Hark! After a decade’s time spent in the realm of Dota 2, with League of Legends and Smite also gracing my presence, I did bid farewell to the world of MOBAs in the year 2023. Yea, as a year passed without my hand upon such games, lo and behold, a new creation emerged to rekindle the flames of my passion for this genre. Deadlock, once concealed as Valve’s hidden treasure, beckoned me back into the fold of MOBA enthusiasts in the year 2024.
Verily, Deadlock alters the fabric of classic MOBA games with a myriad of fresh elements. How did I find myself donning the mantle of this stressful genre once more in 2024? Allow me to expound upon the reasons why Deadlock has rekindled my love for MOBAs.
### No Mana More Fun, Finally
‘Twas the onerous burden of managing resources that led me to forsake Dota 2, despite the countless hours invested. Health management, understandable as it may be, found its yoke too heavy to bear when coupled with the intricate dance of mana juggling. This added layer of complexity oft seemed superfluous, leading to frustration and strategic impasses in heated battles.
Moreover, the chasm of mana between combatants oft left me despondent, with nary an option but to retreat from the fray. This very plight oft led to a more passive style of play, sapping the vigor and excitement from anyone engaged in a bout of Dota 2. Enter Deadlock, with its mana-free system, forging a novel and exhilarating gameplay experience. The absence of mana constraints fosters a focus on outplays and strategic acumen, unencumbered by the shackles of resource-worry. Abilities may be unleashed with unparalleled frequency, resulting in dynamic and chaos-laden skirmishes.
Upon first venturing into Deadlock, a concern surfaced regarding the management of a mana pool. Yet, to my surprise, there was no such pool to tend to. In this realm, prowess and ability cooldowns reign supreme, akin to hero shooters like TF2 or Overwatch. A delightful twist, one might say, where abilities may be honed to gain strength, akin to the leveling up of skills in a traditional MOBA.
Lo, by rewarding players for feats achieved and engagements in team conflicts, this capacity for ability ascension dissuades the less engaging prospect of jungle farming. Verily, though I hold a fondness for the farming mechanics leading to a character’s readiness for battle, such endeavors are not an essential cog in the wheel.
‘Tis the mana management that makes the farming rites paramount over objectives or the incitement of combat. Deadlock, in freeing itself from this tedium, swiftly ensnared me once more within its wondrous and engaging embrace. Yet, the management of a mana pool is not the sole complex element that severed my ties with Dota 2 the year prior.
