Deadlock Huge Update: New Matchmaking and Game Balance

Deadlock is undergoing significant changes once again! Valve has released a major patch that completely alters the game’s mechanics, including matchmaking, map redesign, and character balance. Players can look forward to a new ranked game system, an updated interface, redesigned runes, and numerous innovations related to character lists and heroes. The Blix team has carefully analyzed each change to present you with all the key highlights of this patch.

Deadlock: art

A New Method for Matchmaking

One of the most significant changes is the removal of traditional ranked matchmaking. In this new system, every game is ranked, and your wins or losses directly impact your overall rating. Rating icons are updated in real time, enabling you to track your progress immediately after each match.

Improving the Player Selection System

A single selection mode is introduced without dividing into regular or ranked matches, and there are no time limits. Badges are updated immediately following MMR changes, and monthly global MMR adjustments are made as necessary.

Individual Hero Rankings

Deadlock hero: Infernus

Each character now has a rating. The system will select opponents based on your experience level with a particular character. If you try a new hero for the first time, your opponents will also be unfamiliar to you. This method seems fair, as it allows players to comfortably test new characters without the fear of negatively impacting their overall MMR.

Leaderboards

Leaderboards are available by region (North America, Europe, etc.) for the top 1000 players based on total and heroic MMR. The conditions are 50 games within 30 days (20 games for hero).

Attributes of Group Selection

Groups of any size can be formed; however, the accrual of Matchmaking Rating (MMR) will be reduced if there is a significant skill disparity among players. For groups with a high MMR, the limit is increased to three players at Ascendant 1 rank and above. Additionally, the rankings are updated with less impact from matches that are considered low-quality, such as those played late at night.

Extra Features

Deadlock hero: Seven art

You can choose to play solo by adjusting the variable mm_prefer_solo_only. When playing in groups, you have the option to override the lane distribution. Lane exchanges were introduced during the game’s start phase. Additionally, notifications about rank changes and the display of the average team badge after a match have been implemented.

General Changes

Now, you can customize your builds directly from the main menu. There’s no need to worry during loading times, as all builds are accessible in advance. Additionally, the ability enhancement interface has been improved: hovering over a skill will display information about the item that enhances that ability.

Revisions to the Management of Assemblies and Purchases

Added a “Change Hero” button to the build browser. Improved dialogs for quick purchases and item sales queues. Added the ability to include items in the sales queue to calculate budget.

Runes and Priority Counting Updates

Runes have gained increased significance and become more powerful as the game progresses. They no longer appear to emit “light from the sewer.” Instead of activation requiring the breaking of a rune, as it did with the Rejuvenator, the process has changed. An important feature is that runes strengthen over time, offering progressively more powerful bonuses.

Low-priority games now require wins.

Audio and Voiceovers

The update introduces music and ambient sounds for the hotel, along with new animations and sounds for characters such as Seven and Paradox. The sounds for projectiles, skills, and weapons have been reworked and enhanced for better expressiveness. Additionally, the voice acting for characters like Kelvin, Bebop, and Viscous has been updated and expanded. Amber Hand and Sapphire Flame now have unique replicas that highlight their personalities. Furthermore, several bugs related to music and sound playback—such as those occurring during reviving or base attacks—have been fixed.

Map and Gameplay Changes

Walkers Changes

Deadlock: Walkers

Valve has reworked the placement of neutral creeps, added new walkthroughs, and changed the structure of the center lines. Center line Walkers now have 8000 HP and their attacks deal a percentage of maximum health. They now have additional resistance if multiple enemies attack them at the same time.

Walkers are now more dangerous and deal percentage damage, making them a threat at any stage of the game. When defending against a Walker, all allies receive resistance bonuses.

Revisions the Urn and Collection Processes

Deadlock: Urn art

The discovery time for the urn has been increased from 20 seconds to 25 seconds, and the initial reward for obtaining it has been decreased from 4,050 to 3,000. As part of the experiment, a new urn mechanic was introduced for two days: the discovery time was extended to 40 seconds, and bonuses were reduced by 60%. The player’s delivery reward remains unchanged. These modifications will be in effect only on weekends, after which everything will revert to the normal mode.

Map Changes

Valve relocated neutral rooftop camps on Amber Yellow and Sapphire Purple to rooftops nearer to Guardian.

Deadlock: Map Changes

The update introduced a truck that enables players to climb onto the bridge within the Port Authority and Jazz Club buildings. Additionally, the stairs leading from the central canal to the radio station have been relocated closer to the inner alleys, while the stairs connecting the underground teleportation station to the radio station have been removed. The interior of the radio station has also been redesigned for a more open and spacious feel.

Deadlock: Canal Update

The corridor connecting the Inner and Outer Lanes has been relocated further from the base entrances, and the space curtains at those entrances have been removed. Additionally, the entrance to the Armory/Warehouse has been modified to provide more direct access, replacing the old corridor.

Deadlock: Map Changes

The sideline teleporters have been relocated to the basement beneath Camp Hard. The bookshelf model on the top floor of the Police Station/Sewing Factory has been removed to improve visibility in the corridor, and the rope inside the building has also been taken out.

Deadlock: Map Changes

Valve added an internal ladder connection in the factory, allowing movement between lower and upper areas without going outside.

Deadlock: Amber Yellow Lane

New Items

New third dash items have been introduced to the game, including:

• Spellslinger Headshots — Requires Soul Shredder Bullets. Landing a headshot on enemy heroes increases your total Spirit Power by 3% for 12s. Cooldown 1.5s. Max stacks 12. Grants +12% Weapon Damage, +8% Spirit Amp/18% Spirit Lifesteal (component passive), and +150 Health.
• Arcane Surge — Requires Kinetic Dash. After successful Dash Jump, the next ability you use will also have +20% Range, +20% Duration and +20 Spirit Power. Grants +100 Health, +1 Stamina and +15% Slow Resist.
• Spirit Snatch — Requires Spirit Strike. Causes your melee attacks to steal 12% Spirit Resist and 26 Spirit Power for 16s. Cooldown 6s. Buff you receive stacks if you hit different heroes. Grants +15% Melee Damage, +8% Spirit Resist, +125 Health and +1 Sprint. 

Hero Balance

All characters have undergone changes related to healing: most abilities and items that restore health have been weakened. This aims to reduce the survivability of characters with high lifesteal.

Favorite character changes:

• Bebop — Allies can now interrupt his hook.
• Haze — Her ultimate ability now scales with the power of the Spirit.
• McGinnis— Turrets have undergone changes to their damage and health mechanics.
• Seven — Ultimate ability now enables vertical movement, making the hero harder to hit.

Abrams

Base regeneration has increased from 1 to 1.5. Life draw range and damage now depend on spirit power, improving the Seismic Impact’s collision and attraction.

Bebop

Exploding Uppercut T2 bonus now applies to melee damage as well. Allies can cancel the hook using the exit key, similar to the Viscous Cube.

Dynamo

Deadlock hero: Dynamo

Quantum Singularity no longer cancels the channeling of allies. Rejuvenating Aurora enables you to recharge while in action. Quantum Entanglement now has a visual indicator and its radius has been increased from 9 to 10 meters. However, the recovery time for Quantum Entanglement has been increased from 15 seconds to 16 seconds.

Grey Talon

The bullet damage has been increased from 24 to 25, and health gain has been raised from 27 to 29. The Trap now binds targets instead of just immobilizing them, with an extended bind duration and a modified slowdown effect. The radius of the trap has been expanded from 6 to 6.2 meters, and the cooldown has improved from -19 seconds to -20 seconds. Additionally, the Owl’s camera now returns to its original position faster upon impact.

Haze

Deadlock hero: Haze

Using items no longer disrupts invisibility. The recharge time for Smoke Bomb has been reduced from 37 seconds to 30 seconds.

Infernus

Afterburn attenuation time has increased by 15%. The shake burn radius has been increased from 12 to 13 meters.

McGinnis

Increased bullet velocity from 533 to 590. Fixed the Reactive Barrier triggering. Changed mini-turrets’ health; it no longer depends on the hero’s health, improving their survival parameters.

Vindicta

Deadlock hero: Vindicta

Crow Familiar parameters have been modified, decreasing spirit resistance by 6%. The Stake ability now grabs enemies at 3 meters, and its radius has been increased from 8 to 9 meters. Additionally, the base damage of Assassination has been reduced at low health.

Conclusion

The current patch introduced significant changes to Deadlock, impacting all aspects of the game, including matchmaking, interface, and balance. Valve took community feedback into account in an effort to create a fairer and more strategically rewarding environment. Now, it’s time to put these innovations to the test and see how well they meet players’ expectations. The Blix team stays updated on all Deadlock news, and you can find the complete list of updates on the game’s official forum.