If you’ve seen clips of the fast-paced, ability-driven MOBA from Valve popping up on your social feeds, you’re probably wondering how to get into Deadlock game and join the growing community of players. Unlike more established MOBAs like Dota 2 or League of Legends, Deadlock is still in a semi-closed testing phase, so getting access can feel confusing if you don’t know where to look. This guide breaks down every step you need to take, from securing access to playing your first match without feeling overwhelmed. I’ve tested every method of gaining access and played over 100 hours as a casual player, so I’ll also share the mistakes to avoid that cost new players time and frustration.
Step 1: Secure Access to Deadlock’s Latest Playtest
The first barrier to entry for most new players is getting a valid playtest invite, since Deadlock is not yet available for open download on Steam. There are no paid access options, and you never have to spend money to get an official invite. I’ve seen dozens of new players waste $20 on fake beta keys from sketchy third-party sites, so don’t fall for that trick.
Wishlisting Deadlock on Steam is the single easiest way to get access. Valve sends out batches of playtest invites every 1-2 weeks to random users who have added the game to their wishlist and opted in to playtesting on the store page. You don’t need to have a long Steam play history or own other Valve games to qualify, but accounts with VAC bans for online multiplayer games are usually excluded from invites.
Twitch drops are another reliable access route during official developer broadcast events or partnered creator streams. All you have to do is link your Steam account to your Twitch account, watch eligible streams marked with a “Drops Enabled” tag for 2-3 consecutive hours, and you’ll get an access code sent directly to your Steam notifications. Drops usually run for 2-3 days at a time, so follow the official Deadlock Twitter account to get alerts when drops go live.
To qualify for any official Deadlock access, you’ll need to meet these three basic requirements:
- A valid, non-restricted Steam account in good standing (no active VAC bans for online multiplayer titles)
- Deadlock added to your Steam wishlist and playtest sign-up completed on the official store page
- Linked Steam and Twitch accounts if you plan to earn access via Twitch drop events
If you don’t get an invite in the first batch, don’t worry. The player pool is expanding every month, and most users who sign up for the playtest get access within 4-6 weeks of adding the game to their wishlist.
Set Up Your Account and Adjust Core Settings Before Your First Match
Once you get your invite and download the game, it’s tempting to jump straight into a public match, but taking 15 minutes to adjust your settings will make your first few matches way less frustrating. You don’t need a high-end gaming PC to run Deadlock, but a few small tweaks will improve your performance even on lower-end hardware.
You don’t need to copy pro player settings right away. If you’ve played other MOBAs before, start with the default control scheme and adjust only the mouse sensitivity first, so it matches what you’re used to. If you’re new to the genre entirely, leave the default controls for your first 10 matches, then tweak individual keybinds as you figure out what feels uncomfortable.
For graphic settings, turn off shadow effects and motion blur first if you’re getting low FPS. These two settings take up the most processing power and don’t impact your ability to see enemies or abilities clearly. For audio, turn up the ability cue volume and lower the background music volume slightly. Enemy ability audio cues are the best way to tell when someone is about to ambush you from a fogged area of the map, so you don’t want to miss those.
Complete the 10-minute in-game tutorial even if you’ve played hundreds of hours of other MOBAs. Deadlock has unique mechanics like vertical map paths, dynamic neutral objective spawns, and hero talent trees that don’t exist in similar titles, and the tutorial walks you through all of them simply. You also get a free exclusive skin for completing the tutorial, which you can’t get anywhere else.
Pick the Right Starter Hero to Learn How to Get Into Deadlock Game Smoothly
Deadlock currently has 32 playable heroes, split into four roles: tank, damage, support, and flex. It’s tempting to pick the flashy, high-damage heroes you see in viral clips for your first match, but those usually have very high skill ceilings and will leave you frustrated if you don’t know how to use their abilities properly.
Sticking to 1-2 heroes for your first 10 matches will help you build muscle memory faster than swapping to a new hero every game. For absolute beginners, these three heroes are the best options: - Bull, a tank hero with simple, high-impact abilities, high base health, and a low skill floor. You’ll be able to survive longer even if you make mistakes, and your stun ability is extremely useful for your team even if you don’t get any kills. - Lark, a support hero with easy-to-use heal and buff abilities. You can stay behind your team’s frontline while you learn the map, and your contributions to team fights will be obvious even if you don’t deal much damage. - Ranger, a long-range damage hero with a simple skill shot and escape ability. You can stay far away from close-range fights while you learn how to position yourself, and you’ll be able to deal consistent damage without taking too many risks.
Don’t worry about your win rate during this phase. The game’s matchmaker is still calibrating your skill level for the first 15 matches, so you might get paired with more experienced players sometimes. Your only goal for these early games is to learn how abilities interact, what each map objective does, and how to move around the map without getting caught by enemies.
Build Good Habits to Avoid Frustration as a New Player
Like any competitive MOBA, Deadlock has a learning curve, but small, consistent habits will help you improve way faster than spamming matches without paying attention to what you’re doing. Most new players quit because they make the same avoidable mistakes over and over, so these tips will help you stick with it and have more fun.
First, stop chasing kills across the map. This is the number one mistake new players make. A single kill is never worth abandoning your lane objective or walking into an obvious enemy ambush. If an enemy runs away into fogged territory, let them go. Focus on pushing your lane or taking a nearby neutral buff instead, which will help your team win the game more in the long run.
Second, use the built-in ping system instead of typing in chat. You don’t need to write long messages to communicate with your team. The quick pings for missing enemies, help requests, and objective markers are more than enough for most casual matches. If you do use text chat, keep it positive. Deadlock’s community is still small and mostly welcoming, and toxic behavior will get you muted or banned faster than in older, larger MOBAs.
Watching 5-minute beginner guide clips from experienced players can help you spot mistakes you’re making without spending hours watching full streams. Look for clips that explain basic positioning, objective priority, and common hero matchups for your starter hero. Even one small tip can cut your learning curve in half.
Finally, take a break if you lose three matches in a row. Tilt is real, and you’ll play much worse if you’re frustrated. Step away for 10 minutes, get a drink, and come back when you’re calm. You don’t have to grind for hours every day to get good at the game; even 30 minutes of focused play a day will help you improve fast.
Getting into a new MOBA can feel intimidating at first, but once you know how to get into Deadlock game and take the learning process one step at a time, you’ll be having fun and winning matches before you know it. Don’t rush the process, take time to learn the mechanics, and don’t be afraid to ask more experienced players for tips in lobbies if you’re stuck. Deadlock’s community is still small and welcoming compared to older MOBAs, so you’ll find plenty of people happy to help new players get up to speed.