Deadlock is still in experimental alpha phase, which is why it keeps seeing so many core changes to existing mechanics. While the player base has been pretty divided on the frequent changes, it should actually come as a sign of positivity that the devs are actively taking feedback to make new arrangements. So that they can find that sweet spot in the game’s design.
Aside from visuals and quality of life changes with each passing update, the one mechanic that has been seeing the most frequent changes is the Urn minigame. The MOBA genre is no stranger to unique minigames, as they allow the teams a fair chance at tipping the balance.
The Urn run in Deadlock is supposed to do the same. The previous iteration of this minigame was deemed way too tame for players to actively engage. In this, the Urn would appear in select locations on the game’s map, and players were required to pick it up and take it to the assigned spot. It was a delivery minigame that people did not complain about.
So, in May of this year, Valve decided to suddenly change the flow of things with a completely reimagined Urn minigame. At first, fans enjoyed the new system and the music it brought along with it, but soon the cracks started showing up.
Valve is still trying to make the urn minigame work
Deadlock had been turned into a game of running the urn because whichever team got the upper hand in collecting souls would end up winning at the end of the day.
Valve decided to change the Urn location in the next update, but it kept making things worse for players, and now it had turned into a parry fest. But this is not where it ends because on June 4th, Valve dropped another update, completely changing the game into a king of the hill system. No one is certain where things are going to go next, because, as always, the reception from players has been mixed once again.
Aside from all of that, the Urn is not just some mechanic being shoehorned for the sake of things. It has real lore behind it in the world of Deadlock. The urns are supposed to be built by an unreleased Deadlock hero called the Trapper.
These vessels are sentient and perform the very important job of keeping New York’s streets clean by capturing rogue spirits. This is also the reason why thieves and opportunists are always looking to steal it. Because souls are an important currency in this game’s world.A fun fact about the urn is that it will constantly nag players about picking it up and taking it to the delivery spot.
