Souls are a crucial element in Deadlock, serving both as currency and experience points (XP) for all heroes. Players collect souls by various means, including shooting soul orbs released when certain entities die, last-hitting enemy Candles, taking Guardians, killing enemy players, and finding unsecured souls in boxes or crates. Unsecured souls are added to your total immediately but can drop upon death for other players to collect.

Leveling Up and Abilities:

  • Collecting Souls increases your level, granting stat boosts (like health, bullet damage, and regeneration) and skill points.
  • Abilities unlock at specific soul thresholds:
    • Normal abilities: 0, 400, 1,400 souls.
    • Ultimate ability: 3,000 souls.
  • Stat increases start at 1,200 souls, with further boosts at 2,200, 4,500, and every 1,500 souls thereafter, up to 12,000. After 12,000, stats increase with each level.
  • Skill points are usually awarded alongside stat increases, but there are exceptions (e.g., 400, 800, 16,000 Souls).

Soul Distribution:

  • Before 10 minutes, two players can share 100% of a Candle’s soul value, effectively doubling its worth.
  • After 10 minutes, souls are divided evenly among nearby players.
  • Souls from player kills are influenced by the team's overall soul count: teams with fewer souls gain more from kills.

Soul Orbs:

  • Soul orbs are released by dying entities and can be shot to collect souls. If not collected, the orbs eventually expire, awarding the same amount of souls automatically.
  • Shooting these orbs can also deny enemy players from receiving the souls.

Be aware that soul orbs can be missed from events like Spirit Urn turn-ins, Guardian destruction, or Sinner's Sacrifice Safes.