Your team unlocks flex slots by destroying enemy Walkers: one slot for the first Walker, one for the second and one for the third. There are three flex slots on top of the nine item slots you start with, so a hero can carry up to twelve items. In the game they're called extra slots.
How each slot unlocks
| Flex slot | How your team unlocks it |
|---|---|
| First | Destroy one enemy Walker |
| Second | Destroy two enemy Walkers |
| Third | Destroy all the enemy Walkers |
When your team destroys a Walker, every hero on your team gets the slot, not only the heroes who were there. The game tells you with an "Extra Slot Unlocked" message.
Why they matter
Most builds fill the nine normal slots by the middle of a match, so Walker fights decide when your team can carry more items. A Walker is worth more than its 3,675 souls: it can give all six of you an extra item.
When you fall behind, the other team gets their flex slots first. That's one more reason to defend your Walkers even when the souls don't look worth it. Older guides mention four flex slots unlocked by Guardians and Shrines. That changed in November 2025: now there are three, and only Walkers unlock them.
Quick answers
How many flex slots are there in Deadlock?
Three, on top of the nine item slots you start with. That's up to twelve items per hero.
How do you unlock flex slots in Deadlock?
Destroy enemy Walkers. Your team gets one flex slot for the first Walker, one for the second and one for the third.
Do flex slots unlock for the whole team?
Yes. When your team destroys a Walker, every hero on your team gets the slot.