket's first ability, you can hold that momentum and make that particular move high speed or have SOME movement for your offensive or defensive need.

[udontknowme]

Watching this video knowing damn well I am never getting an invite

[ShadowChief]

Honestly the only thing you didn't mention was the soul urn mechanic and having seen so many teammates ignore it completely I do wish it was in this beginner video lol though I recognize that it kinda can be encompassed by the learn the map tip

[BarnsyBDC]

Thanks for the effort here mate, much appreciated, I've only been playing a few days so this is a massive assist

[Oni_Evergarden]

I'm just glad Datto is passionate about a game. I'll play Deadlock but I'm over PvP games myself atm

[Sidorio]

This is really really solid and concise advice! Good video Datto!