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'''Strategy''' in ''[[Deadlock]]'' refers to the game knowledge and techniques employed by players | '''Strategy''' in ''[[Deadlock]]'' refers to the game knowledge and techniques employed by players in pursuit of destroying the enemy [[Patron]]. | ||
== | == Phases == | ||
The state of the game flows erratically, with teams at advantages or disadvantages from any number of factors at play. However, players generally consider the game to occur in three major phases, with different priorities and objectives. | |||
=== Laning === | |||
Laning is the opening phase of the game, where pairs of players from each team attempt to gain an advantage over the opposing team, while preventing the enemy from doing the same. Laning phase is generally considered to be over when half or more of the towers on the map have been destroyed, leaving players free to roam across the map. Not every lane is winnable, but mitigating a loss can also be valuable in the long run. | |||
Some factors to account for during the laning phase are: | |||
[[ | * '''Matchups''', or the strengths and weaknesses of the players in your lane. This is based on your hero's inherent capabilities, your playstyle, individual skill or build. | ||
** For example, if you and your partner are supports with low capacity for damage (ex. {{HeroIcon|Paige}} and {{HeroIcon|Rem}}), it may be best to play under your [[Guardian]], to avoid being overrun. | |||
** While on the initial zipline ride to lane, swapping with other players on your team can let you play with a more synergistic partner, or pair you with a less dangerous enemy duo. | |||
* '''Resources''', or understanding the tools available to players in your lane at each point in time. | |||
** Certain soul breakpoints can make you weaker or stronger than your opponents (ex. buying more/stronger items, or unlocking your abilities first). | |||
** Abilities are also a resource -- for example, Lash's {{AbilityIcon|Ground Strike}} can only be used twice a wave, and requires setup beforehand. Knowing when enemies have abilities helps you assess whether or not you should take a fight. | |||
** Objectives that spawn during lane can also be converted into resources (ex. camps, [[Bridge Buff|Bridge Buffs]], and the urn). | |||
* '''Wave Priority''', which represents the state of the [[Troopers]] in your lane. Troopers will do a deceptively high amount of damage to you if overextended, and should not be ignored. By ensuring your troopers can push further up the lane, you create more safe space in the lane for you and your partner (and likewise a more dangerous space for the enemy duo). | |||
** If coordinated, you can strategically allow an enemy wave to destroy (or clash) with your own in a risky-to-reach spot. This can force enemies to make risky plays to secure your troopers, or risk missing out on the heal and souls. | |||
* '''Ganks''', where players might leave a lane to assist another. | |||
=== Midgame === | |||
Midgame is the period immediately after laning ends, when players become free to roam across the map and are looking to solidify their leads. Players from each lane may join the midgame at different times, and it's important to pay attention to when different players may be free. Midgame generally ends once a substantial advantage is gained (ex. a large soul lead, multiple walkers down), and start looking to end the game. | |||
Some factors to account for in the midgame are: | |||
=== Lategame === | |||
Lategame is the period where players are looking to end the game. This stage of the game is marked by taking map objectives, sieging the enemy base and long respawn timers. | |||
Some factors to account for in the lategame are: | |||
== Objectives == | == Objectives == | ||
Objectives are universally relevant throughout the game, and can be claimed for rewards, or destroyed so that your team may advance. The Ritual takes place in pursuit of its ultimate objective of destroying the opposing [[Patron]]. | |||
=== Defenses === | |||
Each team has a set of defenses that prevent the opposing team from advancing too far. While these defenses do not ''have'' to be destroyed to win the game, these objectives must be destroyed to allow your troopers to advance. | |||
Destroying defenses also rewards the responsible hero and team. 30% of rewarded souls are given to the hero(s) responsible, with the remaining 70% being evenly distributed across the team. | |||
=== | * [[Guardian|Guardians]] are the first layer of defense and stay in each lane. Destroying a [[Guardian]] rewards 1250 souls. | ||
* [[Walker|Walkers]] protect the center of each lane. Destroying a [[Walker]] rewards 3500 souls and an [[Extra Slots|extra slot]]. | |||
* [[Guardian#Base Guardian|Base Guardians]] defend the entrance of the base from [[Trooper|Troopers]]. They do not fully prevent enemy hero entry, but will prevent damage to [[Shrine|Shrines]] until at least one set is destroyed. Destroying a [[Guardian#Base Guardian|Base Guardian]] rewards 1000 souls. | |||
=== Base Defenses === | |||
Base defenses are the final layer of objectives required to win the game. These objectives are linked to one another, trigger retaliatory attacks from the enemy [[Patron]], and often require coordinated pushes from the entire team. | |||
* [[Shrine|Shrines]] protect the [[Patron]] from attacks until both are destroyed. Destroying a [[Shrine]] rewards 2000 souls, sends stronger enemy troopers down its lane, and heals its partner shrine. | |||
* [[Patron|The Patron]] is the ultimate objective of the Ritual, and must be destroyed in two phases. After the first phase is destroyed, the enemy team's respawn timers are drastically shortened, and it gains damage resistance while enemy players are in its radius. | |||
=== Map Objectives === | |||
Map objectives are reoccurring objectives, unaffiliated with either team. While not necessarily required to win the game, they offer strategic advantages to the team that secures them. These objectives often cause teams to rotate or fight, creating opportunities to contest or push now-undefended defenses. | |||
* The [[Soul Urn]] spawns at 10:00, then every 5 minutes thereafter. Claiming the [[Soul Urn]] rewards the hero responsible with permanent buffs, as well as a sizeable amount of deniable souls. | |||
* The [[Unstable Rift]] spawns between 10:00 and 12:00, then every 8 minutes thereafter. Claiming the [[Unstable Rift]] rewards the winning team with souls and a wave of Rift Troopers. If a rift is contested for long enough, it will eventually expire. | |||
* The [[Mid-Boss]] spawns at 0:00, and respawns faster every time it is destroyed. Destroying the [[Mid-Boss]] spawns the [[Rejuvenator]], granting team-wide buffs and instant respawns until it is either consumed or expires. [[Rejuvenator]] charges are vital for pushes and provide a map-wide advantage to your team. | |||
== Macro == | == Macro == | ||
Macro is the strategic decisions made about the map, pressure and objectives. It is often referred to as the "invisible" influence your team exerts on the map, but can majorly influence the outcome of a game nonetheless. | Macro is the strategic decisions made about the map, pressure and objectives. It is often referred to as the "invisible" influence your team exerts on the map, but can majorly influence the outcome of a game nonetheless. | ||
=== | === Map Knowledge === | ||
' | Knowledge of the [[Map|Map's]] layout helps with maximizing uptime, positioning, rotations, and other crucial aspects in greater strategies throughout the game. This includes, but is not limited to, knowing [[Cosmic Veil]] locations, [[Powerup]] locations, and [[Teleporter]] locations. | ||
=== Timings === | === Timings === | ||
Knowing '''Timings''' for events on the map can allow you | Knowing '''Timings''' for events on the map can allow you or your team to gain significant advantages for a duration of time, or help you know what's available for you to do. | ||
Timings to know regarding enemy heroes: | Timings to know regarding enemy heroes: | ||
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Timings to know regarding pushing objectives: | Timings to know regarding pushing objectives: | ||
* WIP | * WIP | ||
=== Uptime/Presence === | |||
'''Uptime''' is the amount of time you spend actively contributing to something in a match, usually by creating pressure against the enemy team or collecting Souls for your team. Time spent farming Denizens, harassing enemies, and pushing troopers towards enemy Guardians and Walkers contributes to '''uptime''', as opposed to "downtime" which can include time spent respawning, idly waiting for objectives to spawn, and rotating aimlessly around the map. | |||
=== Pressure === | === Pressure === | ||
'''Pressure''' represents a team's effective threat on a map -- for example, the risk of a fight breaking out, a gank on an enemy player, or the amount of farm available to safely claim. '''Pressure''' can be manipulated by player leads, hero rosters, or pushing and freezing lanes. By being aware of '''pressure''', you can anticipate what might happen next in a match, and have more objectives available to you and your team. | '''Pressure''' represents a team's effective threat on a map -- for example, the risk of a fight breaking out, a gank on an enemy player, or the amount of farm available to safely claim. '''Pressure''' can be manipulated by player leads, hero rosters, or pushing and freezing lanes. By being aware of '''pressure''', you can anticipate what might happen next in a match, and have more objectives available to you and your team. | ||
'''Creep/Troop denial''' is a crucial part of the game's laning phase and involves shooting the Souls of one's own trooper when they are killed. This prevents enemy laners from obtaining Soul Orbs by killing Troopers. Denying Souls is still effective after the laning phase, as Souls increase in value as the game continues. Denying Souls after the lane phase grants all Souls to the denier, which can be an effective way to individually gain more Souls if you are farming for an important item. | |||
Pushing up lanes by killing enemy Troopers spreads your team's area of control and removes farmable space from the enemy. If your team is able to control more of the map by pushing up Troopers, friendly Ziplines will extend and allow Trooper reinforcements to help push [[Guardian|Guardians]] and [[Walker|Walkers]], further pressing your advantage. | |||
By carefully damaging enemy troopers to equalize the number of troopers on each team within a lane, it is possible to "freeze" a lane in place so that the troops neither advance nor fall back. By limiting your damage to the wave, it is possible to effectively keep it "frozen" indefinitely. | |||
This tactic is useful to keep troops close to your Guardian or Walker for your own safety. By preventing your troops from pushing forward, you can stay within the safe zones of your defenses. | |||
It is also useful for denying your opponent's access to farm due to the distance from their defenses. Since your guardian or walker is the point furthest from their guardian or walker, freezing a lane on your side of the map can make retreat difficult for your opponent. | |||
The healing from the medic pack dropped by a medic trooper can heal your minions and change the balance of the wave state, inadvertently causing your wave to push and breaking the freeze. You can prevent this from happening by keeping your distance from your own wave as it dies and collecting the medic pack only after a few of the minions in your wave have died. | |||
== Micro == | == Micro == | ||
Micro is the tactical decisions made during individual fights, and represents mechanical player skill. By understanding and improving upon micro, small changes in your gameplay can lead to winning major fights and maintaining map-wide presence through rotations. | Micro is the tactical decisions made during individual fights, and represents mechanical player skill. By understanding and improving upon micro, small changes in your gameplay can lead to winning major fights and maintaining map-wide presence through rotations. | ||
=== Cover | === Cover === | ||
Like any shooter, using corners and walls allows you to be covered against almost all skills and items, since most of them require Line of Sight to be activated or cause damage. Heroes will lean around cover when close to the cover's vertical edge, exposing their head hitbox. | Like any shooter, using corners and walls allows you to be covered against almost all skills and items, since most of them require Line of Sight to be activated or cause damage. Heroes will lean around cover when close to the cover's vertical edge, exposing their head hitbox. | ||
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=== Positioning === | === Positioning === | ||
Managing your '''positioning''' will allow you to control more space on the map, be effective in teamfights, deny enemy pushes, and utilize your Hero's abilities most effectively. Controlling more area of the map increases the viable farming area for both Denizens and enemy Troopers for your team. '''Positioning''' in teamfights or in smaller skirmishes is critical; staying safe but active in the fight will allow you to apply pressure to the enemy while removing the opportunity for them to gain an advantage by killing you. | Managing your '''positioning''' will allow you to control more space on the map, be effective in teamfights, deny enemy pushes, and utilize your Hero's abilities most effectively. Controlling more area of the map increases the viable farming area for both Denizens and enemy Troopers for your team. '''Positioning''' in teamfights or in smaller skirmishes is critical; staying safe but active in the fight will allow you to apply pressure to the enemy while removing the opportunity for them to gain an advantage by killing you. | ||
=== Movement === | === Movement === | ||
{{Main|Movement}} | {{Main|Movement}} | ||
The process of moving and positioning your Hero. Involves [[Ziplines]] and [[Stamina]] usage in addition to sliding. | The process of moving and positioning your Hero. Involves [[Ziplines]] and [[Stamina]] usage in addition to sliding. Movement can let you avoid damage and is critical to rotate around the map effectively. | ||
== Economy == | == Economy == | ||