Deadlock’s ranked mode tests players’ skills, and many wonder whether they play as a party before embarking on this challenge. Playing Deadlock with friends is noticeably more fun, and doing so in ranked could increase the odds of winning as you’d synergize better.

Deadlock’s developer, Valve, has other multiplayer titles like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2, where players can easily enjoy the ranked experience with their friends. Since that’s the case, players had similar expectations of Deadlock, but the first iterations of the ranked system had a surprise.

Is There a Party Mode to Play with Friends in Deadlock’s Ranked Mode?

No, you can't play Deadlock ranked as a party with friends at the time of writing. Deadlock’s ranked mode only features a solo mode in its initial stage because the developers want to experiment with specific mechanics before expanding the system.

Deadlock’s ranked system was first added to the game with an Oct. 10, 2024 patch, and the developers stated this would be an experimental version in a forum post on PlayDeadlock.com. The main reason why there wasn't a party mode in Deadlock’s initial ranked mode is the new performance calculation system that operates on a weekly basis. This rollout featured another unique situation where Deadlock’s ranked mode would only be available at specific times and schedules.

The rank and medal calculation system in Deadlock cross-references all the data on players who played at least seven matches in the previous week. This is quite a different approach considering other Valve games opt-in for immediate changes in MMR following matches. Valve aims to be more precise when it comes to determining players’ ranks with this approach, and further tests will show whether the weekly method will be here to stay.

Will Deadlock’s Ranked Mode Get a Party Option?

We expect Deadlock’s ranked mode to support party play with friends in future updates. Currently, the developers are more focused on getting the underlying formulas to their perfect states.

Once Deadlock’s ranked system gets optimized to a satisfactory level, Valve could implement a separate party queue to the game, like in Dota 2. This way, players who would like to play strictly solo-ranked Deadlock would need to turn on an option, while pre-made parties consisting of friends would get to play against each other. 

Considering Valve’s track record, Deadlock’s ranked system could continue to receive further changes even months and years into its lifecycle. Developers always look for ways to improve the gameplay experience, and refining the competitive side of games has been a prime way to do it.