Melee System Expansion: Movement-Tech Items Potential

[radianceegor]

I think melee and movement system in Deadlock is one of the most interesting parts of the game right now, but it feels like it's not fully used yet.

Right now melee is mostly just close range damage, but it could be something more like a complete movement and fighting system if expanded with items. I tried to come up with a few ideas around that.

Item 1: Breaker Gauntlet - Heavy melee depends on camera angle.

If you look up → uppercut that slightly launches you up
If you look down → slam that pushes you down faster
If you use it mid-air → small reposition boost

Combos could be like:
Jump → slam → dash
Dash → uppercut → jump
The idea is that melee becomes part of movement, not just damage.

Item 2: Kinetic Treads - Melee scales with your current speed.

The faster you move, the stronger the hit and knockback.
On hit, part of your speed turns into a velocity boost after hit.

At high speed this could allow things like longer slide transfers, corner boosts, faster reposition after hit
This feels like it fits Source-style movement and raises skill ceiling naturally, but I'm not sure how complex you want the game to be.

Item 4: Held Impact Core (maybe for metro secret shop)

You can hold melee longer before the hit
During that time it stores momentum and direction
When released → stronger effect (launch, displacement, movement burst)
Cursed debuff: vulnerability while charging / risk if you mistime it.

Item 3: Overdrive Relay (should maybe be intentional)
I think it was really interesting interaction with Fleetfoot - If you use Fleetfoot right after a heavy melee, you keep your velocity and get launched forward really fast.
I think this should be turned into an actual mechanic maybe with small timing window


In general I think melee could become more like a movement style system, not just a backup weapon and make Deadlock feel mechanically distinct from other shooters

Curious if others would want to see melee pushed in this direction.

 

[BeyondLucky]

I've been wanting items that take into account speed or velocity, something that increases your gun damage with your current speed/velocity would be good for those crazy Holliday shots, or it could take into account spirit damage as well.