In Deadlock, Weapon-category items govern your gun damage: they raise bullet damage, fire rate and ammo capacity, and add special effects. For heroes that win fights through auto-attacks — Haze, Wraith, Vindicta — buying weapon items well matters more than it does for most casters. Let's break down the key items in each tier and the right moment to pick them up.

How weapon tiers work

Weapon items are split into four tiers by their cost in Souls. The higher the tier, the more expensive the item and the stronger its effect — but the later you can actually afford it. The golden rule is not to buy everything in sight: a strong build usually mixes three or four key weapon items with vitality and spirit items rather than cramming every slot with one category.

Tiers 1 and 2: foundation and pressure

Basic Magazine is an almost mandatory first buy for gunners. It boosts weapon damage as a percentage and increases ammo capacity, which directly improves lane farm and extends your damage trades. Headshot Booster grants bonus damage on headshots with a short internal cooldown: it pays off if you hit headshots consistently and is noticeably weaker for newer players. Both items are cheap and almost always useful in the opening minutes.

Tesla Bullets is a strong tier-2 pick: it turns part of your damage into a chain of lightning that strikes nearby targets and scales with Spirit. It's an excellent choice against dense creep waves and in teamfights where enemies cluster together. The item shines on heroes with fast-firing weapons — every bullet becomes a mini-AoE. If your build already carries spirit items, the effect grows considerably.

Tier 4: going all-in with Glass Cannon

Glass Cannon is the most aggressive weapon item: it sharply increases weapon damage but lowers your maximum health. It's an all-in buy for a confident carry who is already dominating and wants to close out the game. Only take it when you have ways to survive — shields, armor, mobility or team support — otherwise you turn into an easy target and hand a kill to the enemy.

When to buy each tier

Follow the soul curve, not a timer. Tier 1 is bought right in lane as soon as you have the gold. Tier 2 fits the transition from laning to rotations, when skirmishes begin. Tiers 3 and 4 are saved for the mid and late game, once you have baseline survivability. Don't pour every slot into weapons: two or three defensive items keep you alive long enough for your damage to land. Adapt your shopping to the enemy lineup and time your weapon spike around key objectives like the mid-boss.

Bottom line: a weapon build isn't a race to the most expensive item, but a sequence of a cheap foundation, a mid-game amplifier and late-game spikes. Buy what pays off in your specific game, and always leave room for survivability.