If you’ve spent any time playing Valve’s fast-paced MOBA Deadlock, you’ve probably run into other players rocking flashy, unique hero skins that make their characters stand out in every team fight. If you’re wondering how to get skins on Deadlock, you’re in the right place – we’ve tested every available method to pull together the most reliable, risk-free ways to build your cosmetic collection. You don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars to get great looking skins, either; there are plenty of free options for casual players who don’t want to spend extra on the game. We’ll cover both free and paid routes, plus what to avoid so you don’t get scammed or hit with an account ban.
How to Get Skins on Deadlock for Free: No Credit Card Required
You don’t have to spend a dime to build a solid collection of Deadlock skins, as long as you’re willing to put in a small amount of play time each week. We’ve sorted all the free methods by how much effort they require, so you can pick the ones that fit your play schedule:
- Weekly challenge rewards: Every week, Deadlock rolls out a set of 7 simple challenges, ranging from winning 2 matches as a support hero to getting 10 takedowns with a specific role. You’ll get a random skin or cosmetic chest for completing 4 of the 7 challenges, no extra effort required. These skins are usually common or uncommon rarity, but you can occasionally pull rare drops if you get lucky.
- Battle pass free track rewards: Every Deadlock battle pass has a free track alongside the paid premium track, with skins, sprays, and profile icons unlocked as you earn battle pass XP from playing matches. You don’t have to buy the pass to claim these rewards, and some seasons include rare hero skins on the free track for players who hit level 30 or higher.
- Limited-time event drops: Valve runs seasonal events for Deadlock every few months, tied to holidays or major game updates. These events have their own set of challenges, and you can earn exclusive event-only skins by logging in daily, completing event missions, or winning event match modes. These skins can’t be earned outside of the event window, so they’re extra valuable for collectors.
- Twitch drops: Link your Deadlock account to your Twitch account, and you can earn random skin drops by watching verified Deadlock streamers who have drops enabled. You usually need to watch for 1 to 2 hours to qualify for a drop, and drops are rotated regularly to include new and rare skins.
One thing to note with free skins: you can’t trade or sell most of them, so they’re locked to your account once you claim them. That’s not a big deal for most casual players, but if you’re looking to build a tradeable collection, you’ll want to explore paid methods instead.
Paid Methods to Unlock Rare and Exclusive Deadlock Skins
If you’re looking for rarer, higher-detail skins that aren’t available through free challenges, paid methods are your best bet. If you’re wondering how to get skins on Deadlock that are tradeable, the official shop and marketplace are your only legitimate options. The first paid method most players use is the in-game item shop, which refreshes daily with a rotating set of skins, bundles, and cosmetic items. Skins in the shop are priced based on rarity, with common skins starting at around $2, and legendary, highly detailed skins going for up to $15. The shop also runs limited-time discounts for holiday events, so you can often pick up premium skins for 30% to 50% off if you wait for a sale.
Next up is the premium battle pass, which costs around $10 per season and unlocks a full track of exclusive skins, emotes, recalls, and profile customization items as you level up. You can easily unlock enough in-game currency from the premium pass to pay for the next season’s pass, so many players only have to pay once to get access to every future battle pass if they play regularly. You can also buy skin chests from the in-game store, which contain random skins of varying rarities. Chests are cheaper than buying individual premium skins, but you run the risk of getting a duplicate or a skin for a hero you don’t play. If you don’t mind the randomness, chests can be a cost-effective way to build your collection quickly. Always make sure you’re buying items directly through the official in-game store or Valve’s approved marketplace, because third-party sellers often sell stolen or duped skins that can get your account banned if you purchase them.
Tips to Maximize Your Skin Collection Without Overspending
I’ve been playing Deadlock since its early access launch, and I’ve built a collection of 40+ skins without spending more than $20 total, so I’ve tested every trick to get the most value for your time and money. First, prioritize completing your weekly challenges every week, even if you only play a few matches a week. Most challenges take less than 30 minutes to complete, and the free skin you get each week adds up fast. If you’re planning to buy a battle pass, wait until you’ve hit level 20 or higher on the free track first. That way, you can claim all the premium track rewards for levels you’ve already earned as soon as you buy the pass, instead of having to grind for them later.
Don’t waste your in-game currency on individual common skins – save it for limited-time legendary skins or battle pass purchases that give you far more value for your money. You can also link your account to multiple streaming platforms that offer Deadlock drops, not just Twitch, to increase your chances of earning free skins every month. Another trick: if you get a duplicate skin from a challenge or drop, you can dismantle it for in-game currency that you can use to buy other skins from the shop, so you don’t have to waste unwanted cosmetics. No matter how you choose to get skins on Deadlock, the key is to prioritize methods that give you the most value for the time you put in, instead of chasing rare skins just for the sake of having them.
What to Avoid When Trying to Get Deadlock Skins
It’s easy to get tempted by offers for free rare skins that pop up in comment sections or random DMs, but most of these are scams that can steal your account or infect your device with malware. First, never click on links that promise free legendary Deadlock skins in exchange for your account login information. Valve will never ask you for your password outside of the official login page, so any site that asks for your credentials to claim a skin is a scam. Don’t use third-party skin generators or hack tools that claim to add unlimited skins to your account. These tools almost always contain malware, and they’ll trigger an immediate account ban if Valve’s anti-cheat system detects them running on your device.
You should also avoid buying skins from unapproved third-party marketplaces, even if the prices are way lower than the official shop. Many of these skins are stolen from hacked accounts or duplicated using exploits, and Valve will remove the skin from your account and possibly ban you if you’re found with stolen cosmetics. If you do want to buy secondhand skins, only use Valve’s official community market, which has buyer protection and verifies that all skins are legitimate before they’re sold. Never share your account two-factor authentication codes with anyone, even if they claim to be a Valve support representative or a friend giving you a free skin. These codes are the only thing keeping your account secure, and sharing them will let scammers take over your account permanently.
At the end of the day, building a great Deadlock skin collection doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, whether you prefer to earn cosmetics for free or spend a little extra on rare exclusive items. Take time to test out the free methods first before you spend any money, and always stick to official channels to keep your account safe. Now that you know how to get skins on Deadlock, you can start working on building a collection that lets you show off your personal style every time you load into a match.