Deadlock lore explained: The story behind Valve's MOBA shooter

Contents

• How Deadlock Lore Introduces a Supernatural New York City
  • The Fairfax Industries
  • The Baxter Society
  • Occult Security and Investigation Commission
• Other interesting characters in the Deadlock Lore
  • Abrams
  • Mirage
  • Wraith
• Significance of The Patrons in the Deadlock Lore

The Deadlock lore introduces a mysterious world teeming with secrets yet to be fully discovered. Valve's highly anticipated MOBA shooter is still in the playtesting phase but has already garnered a dedicated fanbase eager to delve into its depths.

The game is set in a supernatural version of New York City, altered by an event known as The Maelstrom. Each hero contributes a unique piece to the puzzle of the storyline, leaving much to fan interpretation.

This article aims to explain the Deadlock lore based on the information we have so far.

Note: The game is still in play testing, so the storyline is still open-ended.

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How Deadlock lore introduces a supernatural New York City

All playable characters in Deadlock so far (Image via Valve)

In the Deadlock lore, The Maelstrom is a catastrophic event that occurred decades ago, infusing NYC with mystical energies. What once belonged to the realm of myth, such as gargoyles and djinn, became everyday threats. To combat these menaces, organizations like the Occult Security and Investigation Commission, The Baxter Society, and Fairfax Industries emerged.

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The Fairfax Industries

Pocket is the eldest heir of Fairfax Industries (Image via Valve)

Fairfax Industries is a powerful corporation involved in occult arms trades, specializing in spirit weapons and supernatural technology. It is led by Maximilian Fairfax, Arin "Pocket" Fairfax's father.

The company is facing trouble from the Environmental Protection Agency sanctions due to improper disposal of Spiritual Waste. Its subsidiary, Eldritch Tactical Solutions, is accused of serious war crimes, with Wrecker, an elite mercenary, handling its dirty work.

McGinnis heads the Military RLORED department, creating powerful tech for Fairfax Industries. Pocket, who is also the co-owner of the company, has been in hiding since an assassination attempt on his 18th birthday. Now 23, he seeks the person behind the attempt, with his father unsure of his fate. His father is not sure whether he is dead or alive.

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The Baxter Society

Grey Talon is a founding member of The Baxter Society (Image via Valve)

The Baxter Society, according to the Deadlock lore, is a centuries-old team of hunters who eliminate supernatural threats to protect humanity. It operates in secrecy and is often unseen by the public.

Grey Talon is The Baxter Society's founding member. He came out of retirement after the deaths of his son and grandsons under mysterious circumstances.

Alongside Grey Talon is Shiv, a dangerous hunter with a complex past. He is known for his unconventional methods and unpredictability. His personality often clashes with other members of The Baxter Society.

While Grey Talon and Shiv don't always agree, their shared purpose forms a powerful alliance.

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Occult Security and Investigation Commission

Haze works for the OSIC (Image via Valve)

The Occult Security and Investigation Commission (OSIC) is a secretive organization that specializes in keeping the USA safe from supernatural creatures. They have an interesting division named The Sandman that has an open clearance to eliminate significant threats.

Haze is one of the most skilled members of The Sandman Division, who looks into the suspect's dreams to investigate and infiltrate them.

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Other interesting characters in the Deadlock Lore

Here are some interesting Deadlock heroes who are not directly connected to one of the three main organizations in the game:

Abrams

Abrams is an expert detective known for solving the hardest cases in New York City. After discovering a mysterious artifact on his desk named The Tome, he was drawn into the world of the supernatural. Although his in-game story does not make a lot of sense yet, he is most likely a central figure, being the only character featured in the background image of the game.

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Mirage

Mirage is the bodyguard for a Djinn ambassador. The Djinns are humanoids who are extremely powerful and small. However, they cannot stay in physical form for more than 48 minutes. After this period, they need to rest in a vessel for hours. This is why they hire and control human bodyguards for transport and companionship.

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Wraith

Wraith is the biggest gambler in New York City. After making a huge fortune using her luck, she now has a giant empire run by a network of bribes and blackmail.

Wraith has become so rich and powerful that people consider her above the law. Though the origins of her supernatural powers and magic tricks are unknown, she seems to be an important character in Deadlock lore.

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Significance of The Patrons in Deadlock lore

The Patrons are the main bosses that teams are supposed to eliminate in order to win a match in Deadlock. According to the Deadlock lore, they are mystical creatures who command players to battle against each other. These battles (or matches) are called Rituals.

Players are chosen to serve one of the following Patrons: The Sapphire Flame and The Amber Hand. The team that wins gains the ability to summon their Patron into the physical world.

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This is all we know about the Deadlock lore so far. It is to be noted that this article does not talk about every character but rather tries to explain the game's main theme and storyline.

We will be able to discuss more about the Deadlock lore when the game is officially out. As of now, the release date of the title is unknown.

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Read more Deadlock articles:

• Deadlock game launch error: Potential reasons and fixes
• How to rank up quickly in Deadlock
• Deadlock community split over current matchmaking issues