If you’ve played even a handful of Deadlock matches, you’ve definitely seen other players pull off movement that feels impossible. They’ll zip across gaps you thought were too wide, outrun your skill shots by a mile, or reach an objective 10 seconds before you even get close. More often than not, that extra movement boost comes from dash jump, a simple but game-changing mechanic that’s easy to learn once you know the correct sequence. If you’ve been wondering how to dash jump in Deadlock, this guide breaks everything down without confusing jargon, even if you’re completely new to the game.
How to Dash Jump in Deadlock: Core Step-by-Step Process
The great thing about dash jump is that it works for every character with a dash ability, which covers 90% of the current Deadlock roster. You don’t need any special items, upgrades, or character experience to pull it off—all you need is to get the input order and timing right. Timing is the single most important factor for a successful dash jump, and even a 0.1 second delay can make the difference between a 30% longer jump and a standard short dash.
Follow these exact steps every time you practice, and you’ll get the hang of it in no time:
- First, confirm your dash ability is off cooldown before you start the movement sequence. You can check cooldown status on the bottom left of your UI, or set up a custom cooldown alert if you prefer audio cues.
- Start a standard jump first by pressing your jump bind (default is Space on keyboard, A on Xbox/Xbox-style controllers) right before you activate your dash.
- Activate your dash ability in the direction you want to travel within 0.2 seconds of pressing jump, keeping your movement key held down in that same direction the entire time.
- Hold your movement key until you land to maintain full momentum, and avoid pressing any other movement keys mid-air that could cancel your forward speed.
You don’t need any special character upgrades or in-game buffs to pull off a dash jump, so you can practice this from the very first second you load into a match. I’ve seen new players pull off perfect dash jumps on their third or fourth try, so don’t assume it’s a trick only for pro players. The only variable is how much time you’re willing to spend getting the timing down.
Common Dash Jump Mistakes to Avoid
Most new players mess up dash jump their first few tries, and that’s completely normal. But there are a few common mistakes that make it way harder to get consistent results, and fixing these will cut your practice time in half. Pressing dash before you press jump is the most common mistake new players make, and it will only give you a standard dash with no extra jump height or distance. The jump has to come first, even if it’s just a fraction of a second earlier.
Another common mistake is letting go of your movement key mid-air. Even if you get the input order perfect, letting go of W (or your forward direction key) will immediately kill your momentum, and you’ll end up landing short of your target. You also want to avoid trying to dash jump on sloped or uneven surfaces when you’re first practicing. Slopes change your jump trajectory, and you’ll waste time trying to adjust for terrain instead of mastering the core input sequence.
Don’t get frustrated if you mess up 10 times in a row when you first start. I spent my first hour of practice failing more than half my attempts, and I’ve been playing Deadlock since the beta launch. Once you build muscle memory for the input order, you won’t even have to think about it anymore.
Best Use Cases for Dash Jump in Ranked and Casual Matches
Once you can pull off dash jump consistently, you’ll find dozens of ways to use it in every match to gain an edge over your opponents. Dash jump lets you cover 30% more distance than a standard dash or jump alone, which makes it ideal for everything from escaping ganks to reaching objectives before the other team. For example, if you’re playing a support character and the enemy jungler jumps you in the side lane, a well-timed dash jump can get you over the nearest wall and back to your turret before they can land a stun.
It’s also one of the most reliable ways to dodge targeted skill shots. Most skill shots have a fixed travel time, and the extra speed and height from a dash jump can get you out of the target area before the ability lands. You can also use dash jump to chase low-health opponents who are trying to escape over small walls or gaps that you wouldn’t be able to cross with a standard jump. I’ve won dozens of matches by using dash jump to catch up to a fleeing enemy carry right before they can reach their base.
Just don’t use dash jump unnecessarily, especially when you’re near enemy territory. If you waste your dash cooldown on a random jump, you won’t have it available if you get ganked or need to escape a team fight. Save it for situations where the extra distance or speed actually gives you a tangible benefit.
How to Practice Dash Jump Consistently
The fastest way to master dash jump is to practice in a custom game with no bots or other players first. Custom games let you mess up as much as you want without throwing a match for your team, and you can focus entirely on getting the timing right. Start on the flat, straight mid lane first, since there are no obstacles or sloped surfaces to mess up your momentum. Spend 10 minutes practicing before your matches every day for a week, and you’ll be able to pull it off without thinking.
Once you can hit 9 out of 10 attempts on flat ground, start practicing on common gaps across the map. There are dozens of small walls and gaps between lanes that you can cross with a dash jump, and learning these locations will give you a huge movement advantage in real matches. You can find maps online that mark all the common dash jump spots if you don’t want to hunt for them yourself.
Don’t jump into ranked matches to practice until you can hit 9 out of 10 attempts consistently. Wasting dash cooldowns in ranked can cost your team objectives or even the entire match, so stick to casual quick play matches for your first few tries in real game scenarios. I still spend 5 minutes practicing dash jumps before every ranked session to warm up my muscle memory, and it’s made a huge difference in my win rate over the past few months.
Dash jump isn’t some fancy, hidden trick only pro Deadlock players know how to pull off. It’s a basic, accessible mechanic that every player can master with just a few hours of practice, and it will completely change how you move around the map. Once you know how to dash jump in Deadlock, you’ll be able to outplay opponents, reach objectives faster, and survive fights you would have lost otherwise. Start with the core steps, avoid the common mistakes, and spend a little time practicing every day, and you’ll be pulling off perfect dash jumps in no time.