diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-baremetal/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-baremetal/README.rst
index 3e175840..2f0d6edc 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-baremetal/README.rst
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-baremetal/README.rst
@@ -3,3 +3,8 @@ deploy-baremetal
 ================
 A ramdisk that will expose the machine primary disk over iSCSI and reboot
 once baremetal-deploy-helper signals it is finished.
+
+.. Warning::
+
+   Ironic has not supported this style of deployment element since it's
+   early days. Please consult `ironic-python-agent-builder <https://docs.openstack.org/ironic-python-agent-builder>`_.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-targetcli/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-targetcli/README.rst
index 00a522c8..868284d5 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-targetcli/README.rst
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-targetcli/README.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 deploy-targetcli
 ================
 
-Use targetcli for the deploy ramdisk
+Use targetcli for the deploy ramdisk for iSCSI deployments.
+
+.. Warning::
+   Ironic has removed the iSCSI deployment interface, it was last available
+   in Wallaby, and even then had to be launched by the ironic-python-agent.
+   This element is from the early days of baremetal deployment and is
+   deprecated.
 
 Provides the necessary scripts and dependencies to use targetcli
 for exporting the iscsi target in the deploy ramdisk.
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-tgtadm/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-tgtadm/README.rst
index 466be8fd..78f2b830 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-tgtadm/README.rst
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/deploy-tgtadm/README.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 deploy-tgtadm
 =============
 
-Use tgtadm and tgtd for the deploy ramdisk
+Use tgtadm and tgtd for the deploy ramdisk for iSCSI deployments.
+
+.. Warning::
+   Ironic has removed the iSCSI deployment interface, it was last available
+   in Wallaby, and even then had to be launched by the ironic-python-agent.
+   This element is from the early days of baremetal deployment and is
+   deprecated.
 
 Provides the necessary scripts and dependencies to use tgtadm
 and tgtd for exporting the iscsi target in the deploy ramdisk.
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/deprecation-of-legacy-deploy-elements-1665af6e87103c5f.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/deprecation-of-legacy-deploy-elements-1665af6e87103c5f.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fff977e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/deprecation-of-legacy-deploy-elements-1665af6e87103c5f.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    The ``deploy-baremetal``, ``deploy-kexec``, ``deploy-tgtadm``,
+    and ``deploy-targetcli`` elements are deprecated and will be removed in a
+    future release of diskimage-builder. The origins of the elemenets largely
+    dates back to the early efforts to support baremetal deployment, and the
+    methods have been long ago moved away from.