Deadlock how to deny souls: which orb to shoot

Deadlock how to deny souls: hit the enemy's floating soul orb after it becomes claimable. Shoot your own floating reward to confirm it before the enemy does. The ground orb is a separate pickup, not another floating target to deny.

A normal ranged trooper kill

The current soul reference divides the bounty 50% into a ground orb and 50% into a floating orb. Floating orbs briefly appear dark and unclaimable before lighting up.

1. Last-hit a trooper from a position where you can still see the reward.
2. Keep enough ammunition to confirm the floating orb.
3. Collect your team's ground orb by moving near it when the route is safe.
4. Shoot a claimable enemy floating orb when you have the opportunity. Do not cross an entire dangerous lane for one deny.

Friendly ground pickups appear green; enemy ground pickups appear white. You cannot simply pick up or shoot the enemy ground share to steal it. Floating enemy rewards use a different color, orange in the current reference.

Does a melee last hit secure everything?

Melee last hits remove the floating contest, but UNSURE: current wiki pages disagree about the ground portion. Trooper says melee grants the full bounty immediately; Melee Attack describes immediately securing the floating 50%. We have not resolved that discrepancy in current game data or the client. Do not rely on a guaranteed full-bounty shortcut here. Check the visible reward and avoid risky melee range solely to protect farm.

Learn Deadlock how to parry: timing and counters before regularly contesting melee distance. Deadlock how to get more souls and catch up covers the bigger economy, and Deadlock beginner guide: how to start puts this into your lane routine.

Related: Deadlock beginner guide: how to start, Deadlock how to get more souls and catch up, Deadlock how to parry: timing and counters, Deadlock beginner build: McGinnis first buys.