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Deadlock Soul Farming Guide: Last-Hits, Orbs, Denial & Jungle Tips
Soul farming is the foundation of success in Deadlock. Players who consistently out-farm their opponents gain significant advantages in items and power. This guide covers everything you need to know about maximizing your soul income.
Understanding Soul Sources
Trooper Last-Hits
Troopers are your primary soul source in the early game. Each wave brings multiple troopers down each lane, and landing the killing blow grants souls.
Key tips for last-hitting:
- Watch trooper health bars carefully
- Time your shots to land the final blow
- Account for your weapon’s damage and fire rate
- Practice in custom games to improve timing
Soul Orb Collection
After a trooper dies, a soul orb floats upward. This is where Deadlock differs from traditional MOBAs.
Early game (before 8-10 minutes):
- Souls are split between the kill and the orb
- Missing orbs means losing partial value
Late game (after 8-10 minutes):
- Almost all souls come from the orb
- Orb collection becomes critical
- Missing orbs is extremely costly
Jungle Camps
Neutral monsters spawn in the areas between lanes. These provide supplemental income without competing with lane farm.
Camp types:
- Small camps: Quick to clear, lower soul value
- Medium camps: Best soul-to-time ratio for most heroes
- Large camps: High value but time-consuming
Jungle farming tips:
- Clear camps between waves when possible
- Medium camps offer the best efficiency
- Don’t sacrifice lane farm for jungle
- Coordinate with teammates to avoid overlap
Breakable Objects
Crates and boxes scattered around the map contain small amounts of souls. While not a primary income source, breaking them during rotations adds up over time.
Soul Denial: The Hidden Economy War
Soul denial is a unique mechanic that separates good players from great ones.
How Denial Works
When an enemy trooper dies, both teams can shoot the soul orb. If you shoot an enemy’s orb before they collect it, you deny them those souls and may claim some for yourself.
Denial Strategies
Offensive denial:
- Position to shoot enemy orbs after kills
- Prioritize denying during key power spike timings
- Focus denial on the enemy carry
Defensive collection:
- Collect orbs quickly after last-hitting
- Use abilities to secure orbs in contested situations
- Position safely while farming
Farming Phases
Early Game (0-8 minutes)
Focus on:
- Securing every last-hit possible
- Learning your hero’s attack timing
- Trading efficiently with opponents
- Taking nearby jungle camps between waves
Mid Game (8-15 minutes)
Priorities shift to:
- Pushing waves quickly to rotate
- Stacking jungle camps for efficient clears
- Participating in objective fights
- Balancing farm with team needs
Late Game (15+ minutes)
At this stage:
- Wave clear becomes faster
- Jungle camps provide less relative value
- Focus on catching side waves
- Prioritize objectives over pure farming
Hero-Specific Farming Tips
Different heroes farm at different speeds:
Fast farmers:
- Seven: Excellent wave clear with abilities
- McGinnis: Turrets help secure farm
- Haze: Strong jungle clear potential
Slower farmers:
- Focus on efficient last-hitting
- Prioritize lane farm over jungle
- Group with team earlier
Common Farming Mistakes
- Fighting without farm: Don’t chase kills when you’re behind in souls
- Ignoring orbs: Always collect your soul orbs
- Overextending for camps: Don’t die for jungle farm
- Missing waves for fights: A full wave is worth more than most skirmishes
- Not adapting: Adjust your farming pattern based on game state
Using Deadlock Calculator for Farm Planning
Our build calculator helps you plan your item timings based on expected farm rates. Input your target items and see when you can realistically afford them based on average soul income.
Efficient farming is the foundation of carrying games. Master these techniques, and you’ll find yourself consistently ahead of your opponents.