Guides
How to play Deadlock
How a match works, souls, items, lanes and objectives — plus a ten-match plan for new players.
Hub
Guides
Every Deadlock guide on the site, from your first match to drafting and macro.
Start here
Guides
How Deadlock invites work
Is it still invite-only, how friend invites work, and what to do when one doesn’t show up.
Guides
What is Deadlock?
Valve’s hero shooter-MOBA in one page: how it plays, modes and current status.
Items & builds
Items explained
Categories, tiers, slots, upgrades, refunds and the 4.8k spike, explained end to end.
Ranked
Ranks & ranked mode
Every rank in order, the unlock checklist, placements, points and season dates.
Strategy
- How to Counter Any Deadlock Hero (Counter Items Cheat Sheet)GuideWhat to buy against healing, crowd control, burst and invisibility, plus a 44-hero table.
- How to Parry in DeadlockGuideThe parry key, the 2.75 s stun, cooldown refunds and what you can parry.
- Deadlock Laning GuideGuideLanes, partners, souls, trading and when to leave.
- Deadlock Hero CombosGuideHero, lane and team combos built from real kits.
- Deadlock Team Compositions: How to Draft a Strong TeamGuideWhat a team needs and example compositions.
- Deadlock Macro Guide: Rotations, Farming and ObjectivesGuideRotations, farming patterns, objectives and closing games.
- Deadlock Heroes by RoleGuideAll 44 heroes by role, and how to read tier lists.
- Deadlock Builds: How Builds WorkGuideHow builds work, and every hero’s build framework.
Getting started
More
- How to Watch Replays and Spectate in DeadlockGuideWatch your matches back, spectate and fix replay errors.
- Deadlock Lore ExplainedGuideThe Ritual, the Patrons, the city and its factions.
- Deadlock vs Overwatch, Marvel Rivals and Dota 2GuideFormat, economy and pace compared with three similar games.
- Deadlock Mods: How They Install, and Are They Allowed?GuideValve’s stance, the risks, and installing or removing mods.
- Deadlock WallpapersGuideOriginal desktop and phone wallpapers.
- Deadlock Esports and TournamentsGuideRecurring community events and where to follow results.