The deadlift is a fantastic compound exercise which works more than one joint / muscle group at a time. The deadlift primarily engages the back, core and legs to complete the lift. Some of the benefits of deadlifts are that it strengthens your core, it can improve your posture, it works many different muscles at once, it can improve your functional strength making general life easier by mimicking movements you perform anyway like picking things up and if performed with enough intensity it can improve your cardiovascular ability.