Strategy

Strategy in Deadlock is based on the game's unique mechanics focused on a combination of both third-person-shooter mechanics and MOBA gameplay. In the games's current state, many aspects of the game's strategy have been derived from high mmr play and tournaments, as well as knowledge from similar titles.

Laning

The minimap present in the bottom-right corner of Deadlock's HUD.

The beginning of each round in Deadlock assigns each member of both teams to 1 of 4 lanes, following a 1-2-1-2 format (from left to right, 1 indicates a solo lane and 2 indicates a duo) where every player is randomly assigned to a position. Duo parties are more likely to be queued into the same lane.

Support-centric characters (such as Ivy or Dynamo) prefer a duo playstyle with a high-DPS counterpart, whereas self-reliant characters with built in sustain options or poke (such as Shiv) are better in the Broadway or York (Blue and Yellow) solo lanes. This appears to be taken into account by the randomised placement, although the exact mechanism for assignations is not clear at this time.

Laning in the game is divided into three phases: the Laning Phase, the Midgame, and the Endgame. The Laning Phase consists of players attempting to win their lane by focusing on troop management, jungling, looking for easy kills, and attempting to get a souls advantage. The Midgame consists of sidelaners who have won lane roaming to assist midlaners and further farming of objectives. Finally, the Endgame consists of players solidifying their souls advantage, most teamfights, and teams pushing to attack the enemy Patron.