Introduction Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical horror game where four survivors must repair generators and escape while being hunted by a ruthless killer. This guide will focus on survivor gameplay, helping you improve your strategy, movement, and decision-making to increase your chances of survival.

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Choosing Your Survivor

Survivors share the same movement speed and health pool, but they come with unique teachable perks. The best choice for beginners is Meg Thomas, as she has perks that enhance escape potential:

• Quick and Quiet: Silent fast vaults and locker entry (great for hiding).
• Sprint Burst: A speed boost to create distance from the killer.
• Adrenaline: Heals one health state and grants a movement boost when the last generator is completed.

Unlocking a survivor’s teachable perks (available at levels 30, 35, and 40) allows them to appear in other characters’ blood webs.

Tip: Keep an eye on the Shrine of Secrets for teachable perks available for purchase with Iridescent Shards.

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Using Items Effectively

Items can enhance your performance, but their effectiveness varies:

• Medkits: Essential for self-healing and quick teammate heals.
• Toolboxes: Can speed up repairs but won’t save you from a killer.
• Flashlights: Can blind the killer to escape or save a teammate being carried.
• Keys: Can track survivors or open the hatch when enough generators are completed.

Tip: If you lack items, search chests scattered across the map.

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Evading the Killer

When the killer approaches, consider these strategies:

• Breaking Line of Sight: Move behind walls or trees to avoid detection.
• Looping: Use structures (jungle gyms, pallets, windows) to keep distance.
• Fake-outs: Pretend to vault a window or throw a pallet to trick the killer.
• Don’t Panic: Panicked movement makes you predictable and easier to catch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Camping lockers: Killers often check them first.
• Running in open areas: Always head toward loops.
• Throwing pallets too early: Waste of a resource unless necessary.

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Surviving a Chase

Looping is the art of using map structures efficiently. Here’s how to improve:

• Stay Tight to Structures: Running close to walls gives you more distance.
• Window Vaulting: Use fast vaults whenever possible (running straight at a window).
• Pallet Management: Save god pallets (like shack pallets) for late-game.
• Jungle Gyms: Use multiple windows and pallets creatively to extend chase time.

If you get hit, use the speed burst wisely to reach a safe loop rather than panicking.

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Managing Generators Efficiently

Survivors must complete five generators to power the exit gates. Key tips:

• Spread Out: If four survivors work on separate gens, the game progresses quickly.
• Avoid 3-Gens: Don’t leave three generators too close together for the killer to patrol easily.
• Prioritize Middle Gens: These are harder for the killer to defend long-term.
• Skill Checks Matter: Great skill checks provide extra progress; missing one alerts the killer.

Gen Repair Timings:

• Solo: 80 seconds per generator.
• Two survivors: ~53 seconds (slight efficiency penalty).
• Three survivors: ~43 seconds (less efficient than two-man repairs).

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Helping Teammates

A strong survivor team plays together. Here’s how to help effectively:

• Go for Saves at the Right Time: If the killer is camping, consider a distraction or time the unhook.
• Take Protection Hits: If healthy, take a hit for an injured teammate to extend their survival.
• Don’t Waste Time Healing: Sometimes it’s better to finish a generator before healing.
• Use the HUD: Monitor teammates’ status to coordinate unhooks and gens.

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Endgame Strategy

Once all generators are repaired:

• 99% the Exit Gates: Leaving the gate slightly closed prevents the Endgame Collapse timer from starting.
• Rescue Teammates Smartly: If someone is hooked, make sure you’re fully prepared before rushing in.
• Watch Out for NOED: The killer might have the perk No One Escapes Death, giving them a speed boost and instant down ability. If possible, cleanse dull totems earlier in the match.

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Common Survivor Mistakes

Avoid these bad habits to improve your game:

1. Walking at the Start of the Game: The killer usually spawns far away, so get moving.
2. Self-Care Spamming: Healing yourself without a medkit wastes valuable time.
3. Tunneling Yourself: Don’t keep running to the same spot after unhook.
4. Vaulting After Being Hit: Use your speed burst to escape instead.
5. Hiding Too Much: If you’re not in chase, you should be doing something productive.
6. Misusing Sprint Burst: Don’t walk to save it—use it wisely when needed.

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Final Thoughts

Dead by Daylight has a steep learning curve, but the best way to improve as a survivor is by playing killer. Understanding how killers think will help you avoid mistakes and anticipate their moves.

Most importantly, don’t tilt. Some games will be unfair, but keep a cool head, focus on learning, and have fun!

Good luck, and may the Entity be merciful.