Are Deadlock mods bannable?

Valve hasn't published rules on mods. Cosmetics loaded only through SearchPaths don't block matchmaking, but there is no guarantee: any unfair advantage can cost you the account.

Where do I download Deadlock mods?

From the Deadlock section of GameBanana, or through Deadlock Mod Manager, which uses the same catalogue. Check files from anywhere else: a mod never contains an .exe.

Why did my mods disappear after an update?

Steam replaced gameinfo.gi. Add Game citadel/addons to the new file. If the game crashes, a mod is outdated: find it by adding mods back one at a time.

How do I turn all mods off?

Verify the integrity of Deadlock's files in Steam: the default gameinfo.gi comes back and the game stops reading addons, while your files stay on disk. In the manager, mods have an on/off switch.

There are, but we don't list them: editing gameinfo.gi outside SearchPaths blocks matchmaking, and stripped-down models are an advantage. Start with the in-game graphics settings.

Deadlock mods

A Deadlock mod is a .vpk file that replaces a model, texture, sound or part of the HUD. Nearly all of them live on GameBanana, and most are hero skins. Valve doesn't support mods officially, so you install them at your own risk.

Checked against the game update of October 20, 2026.

The risk first

Valve hasn't published any rules on mods: patch notes never mention them and Deadlock has no Steam Workshop. Nobody can promise you're safe, and the Steam Subscriber Agreement lets Valve close an account for an unfair advantage.

Since March 2026 the game blocks matchmaking for the whole party if anything in gameinfo.gi other than SearchPaths is changed or tools mode is running. That's why this page covers cosmetics only: skins, HUD and sounds. No timers, trackers, bright or see-through models, or "FPS configs".

Option 1: Deadlock Mod Manager

Deadlock Mod Manager is a free, open-source app for Windows and Linux. It pulls the catalogue from GameBanana, puts files in the right folder, edits SearchPaths for you and keeps a backup. Version 2.1.1 is current as of 22 October 2026.

Download the installer from deadlockmods.app or the GitHub releases page. On Windows you can also run winget install Stormix.DeadlockModManager.
Open the manager and point it to the game folder if it doesn't find it.
Pick a mod, install it and launch Deadlock from Steam. The hideout or a bot match is the quickest place to check it.

Option 2: by hand

Install by hand if the manager won't run or you want to see every change. Pick one method, and never run two managers on the same install.

In Steam, right-click Deadlock → Manage → Browse local files and open game/citadel.
Close the game, back up gameinfo.gi and open it in a plain text editor.
In the SearchPaths block add Game citadel/addons above the Game citadel line. Change nothing else. The full block, the same one the manager writes, is in the Divine Skins guide.
Create an addons folder next to it, all lowercase. The game ignores subfolders.
Take the .vpk out of the mod's archive, rename it to pak01_dir.vpk (the next mod to pak02_dir.vpk, up to pak99_dir.vpk) and drop it into addons.
If two mods change the same thing, the lower number wins: pak01 beats pak05.

How to avoid fakes

A real mod contains only .vpk files. If an archive has an .exe, .dll or .bat inside, delete it.
Get the manager from deadlockmods.app or the official GitHub. deadlockmodmanager.com is unofficial and links to the old 0.15 release.
GitHub repos named deadlock-mod-manager-mods or offering a "mod menu" with ESP are bait, not mods.
If your antivirus flags the installer, check where you downloaded it. We found no confirmed infections from the official build.

When mods stop working

After a game update or a file integrity check Steam puts a fresh gameinfo.gi in place and mods silently stop loading. Your addons folder stays. Add the SearchPaths line again, to the new file only: never paste an old backup over it. Big patches also break mods themselves, HUD mods most often. If the game crashes, put mods back into addons one at a time to find the broken one.

"os error 5" in the manager usually means it can't write: close the game, clear Read-only on gameinfo.gi and the addons folder, and allow the manager in Windows Security's Controlled folder access. Other errors are covered in the manager's documentation.

Skins and heroes

Most mods are custom skins. What exists officially and which skins we'd skip is on the Deadlock skins page. Roles and abilities are under Deadlock heroes, this week's strongest picks are in the Deadlock tier list, and game changes are in Deadlock patches.

FAQ

Are Deadlock mods bannable?: Valve hasn't published rules on mods. Cosmetics loaded only through SearchPaths don't block matchmaking, but there is no guarantee: any unfair advantage can cost you the account.
Where do I download Deadlock mods?: From the Deadlock section of GameBanana, or through Deadlock Mod Manager, which uses the same catalogue. Check files from anywhere else: a mod never contains an .exe.
Why did my mods disappear after an update?: Steam replaced gameinfo.gi. Add Game citadel/addons to the new file. If the game crashes, a mod is outdated: find it by adding mods back one at a time.
How do I turn all mods off?: Verify the integrity of Deadlock's files in Steam: the default gameinfo.gi comes back and the game stops reading addons, while your files stay on disk. In the manager, mods have an on/off switch.
Are there FPS mods?: There are, but we don't list them: editing gameinfo.gi outside SearchPaths blocks matchmaking, and stripped-down models are an advantage. Start with the in-game graphics settings.

Not affiliated with Valve, GameBanana or the Deadlock Mod Manager team. We don't host or redistribute mod files.