Deadlock · Action
Deadlock souls: secure the orb without giving away a melee punish
Winning a trooper last hit does not make every following soul interaction irrelevant. Deadlock has an orb contest: securing your side’s orb and denying an opposing orb are different opportunities. A melee last hit changes that contest, but it also puts you close to the wave.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Public early-development mechanics; orb values, sharing rules and balance can change
Identify the orb you are contesting
The community reference describes shooting an opposing orb as a deny that transfers its souls. Track which side produced the orb before aiming. If your attention is split, prioritize the contest you can actually finish rather than firing randomly between two targets.
Compare the melee shortcut with its position cost
The reference distinguishes melee kills: the remaining soul value is credited immediately instead of being left in the normal floating-orb contest. This is a reason to consider melee, not a reason to walk into an enemy’s reach for every trooper.
Use one wave to diagnose the lost value
Illustrative practice: first stay at a position with cover and consciously follow one last hit into its orb. On another safe opportunity, compare a melee last hit. Note whether the problem was missing the last hit, missing the orb, or taking avoidable damage while approaching. Fix that specific step before trying to contest everything.
When your plan breaks
| What happens | What to change |
|---|---|
| You hit a trooper but income still feels inconsistent | Watch the last hit and subsequent orb separately. |
| Melee secures value but costs too much health | Use it only when the approach is safe. |
| You shoot every visible orb and miss both | Choose one contest, aim and confirm it before switching. |
Quick answers
Is securing an orb the same as denying one?
No. First identify which side produced it.
Does this guide promise a fixed soul value per trooper?
No. Check the current playtest; no historical sharing threshold is assumed.
Sources & version notes
Orb and melee distinctions were reviewed against the player-maintained Deadlock Wiki. The wave exercise is an editorial practice plan, not a measured farming benchmark.
- Deadlock Wiki — Souls / Orb ↗
Original community documentation of soul orbs, denial and melee last-hit credit.