Anti-Cheat Guide

Deadlock Anti-Cheat

Valve’s user-mode VAC plus custom checks on an invite-era MOBA-shooter - low client-detection risk, with behaviour and reports the main danger.

Deadlock is Valve’s MOBA-shooter, protected by VAC together with custom, Deadlock-specific checks Valve has been building during its long invite and early-access period. Like CS2, this is a user-mode environment - no boot-time kernel driver - which keeps raw client-detection risk on the low end of our scale.

Because Deadlock blends third-person hero combat with lane and jungle objectives, the useful cheats are a mix of shooter and MOBA: hero and soul ESP, ability-cooldown awareness, and a restrained aimbot for the gunplay.

How VAC works in Deadlock

VAC scans the game process for known cheat signatures, and Valve has paired it with custom detection tuned to Deadlock as the game evolves. As with CS2, expect more of the long-term enforcement to come from server-side behaviour analysis than from instant client bans.

Being a fast-moving, still-developing title, both the game and its anti-cheat update frequently, so a build’s status can shift on patch days more than in a finished game.

What a Deadlock ban actually means

Deadlock bans run on the Valve/VAC model: a VAC ban is a permanent, account-wide mark that bars VAC-secured play, but it is account-based, not hardware-based. A new account on the same PC can play again - the loss is the banned account and its standing.

Because it is account-scoped, an HWID spoofer is generally overkill for Deadlock specifically, just as it is for CS2.

Detection track record

We rate Deadlock "Low" on client detection - user-mode VAC plus custom checks is far gentler than any kernel system. The real risk is the same as CS2: behaviour and reports, especially in a smaller, scrutinised playerbase where blatant cheating stands out fast.

Since the game is still maturing, treat build status as more volatile than in a stable title and check before you play.

Cheating in Deadlock safely

The Deadlock value order is hero and soul ESP plus ability-cooldown awareness, with a restrained aimbot for the shooter half. Information about the map state is often worth more than raw aim in an objective game.

Run a private, current build and play with restraint in a community that notices cheaters quickly. The Deadlock options we keep current are below.

Deadlock anti-cheat FAQ

Is Deadlock’s anti-cheat kernel-level?: No. Deadlock uses Valve’s user-mode VAC plus custom Deadlock-specific checks - there is no boot-time kernel driver, which keeps client-detection risk on the low end.
Does Deadlock ban hardware?: No. Deadlock follows the VAC model: account-wide permanent bans, not HWID bans, so a new account on the same PC can play again. A spoofer is generally overkill for Deadlock.
What gets people banned in Deadlock?: As with CS2, behaviour and reports more than the cheat loading. In a smaller, scrutinised playerbase, blatant cheating is spotted and reported quickly.

This guide is informational and reflects how VAC and Deadlock bans generally work; anti-cheats update constantly, so treat every detail as a moving target rather than a guarantee. Last reviewed 2026-06-15.