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 game's current state, many aspects of the game's strategy have been derived from high MMR play, tournaments, and knowledge from similar titles.
Laning
At the start of each round, players are assigned to 1 of 4 lanes using a 1-2-2-1 format (left to right), where "1" indicates a solo lane and "2" indicates a duo lane. Players are randomly placed, but duo parties are more likely to be queued into the same lane.
Support-centric characters like Ivy or Dynamo perform best in duo lanes with a high-DPS counterpart. Self-reliant characters with sustain or poke abilities, like Shiv, are better suited for the Park and York (Purple and Yellow) solo lanes. The random placement seems to account for this, though the exact mechanism is unclear.
Laning is strategically divided into three phases:
- Laning Phase (Early game): Players focus on winning their lane by managing troops, jungling, looking for easy kills, and gaining a souls advantage.
- Midgame: Sidelaners who have won their lane start roaming to assist midlaners, while all players continue farming objectives to strengthen their team’s position.
- Endgame: Players work to solidify their team's soul advantage, engage in most of the teamfights, and push to attack the enemy Patron.