Deadlock Patch Update: Full Breakdown of Changes & Their Impact on Gameplay

Today, the Blix team will break down the latest patch for Deadlock, which has already sparked discussions within the community. As usual, some players are saying, “Valve didn’t do anything again; bring back four lines!” However, let’s be honest—it’s better to have an update than to receive no communication at all.

We have carefully reviewed the patch notes, and here’s our analysis: what has changed, how these changes will impact the meta, and what to expect in the game. You can read the full details of the changes on the official Deadlock forum.

Economics and Waves: Slowing Down the Pace of the Game

Deadlock: Soul Orbs

Valve has decided to slow down the dynamics of Deadlock, and the changes to the economy and wave timings are noticeable.

• Soul Orbs will no longer duplicate after the 8th minute. Previously, players received 40 souls for killing a trooper before the 8th minute, and 50 or 51 souls afterward. The power spike that occurred at the 8th minute has been removed, leading to a smoother growth of souls. As a result, the early game will be less aggressive, and farming will be more stable.
• The interval between waves has been increased from 25 seconds to 30 seconds. While this may seem like a small change, it significantly impacts gameplay by reducing the frequency of waves. Fewer waves make it harder to demolish towers, especially during the early game. Although we have not tested this patch yet, we anticipate that the overall pace of the game will slow down.
• Rewards for killing creeps have been adjusted. The economy is now balanced according to the new timings, so players should not expect an abundance of rewards.

What Does This Mean for the Players?

If you prefer an aggressive style, you’ll need to adapt. Lanes will become more static, so farming will be essential. It’s crucial to time your actions accurately and coordinate with your teammates.

Changes to Guardians and Creeps: More Room for Maneuver

Deadlock: Guardians and Creeps

Valve has also altered the mechanics of guardians and creeps to provide players with more options for tactical play.

• The attack range of Guardians has been reduced from 38 meters to 35 meters. This change allows players to approach the tower more safely without the risk of being hit, enabling more aggressive harassment strategies, especially for heroes with huge range capabilities.
• The melee attack range of Guardians has been decreased from 6.1 meters to 5 meters, and their melee damage has been reduced from 8 to 7. While this is a minor adjustment, it can significantly impact difficult encounters.
• Players can no longer parry creep attacks, which is a major nerf for those who relied on this ability to manage creeps or swap position under an enemy hero. Now, if you accidentally damage a creep, your cooldown for parry won’t be wasted, but it will be more challenging to control the wave.
• Heal-Trooper now has an unlimited heal capacity (previously limited to three charges), but it comes with a cooldown of 6 seconds instead of 35. This is a buff for players defending hit creeps and stacking waves. If you manage to secure two hit creeps and face tank effectively, you could win many exchanges.

Pro Tip

Concentrate on controlling healing creeps and learn how to stack waves effectively. This can give you an advantage, especially if your opponent is not prepared for long trades.

Urn: More Tactics and Less Abuse

Deadlock: Urn

The urn in Deadlock has been revamped, enhancing tactics and fixing annoying bugs.

• The urn now instantly reveals its location, which is great news—provided the bug that allowed it to be hidden through the fan has been fixed. Abusers, prepare for some nerves!
• The first urn now takes the mechanics of comebacks, especially when there’s a 15% difference in net worth. This is a significant advantage for teams that are behind. For example, if the enemy team has a net worth of 50,000 and your team has 40,000, the urn will no longer be easy prey for the leaders. This change makes comebacks more achievable and adds intrigue to the midgame.
• There is a visual indication on the urn now. You can see who benefits from it both on the model and on the minimap. There is no more confusion about “Oh, I thought it was on our side.” This clarity helps in making decisions during tense situations.
• The urn only lasts for 20 seconds. You can no longer hold onto the urn indefinitely, which previously allowed one player to effectively be excluded from the fight. Now you must decide quickly: either carry the urn or risk losing its benefits.

Our Verdict

These changes enhance the game’s honesty and strategy. It is now crucial to not only win the fight but also to correctly coordinate the push.

Item Balance: Nerfing Meta Items

Deadlock: Game Shop

The items in Deadlock have undergone several changes, and here are the key changes that will impact the builds:

• Hollow Point Ward: The shield has been reduced from 95 to 70, and weapon damage has decreased from 20 to 18. This 500 soul item was previously too powerful and widely used. The nerf hasn’t completely killed the item, but it is now less versatile.
• Healing Rite: Health recovery has been reduced from 370 to 350, and the cooldown has increased to 70 seconds. This once-popular choice for survival has weakened, so players may need to return to base more frequently.
• Healbane: The healing for damage taken has been reduced from 350 to 275. Though the 1250 cost still offers excellent stats, its effectiveness has diminished. This change will impact aggressive builds that rely on constant healing.
• Enchant Barrier и Combat Barrier: The barriers have been reduced from 300 to 250 and 325 to 275, respectively. This nerf particularly affects those who invested in a double barrier and used them defensively. The changes will be noticeably felt on Mirage and Talon.
• Divine Barrier: The cooldown has increased from 30 to 40 seconds. This significant nerf could push this item out of the meta, as a ten-second increase is substantial for active gear.
• Restorative Locket: The range for receiving charges has been reduced from 50 to 35 meters, and charge recovery has decreased from 32 to 30. Previously, a must-have at high ranks, its effectiveness has now been diminished.
• Debilitating Reducer: Health has been reduced from 125 to 75, and the debuff effect has been lowered from 28% to 24%. Another widely-used item has received a well-deserved nerf.
• Fortitude: Weapon damage has been decreased from 27 to 23, and the off-field recovery time has increased from 10 to 13 seconds. Players will find it more challenging to recover and re-enter fights.

Pro Tips

Review your builds. Universal items like Hollow Point and Healbane remain effective, but it’s now beneficial to experiment with situational items to adapt to the updated meta.

Hero Balance: Which Characters Received Buffs and Which Ones Were Nerfed?

Deadlock hero: Haze

The patch has significantly impacted many heroes, with the most notable changes outlined below:

• Bebop: Base stamina has been reduced from 3 to 2, and regeneration has been decreased from 3 to 1.5. This nerf to both regeneration and stamina makes Bebop a little less annoying to deal with on the lane.
• Kaliko: Ammo has been reduced from 12 to 9, and weapon damage gain has been cut by 25%. This is a significant nerf that affects the main build through Lucky Shot. Players will likely shift to the second skill and ultimate.
• Grey Talon: Health regeneration has been lowered from 2.5 to 1.5, and Charge Shot damage has been reduced from 100 to 90. This nerf is aimed at preventing Talon from zoning everyone out on the lane.
• Haze: The Sleep Dagger now reduces stamina regeneration by 60% for 6 seconds (T2). While this is a buff for solo targets that could bring Haze back into play, it doesn’t offer a substantial overall enhancement.
• Holiday: The weapon’s base damage has decreased from 29 to 26, and the lasso duration has been shortened from 1.5 seconds to 1 second. These nerfs continue to weaken Holiday, but the hero remains viable.
• Mirage: Health has been reduced from 550 to 500, and the deceleration from Djinn’s Mark has been changed from 80% to 60%. This nerf, along with the weakening of barriers, will negatively impact Mirage’s survivability on the lane.
• Warden: Health has been increased from 550 to 575, and regeneration has been raised from 2 to 3. This change aims to elevate a previously overlooked hero, but it may not be sufficient for competitive play.

What Do We Think?

The nerfs for the meth heroes, Mirage and Kaliko, along with adjustments to certain objects, are a positive step toward promoting diversity in gameplay. The cautious buffs for Haze and Warden have the potential to revitalize public interest. To keep up with how the new meta will evolve, be sure to follow the top streams!

What Should You Expect From The Patch?

Deadlock Art

The new Deadlock patch has slowed the pace of the game, made strategies more tactical, and removed some of the flashy mechanics. The economy is now smoother, the urn feels more balanced, and items and heroes related to meta have received well-deserved nerfs. While this isn’t a revolutionary change, it is a significant step towards achieving balance. Test out new builds, focus on managing the healing crepes, and learn how to effectively play around the urn. We encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments—we read everything! We recommend checking out our guide for the hero Mirage, who is one of the best gankers in the game.