If you just launched Deadlock for the first time, you probably had the same reaction most players do: “What on earth is going on here?” There are ropes, wall jumps, stamina bars, sliding mechanics, shops, souls flying everywhere, weird guardians, and a giant Patron thing at the end. And the game barely explains any of it properly.

So instead of dumping a bunch of technical info at you, this guide is written like someone sitting beside you, calmly explaining things step-by-step so you can actually understand what’s happening and enjoy the game.

Deadlock Beginner Guide 2026

When you open the game for the first time, don’t jump straight into a match.

Seriously — go into Settings first.

Deadlock is still not perfectly optimized, and default graphics settings can cause poor performance, especially when looking across large parts of the map.

Once you reach the hideout area, press ESC, open Settings, and adjust graphics until the game runs smoothly.

If you want to test performance properly, interact with the spirit near the table and choose Explore NYC.

This loads the actual map used in matches without the chaos of players and combat. Walk around, check your FPS, and adjust settings until everything feels comfortable.

Only then should you start learning gameplay.

Basic Controls

At its core, Deadlock still uses familiar shooter controls.

You move with WASD, shoot with left click, aim with right click, reload with R, jump with Space, crouch with CTRL, and dash with SHIFT.

Press B to open the shop, E to interact, and middle mouse to ping locations.

So if you’ve played any shooter before, you’ll feel comfortable here.

But this is where things start getting more complicated.

Movement

Movement in Deadlock is not simple.

It’s layered, fast, and uses a stamina system that most beginners don’t fully understand.

So let’s talk about it like we’re figuring it out together.

Stamina

Below your crosshair you’ll see a segmented bar.

That’s your stamina.

Each segment represents how many advanced movement actions you can perform.

Double jumps, dashes, and certain moves consume stamina.

If the bar is empty, you’re basically grounded.

Jumping

Pressing Space once gives you a normal jump.

Pressing it again mid-air performs a double jump, which consumes stamina.

If you’re near a wall, pressing Space lets you wall jump.

And if you’re near a ledge, holding Space lets you mantle over it without using stamina.

This system allows extremely fluid movement once you get used to it.

Dashing

Pressing SHIFT lets you dash in any direction.

You can dash forward to chase enemies, sideways to dodge attacks, or backward to escape.

Dashing mid-air is possible too, which makes movement incredibly dynamic.

If you combine jumps, dashes, and slides, you can move across the map very quickly.

Sliding

If you crouch while moving fast, your character will slide.

During a slide, you can shoot without consuming ammo.

Yes — this is huge.

Sliding down slopes or stairs lets you maintain speed and reposition during fights.

Ropes and Transit Lines

Ropes allow vertical movement — hold Space to grab, then use W and S to move.

Transit lines work like fast travel rails.

Hold Space while facing them to attach.

Be careful though — if enemies hit you during this animation, you take extra damage and get stunned.

Melee and Parrying

Deadlock isn’t just about guns.

Melee combat is extremely important.

Light vs Heavy Attacks

Press Q for a quick melee strike.

Hold Q for a heavy attack that deals much more damage.

Heavy attacks can even hit multiple enemies.

Parrying

Press F to parry.

If someone hits you with melee during the parry window, they get stunned instead.

This mechanic can completely flip close fights.

Once you learn timing, you’ll start winning melee duels easily.

Abilities

Each hero has four abilities.

Keys 1–4 activate them, with ability 4 being the ultimate.

Ultimates unlock at level 6 and usually have long cooldowns.

Some abilities scale with spirit power, others with gun damage, and some with character level.

Understanding how your abilities scale is essential for building effectively.

Troopers

Troopers are AI minions that march down lanes.

They define where the frontline is.

If your troopers push forward, your team gains map control.

Guardians

Guardians protect each lane.

They attack players and must be destroyed before advancing.

They hit hard but can be stunned and damaged safely if approached correctly.

Walkers

Walkers are tougher than guardians.

They have beam attacks and powerful slam attacks.

They require teamwork to defeat safely.

Shrines and the Patron

Once inner defenses fall, you reach the enemy base.

Destroy both shrines to expose the Patron.

Then damage the Patron to win the match.

Souls

Souls are the game’s currency.

You earn them by killing troopers, enemies, and objectives.

They are used to buy upgrades and level up your hero.

Souls can also be stolen if enemies shoot them before you collect them.

So securing souls is just as important as earning them.

The Shop

Upgrades in Deadlock matter a lot.

There are three main categories:

Gun upgrades increase weapon damage.

Health upgrades increase survivability.

Spirit upgrades strengthen abilities.

The more you invest in one category, the stronger its bonus becomes.

Extra Sources of Rewards

Besides fighting, you can gain extra souls by:

Breaking boxes and statues

Killing neutral mobs

Using gambling machines

Capturing the Spirit Urn

Defeating the mid-game boss

All of these provide additional buffs and advantages.