Despite being a third-person shooter-style game, Deadlock is mostly structured as a MOBA. If you are new to the game, you should know that lanes are the key to victory. Although Deadlock has MOBA-like lanes, there are a lot of differences that you must know. As such, you need to understand how these lanes work before you move onto other elements. To help you out, we decided to full explain Deadlock lanes in all their glory. So with that, let’s begin!
What are Lanes in Deadlock?
Lane Structure
The Deadlock map is divided into four lanes that look like different colored lines on two sides each. Having a look at the minimap, you will notice yellow, green, blue, and purple lanes on your side. On the other hand, the enemy lanes are denoted as red lanes.
Regardless of whose lane is whose, there are no restrictions in the lanes which means you can go to any other lane at any given time. You can walk across the jungle to reach another lane or simply use the ziplines to reach your spawn and transfer to another zip toward a new lane. Lanes in Deadlock aren’t just to navigate though. Keep reading to know more.
Transit Lines or Zip-lines
Each line in Deadlock also has a transit line. As such, the transit lines or ziplines are always above your head in all four lanes. It is accessible till the point where your lane territory is unlocked. You can look towards the zipline and hold the jump button or your assigned button to attach yourself to it. This will take you toward to lane or the spawn depending on your direction.
Be cautious of using the zip as enemy damage can knock you down from it. Moreover, if you take damage before jumping to the transit line, you will have a cooldown before you can use it. You can use a zipline boost to reach your destination faster.
Unfortunately, it comes with a big cooldown so you must save it for emergencies. Using the transit lines helps you reach your spawn frequently to heal yourself or use the curiosity shop. Do note that you can use the transit lines to go back along a lane or to the spawn point anytime.
Territory
The color of the lane denotes your territory in the game. Your victory depends on how fast you push enemy lanes and take over their side of the map. As you keep pushing down the enemy lane, the red line will turn into the color of the lane you are in. So if you push the Yellow lane, for example, the enemy Red line on that lane will turn yellow.
Pushing the lane further will unlock your zipline availability towards the enemy territory. Well, that goes both ways. If the enemy starts pushing down your lane, you will have limited access to the zipline.
To help you push lanes, every 30 seconds a group of minions will spawn and zip towards the endpoint of a lane. The minions not only help you push further, but they are great defenders as well.
Base Defenders
Along with your friendly troopers, each lane comes with base defenders. These defenders will attack enemies when they are in range. The defenders start from the tip of the lane with a guardian, then on the middle point with a walker, and just before your base stands two guardians. You cannot destroy the walker or double guardians before destroying the first one.
How to Push or Defend Deadlock Lanes
To push a lane in Deadlock, you must assist your minions. Minions are the NPCs who constantly walk towards the enemy defenders in the lane. As they do not move away from the lane, they are the ideal lane pushers.
To help them, you can pick some great lane pushers such as Lady Geist, Kelvin, or McGinnis. These heroes can clean up enemy minions with single abilities and even damage enemy defenders way faster.
Make sure you do not overextend while playing a lane alone. It is better to keep your stamina bars high to escape sticky situations. You can play Wraith or Infernus to have an escape route while being great at pushing enemy lanes. Make sure to take advantage when a lane has no enemies by pushing it further.
If you are having a hard time in your lane and prefer defending, the best way is to use your abilities to clean up enemy minions faster. Getting rid of the minions will push the enemy heroes on the backfoot as they cannot dive into the guardian in the early game.
Do not hesitate to ask for teammates’ help and use all the laning tips from our guide to protecting your lane at all costs. Remember, it is fine to let your guardian go if it is too risky, you can always take over the lane after regrouping.
And that’s how lanes in Deadlock work. Still have doubts? Drop your questions in the comments below.
