Exciting Changes in Deadlock’s Soul Mechanics Draw Player Praise

In a recent update rolled out on November 7, 2024, players of Deadlock have been expressing their enthusiastic feedback towards Valve’s adjustments in the game’s Soul mechanics. This significant change allows teammates to retain their accumulated Souls without splitting them, enhancing cooperative gameplay. As the game continues to evolve through its early development phase with weekly updates, players are encouraged to embrace this fresh experience.

A Glowing Reception from the Community

A post on the DeadlockTheGame subreddit by user u/rdubya3387 has garnered significant attention, amassing hundreds of upvotes and a host of comments praising the recent update. The user articulated their excitement with the statement, “The soul changes are amazing.”

Players are now more inclined to advance into the lanes rather than remaining in a defensive stance to farm Souls from a distance. This adjustment promotes teamwork over individual success, creating a more dynamic gaming atmosphere.

Details of the November Update

Prior to the latest update, the distribution of Souls was time-dependent: players only earned the full value of Souls in a lane until the eight-minute mark. Beyond this threshold, the Souls would be divided between the two players assigned to that lane, giving solo lane players an unfair advantage late in the match. The elimination of this split has now leveled the playing field, empowering all players to gather Souls more freely and unlock high-tier items from The Curiosity Shop.

Community Reactions and Insights

The majority of players seem to appreciate this new update. User u/Stop_Sign highlighted its positive impact on support characters, who typically struggle to secure additional Souls due to their less aggressive roles. In contrast, user u/PhilippinoWrangler hopes this change remains permanent, as it lends greater balance to gameplay, steering the focus back to engaging combat rather than merely farming Souls.

Mixed Reactions from Some Players

Nevertheless, not all feedback has been favorable. Some players, like u/cedreic1234_, have expressed concerns regarding fairness in the new system, suggesting that the even distribution of Souls might lead to an imbalance. Similarly, user u/attomsk opined that Valve should have considered a more nuanced approach while implementing these changes.

Another player, u/Ramadaba, noted that matches now tend to conclude much faster, as weaker teams lack opportunities to collect Souls while stronger teams progress rapidly through upgrades. Previously, an average match of Deadlock lasted around 35 to 40 minutes.

Strategic Guide: How to Earn Souls in Deadlock

Souls function as the core currency for purchasing upgrades from The Curiosity Shop, which boosts characters’ stats across various categories, including Weapon, Vitality, and Spirit. Here are some effective methods to accumulate Souls:

• Defeat NPCs.
• Eliminate rival players.
• Break Gold Urns and crates found in indoor areas.
• Complete main objectives such as dispatching Guardians, Walkers, and Shrines.
• Interact with the Sinner’s Sacrifice machine.
• Sell early-game items for half their original value.

It’s important to note that while Deadlock remains in playtesting, the ways to earn and the value of Souls may change significantly upon its official release, which currently lacks a confirmed date.

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