"Dead By Daylight: Top 15 Killers for Beginners and Gameplay Tips"

Summary

• Dead by Daylight boasts 26 killers and maintains a strong player base, with an average of 62 thousand monthly players as of July 2021.
• Key killers such as The Demogorgon, The Clown, and Albert Wesker offer unique strategies and perks, enhancing gameplay variety.
• Beginners are advised to start with user-friendly killers like The Trapper, The Nightmare, and The Wraith to ease into the game's complexities.

When Dead by Daylight was first released in 2016, it featured a modest lineup of three killers and four survivors. Initially designed as a thrilling hide-and-seek game, it challenged survivors to outsmart the killer and escape the map. Few could have predicted its meteoric rise. Today, Dead by Daylight is often referred to as the "Super Smash Bros. of horror," boasting an impressive roster of 26 killers and a thriving community of players.

With an average of 62 thousand players as of July 2021, Dead by Daylight continues to captivate gamers worldwide. The game provides a comprehensive tutorial that covers the essentials of gameplay, though it does not delve deeply into the intricacies of each killer. For solo players, experimenting with new killers can be daunting without bot matches. However, starting with a few easier-to-master killers can help new players navigate the game's vast character selection.

Updated on January 15, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam: As Dead by Daylight gears up for the release of a new Licensed Killer in March 2025 and an Original Survivor in April 2025, anticipation is high among fans. Speculation abounds about the identity of the upcoming killer, but newcomers have ample time to explore the existing lineup. Iconic figures like the Demogorgon from Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons, the chilling Clown, and Resident Evil's Albert Wesker are among the must-try killers for those looking to hone their skills.

15 The Beast - The Demogorgon

Cover Distance With Portals

The Demogorgon, an interdimensional being from the sci-fi horror series Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons, entered the Dead by Daylight universe in Chapter 13: Stranger Things. With its menacing appearance and terrifying abilities, the Demogorgon excels at outsmarting survivors who try to escape by covering large distances. It can vanish and reappear in unexpected locations, catching survivors off guard.

How To Play The Demogorgon

The Demogorgon's specialty lies in surprise attacks facilitated by its Portals. Using its Of the Abyss Power, the Demogorgon can sense survivors near its Portals, allowing for sudden ambushes with powerful leaping attacks. Strategically placing up to six Portals across the map can enhance chase efficiency, though survivors can seal visible Portals.

The Demogorgon's unique Perks influence its interactions with Portals, such as blocking Vault locations upon generator repairs (Cruel Limits), inflicting Blindness and Exhausted on survivors repairing generators (Mindbreaker), and causing Generator regression when a basic attack downs a survivor (Surge). Players should position Portals near generators but out of immediate sight and use feints to keep survivors guessing.

14 The Clown - Kenneth Chase, Jeffrey Hawk

A Killer Clown With An Infectious Laugh

Before becoming a killer in the Fog, Kenneth Chase, later known as Jeffrey Hawk, led a life of solitude that fueled his fascination with living beings. Starting with small animals, his obsession grew to human victims, using his ties to a traveling circus as a cover. Now, as The Clown, he wields noxious gas to hinder survivors, making them vulnerable during chases.

How To Play The Clown

The Clown excels in chases, using the Afterpiece Tonic to release clouds of gas that impair survivors' vision and movement. His Perks enhance his pursuit capabilities, including blocking windows after vaulting (Bamboozle), reducing healing speed and increasing skill check difficulty within his Terror Radius (Coulrophobia), and causing Generator regression after hooking a survivor (Pop Goes The Weasel).

Mastering the Clown requires understanding when to engage in chases and when to focus on generator regression. Players should strategically use Purple Gas Clouds to control chokepoints and Yellow Antidote Bottles to prepare for chases, adapting to survivors' tactics.

13 The Mastermind - Albert Wesker

Never Get Caught In His Attacks

Introduced in Chapter 25: Resident Evil: PROJECT W, Albert Wesker, known as The Mastermind, brings his superior genetics and mutated biology to Dead by Daylight. Bypassing his confrontation with Chris Redfield, Wesker enters the Fog to hunt down survivors using the Uroboros Virus.

How To Play

Albert Wesker's Virulent Bond allows him to charge a Bound Attack, enabling lunges that auto-vault over dropped pallets and windows, or interact with survivors by lashing out or executing grab-throws. These interactions infect survivors with the Uroboros Virus, eventually leading to a Hindered Status Effect. Wesker's Perks reflect his advanced genetic makeup, allowing him to detect nearby survivor auras while carrying one (Awakened Awareness), boost vaulting speed after a nearby survivor's rushed vault (Superior Anatomy), and inflict Broken on injured or hooked survivors until an Exit Gate is opened (Terminus).

Wesker players should capitalize on his ability to cover distances and punish survivors, reserving knife attacks for those adept at evading his more aggressive moves. Effective use of his power demands map knowledge and control, making him a formidable killer when mastered.

12 The Trapper — Evan MacMillan

Since its launch in 2016, The Trapper, one of the original killers, has remained a staple in Dead by Daylight. Evan MacMillan's straightforward skillset, focused on pursuit and trap-setting, makes him an ideal choice for beginners looking to familiarize themselves with the game.

How To Play The Trapper

Despite his name, The Trapper's mechanics are simple. Evan uses bear traps to immobilize survivors, who can then be easily picked up and hooked. His Agitation perk grants a movement speed bonus when carrying a survivor, aiding in quick hook placements.

The Trapper excels as an Area Denial Killer, strategically placing traps to disrupt survivors' objectives and lead them into ambushes. While trap placement requires practice, their straightforward nature makes The Trapper an excellent starting point for new players. Additionally, he can break through pallets and walls more easily, deal increased damage to generators, and make skill checks more challenging for survivors.

11 The Nightmare — Freddy Krueger

Dead by Daylight has successfully integrated iconic horror figures like Freddy Krueger, introduced in 2017 as a DLC character. His dream-stalking persona and auto-stealth ability make him a great choice for beginners.

How To Play The Nightmare

Freddy's Dream Demon power allows him to remain visually invisible to survivors at a distance, becoming intermittently visible as he closes in and fully visible within 16 meters. This stealth advantage helps new players surprise unsuspecting survivors.

As generators are repaired, Freddy's Fire Up perk increases his action speed. He can also become obsessed with one survivor, increasing the time needed to open Exit Gates with each basic attack. Hooking a survivor can temporarily block exits entirely. Freddy's auto-stealth, boosted action speed, and exit-blocking capabilities make him an excellent choice for those learning to play as a killer.

10 The Cannibal — Leatherface

With the "Leatherface" DLC, players can access The Cannibal, an easy-to-learn killer with one of the game's most powerful perks, Barbeque & Chili. While effective against new survivors, he may struggle against more experienced players.

How To Play Leatherface

Leatherface's chainsaw dash attack allows him to sprint for two seconds, swinging his chainsaw to instantly down any survivor he hits. Starting with three charges, he can regain them throughout the match. However, using his ability fills a "tantrum" meter, which, when full, causes him to stop moving and swing wildly, downing nearby survivors but also halting his movement. Balancing his power with tantrum management is key, especially against survivors skilled at looping.

9 The Deathslinger

Released with the 2020 Chains of Hate DLC, The Deathslinger offers a unique ranged ability reminiscent of FPS games. His harpoon gun requires good aim, making him a challenging but rewarding choice for new players interested in FPS mechanics.

How To Play Deathslinger

Though not considered meta, The Deathslinger's perks are suitable for new player lobbies. His harpoon gun fires a single shot before reloading, making misses costly. Successful hits allow him to reel in survivors, who can then be hit again to suffer from Deep Wounds, which will down them if not mended in time.

Controller users may find his aiming challenging due to limited sensitivity and dead zone options in Dead by Daylight, a game primarily designed as a third-person horror experience.

8 The Trickster

Initially considered one of the weakest killers, The Trickster received a significant buff on July 27, 2021, making him a viable choice. His Showstopper ability allows him to throw multiple small blades, building up survivors' laceration meter until it causes damage.

How To Play The Trickster

Using Showstopper, The Trickster can throw blades one at a time or continuously, slowing himself down in the process. Filling his laceration meter with six successful hits can injure or down survivors. Activating Main Event allows him to throw unlimited blades quickly, downing survivors in a small area.

Restocking blades from lockers around the map is essential, as his power relies heavily on aim. Controller players may find learning him challenging due to basic sensitivity options.

7 The Huntress

Available to all players, The Huntress is identifiable by her haunting tune. Though challenging to master, her power is straightforward and easy to learn, making her suitable for newcomers.

How To Play The Huntress

The Huntress primes a throwing hatchet by holding down the power button and releases it to launch. Without a crosshair, aiming can be tricky, especially on controllers and cluttered maps. Her intuitive power and decent lunging attack make her a great choice for beginners, with the ability to catch survivors off-guard from a distance. Hatchets must be restocked at lockers.

6 Legion

Known for their unmatched mobility, Legion's power is easy to learn but can be frustrating against experienced survivors. Their speed on foot is nearly unbeatable, making them one of the most mobile killers.

How To Play Legion

Legion's Feral Frenzy allows them to sprint and chain attacks, losing sight of scratch marks and blood pools but gaining the ability to slide across pallets and vault windows like survivors. Survivors hit during Feral Frenzy become injured and afflicted with Deep Wounds, with others in the terror radius temporarily marked. However, Legion cannot down survivors during Feral Frenzy, requiring players to finish them off without using the power. This makes Legion easy to learn but weaker overall.

5 The Doctor

Considered a formidable opponent, The Doctor can easily dominate new lobbies with his powerful ability. Despite being classified as "Hard" due to the complexity of his power's effects, he remains a strong choice for new players.

How To Play The Doctor

The Doctor induces Madness in survivors using Static Blast within his terror radius, causing them to scream and reveal their positions. Shock Therapy, used when Static Blast is on cooldown, also induces Madness but in a smaller area in front of him. As Madness builds, survivors face negative effects like backward skill checks, hallucinated pallets, and fake terror radius notifications, making The Doctor effective with minimal effort.

4 The Pig — Amanda Young

Fans of the SAW franchise will recognize Amanda Young as The Pig. Her stealthy gameplay is rewarding but requires practice. She can crouch to gain the Undetectable effect, removing her terror radius and red killer light while masking her aura.

How To Play The Pig

From a crouched position, The Pig can activate the Ambush Dash to sprint and attack survivors, either injuring or downing them. After downing a survivor, she can place a reverse bear trap on their head, which becomes active once a generator is completed and kills the survivor after 150 seconds unless they find the right key in a Jigsaw box. While more complex than some killers, her mechanics are easy to grasp.

3 The Hillbilly

Inspired by Leatherface, The Hillbilly's chainsaw rush operates differently. Instead of waving the chainsaw, he zooms forward at double speed in a straight line, downing survivors on impact and destroying pallets and breakable doors.

How To Play The Hillbilly

The Hillbilly's power is user-friendly but hard to control, especially on controllers due to limited sensitivity options. Players must master turning and maneuvering to use his Chainsaw Rush effectively, making him less approachable for beginners but still a viable choice with practice.

2 The Shape — Michael Myers

As the first licensed killer in Dead by Daylight, Michael Myers is a recognizable slasher icon with a simple-to-learn power, making him suitable for new players. He is often considered a late-game killer due to the time it takes to charge his power.

How To Play The Shape

Michael Myers builds his power meter by stalking survivors, moving slower during this process. Stalking highlighted survivors builds the meter faster, while those already stalked build it slower. At tier three, Myers can down survivors in one hit until his meter regresses to tier two. The skill lies in knowing when to activate tier three and how to maneuver effectively.

1 The Wraith

As one of the original killers, The Wraith offers a forgiving power, especially against new survivors. His cloak ability makes him nearly invisible, and his speed boost upon uncloaking can catch survivors off guard.

How To Play The Wraith

The Wraith cloaks himself by ringing his Wailing Bell, gaining the Undetectable status. He must uncloak to attack, gaining a significant speed boost upon doing so. This makes him an excellent choice for beginners, offering a fun and straightforward gameplay experience.