In Deadlock your gun is your main source of damage for most of the early game. Abilities run on cooldowns, but you can shoot constantly, so accurate gunplay decides whether you win your lane or fall behind on souls. Good aim saves ammo, secures kills, and lets you farm lane creeps faster than your opponent.

Headshots and Bonus Damage

A hit to the head deals more damage than a body shot, and over a match that difference adds up to a huge advantage. One key detail: for most heroes bullets are projectiles with travel time, not instant hitscan. That means you must lead moving targets, and at long range aim slightly ahead of the enemy. The closer you stand, the easier headshots become, so up close they are especially valuable.

The Headshot Booster item grants a flat and scaling bonus to headshot damage and also speeds up your reload after a successful headshot. It is one of the most efficient cheap weapon items for heroes who can aim consistently.

Damage Falloff at Range

Every weapon has an optimal distance at which it deals full damage. Beyond that range, falloff kicks in — a gradual reduction in damage the farther you are from the target. A gun can feel weak simply because you are shooting from too far away. SMGs and shotguns lose effectiveness at long range, while rifles and long-range weapons are more comfortable from a distance.

Match your position to your weapon: close the gap on short-range heroes and keep your distance on snipers. Items like Long Range and High-Velocity Mag increase your effective range and bullet velocity, making it easier to lead your shots.

Ammo and Reloading

Magazine size and reload time are underrated stats. If you empty your clip in the middle of a fight, the reload seconds can cost you your life. Try to reload behind cover, between trades, and right after last-hitting creeps — not in the open during a firefight. Watch your ammo counter as carefully as your health.

Early weapon items like Basic Magazine increase both your ammo and your damage, which is why almost every shooter buys them among their first purchases. This cuts down on forced reloads and raises your total damage on target.

Weapon Items That Reshape Your Gun

Orange (weapon) items directly rebuild your shooting: Rapid Rounds raise fire rate, Headshot Booster rewards accuracy, and lifesteal items return health for gun damage. Build to fit your hero — for a gun carry like Haze the weapon stays your primary damage source to the very end, while ability-focused heroes mostly need their gun for last-hitting and farm. Understanding how these items interact with headshots and range is what separates a solid shooter from random hits.