by Sarah Kim | Last Updated: May 30, 2026 | Tested on: Deadlock Build 5.0

Deadlock Item Guide

Items in Deadlock are purchased with Soul earned during matches. Choosing the right items for your hero and situation is key to victory. This guide covers core builds for different hero types.

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Core Items by Hero Type

Tank Core Items

Fortress Plate

Cost
1200
Type
Armor
Priority
Core

Provides +400 health and +30 armor. Passive: Reduces incoming basic attack damage by 15%. Essential first item for all tanks.

Regeneration Crystal

Cost
800
Type
Regen
Priority
Core

+20 health regeneration per second. Passive: After not taking damage for 5 seconds, regeneration triples. Great for lane sustain.

Damage Core Items

Precision Scope

Cost
1400
Type
Weapon
Priority
Core

+35 weapon damage. Passive: Headshots deal 25% bonus damage. Core item for all damage dealers.

Crit Gauntlet

Cost
1600
Type
Weapon
Priority
Core

+20% critical strike chance. Passive: Critical strikes deal 200% damage. Best for heroes with high attack speed.

Support Core Items

Healing Amplifier

Cost
1000
Type
Utility
Priority
Core

+30% healing output. Passive: Healing abilities also grant a small shield. Essential for all supports.

Situational Items

Anti-Heal (vs Healing Comps)

Plague Orb

Cost
1100
Type
Utility

Passive: Your attacks apply Grievous Wounds, reducing enemy healing by 40% for 3 seconds. Must-buy against teams with strong healing.

Mobility (vs Mobile Enemies)

Swift Boots

Cost
700
Type
Boots

+15% movement speed. Passive: After killing an enemy, gain 30% movement speed for 2 seconds. Great for chasing or escaping.

Common Mistakes

Itemization Errors

  • Building damage on tanks first: Tanks who rush Precision Scope die before they can use it. Fortress Plate should always be first.
  • Ignoring anti-heal: If the enemy team has Kelvin or another healer, Plague Orb is mandatory. Not building it loses team fights.
  • No boots until late game: Swift Boots cost only 700 Soul and provide 15% movement speed. The mobility is essential for dodging skillshots.
  • Hoarding Soul: Sitting on 3000+ unspent Soul is wasted power. Buy components as soon as you can afford them.
  • Same build every game: Building the exact same items regardless of enemy composition ignores counter-building opportunities.

Pro Tips

Advanced Itemization

  • Component buying: Large items build from smaller components. Buy components on each back rather than saving for the full item.
  • Sell and swap: Early game items can be sold for 70% of their value. Don't be afraid to replace Swift Boots with a late-game item.
  • Team-wide anti-heal: Only one player needs Plague Orb. Coordinate with your team so you don't all build it.
  • Defensive last items: Even damage dealers should consider a defensive 6th item. Guardian Angel or Magic Resist Cloak can save you from assassins.
  • Item timing: Buy items before major objectives spawn. Having a completed item for the Patron fight gives a massive advantage.
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