This Deadlock patch brings a wave of updates and additions no one expected. This includes massive improvements to regional localization, game optimization, content improvements to all heroes, some item changes, and the usual bug fixes.
The biggest change, however, is a facelift to the entire map, giving it new sounds and décor while simultaneously removing an entire lane.
Map Rework
- The map has been redesigned around being 3 lanes rather than 4. This has a large range of accompanying map-wide changes regarding visuals, building layouts, pathways, neutral camps, air vents, breakables, power-up buffs, juke spots, Mid Boss, etc.
- Added a new feature called “Explore Map” where you can run around an empty city to test movement and navigation. You can find this under the ‘Play’ menu.
Soul Orb Mechanics
- Troopers no longer need to be last hit by a player in order to generate souls, as long as you are nearby.
- Troopers no longer have the “near death” flashing behavior.
- Soul Orb lifetime in the air reduced significantly.
- Soul Orb denies changed from 65/35% to 50/50%.
- Soul Orb physical radius increased by 10%.
- Reduced horizontal movement of soul orbs from Troopers.
- Gaining souls from kills now shows a visual effect of souls flying towards you.
Sprint
- Default sprint speed increased from 0.5 to 1.0.
- Sprint disable duration reduced from 5s to 4s when dealing/taking damage with heroes.
- Sprint disable duration reduced from 5s to 0.5s when dealing/taking damage with non-heroes.
Sinner’s Sacrifice
- Sinner’s Sacrifice no longer grants a random Golden Statue buff.
- Sinner’s Sacrifice now has a looping timing window where if you kill it with a Heavy Melee (there are visual and audio cues), you will receive 3 Golden Statue buffs. Alternatively, a last hit with Light Melee will only give 1 Golden Statue Buff.
Damage Report
- Now visualizes the amount of damage reduced by resistances or shields.
- Incoming Damage UI now visualizes general damage reduction and amplification.
- Now shows the number of instances of damage done by each ability.
- Damage Report no longer clears immediately upon respawn, but instead will keep the data from your previous life with an added “(Last Life)” label.
- Breaking secondary stats out in the client Damage Report. (i.e. Shiv Serrated Knives now shows damage from initial hit and damage-over-time).
- Defaulting damage report to compact mode when you initially take damage.
Quick Buy
- Added the ability to right click on the header of a build category to add all items in that category to your Quickbuy queue.
- Quickbuy’s default behavior is going back to showing purchase prompts when the item is actually purchased. A settings option has been added to show purchase prompts when the item is queued.
Builds/Shop
- You can now create builds on the dashboard.
- You can now create ability builds by clicking on the ability icons in the skill build area (which is the only way you can do it on the dashboard) in addition to skilling them up in sandbox mode (where both work).
A Summarized list of changes to Gameplay
- Increased post-laning trooper bounty to match the previous 4 lane global economy.
- 1st and 2nd Flex slot objective requirement reduced by 1
- 3 Guardians to 2
- 2 Walkers to 1
- Small and Mid Neutral camp respawn timers reduced by a minute
- Overall soul values of Neutrals reduced by 10%
- Overall camp count and frequency increased
- Walkers health increased to 9000 for mid and 7000 for side.
- Mid Boss HP and HP growth increased by 30%
- Outer Zipline speed increased by 15%.
- Breakable soul values reduced by 5%.
- All juke spots now have veils (the dead end closets with the mystery man infront).
- Gun Powerup min/max Fire Rate increased from 10/30% to 15/35%.
- Fixed gun power-up not scaling Ammo to 60% as intended
- Added a new Mid Boss Rejuvenator Symbol with three visual states:
- not spawned
- under 1 min from spawn
- spawned.
- The new large amount of breakables in the mid boss middle area now initially spawn at the same time as mid boss.
- Holliday
- Bounce Pad damage reduced from 120 to 90.
- Bounce Pad T3 stun duration reduced from +1.25s to +1s.
- Spirit Lasso damage reduced from 120 to 90.
- Superior Stamina
- No longer gives 7% fire rate
A summarized list of general changes
- If a player abandons a match before the 5 minute mark, the game will now bring up a green hud message: “This game will not be scored. It is now safe to leave.”
- If the abandon occurs after 5 minutes, the hud message will be: “This match can be abandoned without a penalty, but leaving will result in a loss.”.
- Gun audio system updates attempt to balance powerful feel with ear fatigue more skillfully, also added some experiments for early reflection acoustics in weapon reports.
- Updated regular damage and headshot damage sounds; damage dealt to NPCs is now quieter.
- Crouch toggle now ends on a failed dash.
- Added an effect for when you break bridge Powerups.
- Update last hit effects so that it reflects what is shown in the UI.
- Changed minimum bot difficulty for some heroes.
- Revisions
- Zipline speed effect
- Stunned debuff
- Sprint effects to reduce noise
- Quality of life changes to map
- Window materials now feature imposter interiors and improved glass reflection.
- Additions to the world.
- New signage
- New railing smartprop
- New buildings for the city backdrop.
- New oracle building model
- Under construction suspension bridge to yellow lane.
- Added Bull/Bear statues to the jungle lane street for landmark callouts.
- Improved blending of character and world shadows.
- Improved lighting on city backdrop.
- Quality of life sounds added
- Sounds for tier 1 Guardian
- Sounds for Walker
- Added neutral camp spawn sound.
- Added permanent powerup spawn sound.
- Added a global spawn sound for bridge buffs.
- Added chimes and bird sounds behind park gate
A summarized list of User interface changes
- Changed all language around ‘Hero Sandbox’ to ‘Hero Testing’.
- Moved Private and Co-op bots to be bucketed under a single “Play Bot Match” button that splits into private vs co-op via selection modal.
- Added a link to Patch Notes to the main menu.
- Commends are now right-aligned.
- Additions to Ingame UI
- Status Effect Panels next to healthbar and in the bottom left to display certain modifier icons in these areas.
- Rejuvenator icon in the bottom left next to healthbar when you have the Rejuvenator.
- Powerups to the bottom left hud area.
- A player speaking indicator on the minimap icon.
- Health regen to active player stats on the left.
- Changing default minimap values to make ziplines smaller and other minor adjustments to player icons.
- Matches that are safe to abandon now use the “Leave Match” label rather than “Abandon Match” in the escape menu.
With an entire game loop mechanic changing, it’s no wonder much of the game had to be rebalanced to fit the reduction of 4 lanes to 3.
Walkers Healthpools are increasing due to their numbers decreasing, Sprint and Soul Orbs changed to accommodate more players in lane and further distances to roam, and ziplines adjusted to fit the changes around the map. It’s a lot and many players may not like it, however, along with the content changes to items and heroes, this may well be the coat of fresh paint the game needed.
For the full details, check out the official patch notes announcement.
Make sure to follow Deadlock Rank on BlueSky and Twitter so you get the latest Deadlock news and updates, and keep an eye peeled for our latest builds guides which aim to get new players into the game.
