Dead by Daylight Beginner’s Guide#
Table of Contents#
Game Basics#
Dead by Daylight is a 4v1 asymmetric horror survival game: every match pits 4 Survivors against 1 Killer.
Match Flow#
| Phase |
What happens |
| Preparation |
Choose your character, perks, add-ons and offerings |
| Opening cinematic |
The Killer and Survivors each spawn into the map |
| Core phase |
Survivors repair generators → the Killer hunts Survivors |
| Endgame phase |
All generators done → Exit Gates powered up → open a gate and escape |
| Results |
Performance is converted into Bloodpoint rewards |
Core Mechanics#
| Mechanic |
What it does |
| Generators |
Survivors must repair 5 generators before the gates open |
| Hooks |
The Killer hooks Survivors — a third hook means sacrifice |
| Bloodweb |
Level up characters to unlock perks, add-ons and offerings |
| Perks |
Each character equips 4 perks that grant special abilities |
| Add-ons |
Consumables that enhance a weapon or power |
| Offerings |
Consumables that affect match rules or bonuses (such as extra Bloodpoints) |
Win Conditions#
| Side |
Win condition |
| Survivors |
At least 3 escape (win); 2 escape (draw); 0-1 escape (loss) |
| Killer |
At least 3 sacrificed or killed (win); 2 (draw); 0-1 (loss) |
Game Interface#
| Element |
Where |
Function |
| Heartbeat |
Edge of the screen |
Appears when the Killer is close — the terror radius is 32 meters |
| Chase state |
Audio cue |
Background music changes while the Killer is chasing you |
| Generator progress |
Above the HUD |
Shows how many generators are left |
| Hook progress |
Center of the screen |
Ticks up every second; the third stage is sacrifice |
| Bloodpoints |
Top right |
Experience points earned from every match |
Survivor Basics#
As a Survivor, your goal is to stay alive and escape.
Core Controls#
| Action |
Key |
Notes |
| Repair generators |
M1 |
Hold to repair; skill checks appear (the small white zones) |
| Heal |
M2 |
Heal yourself or a teammate |
| Run |
Shift |
Fast movement, but leaves scratch marks |
| Crouch |
Ctrl |
Quieter footsteps and a lower chance of being spotted |
| Vault |
Space |
Vault through windows or over pallets |
| Drop a pallet |
M1 (at a pallet) |
Drop the pallet to block the Killer |
| Hide in a locker |
M1 (at a locker) |
Conceals you from the Killer |
| Bless a totem |
M1 |
Creates a boon zone that grants buffs |
Generator Repair Tips#
| Tip |
Notes |
| Prioritize gens |
Don’t wander around — keep someone on a gen whenever possible |
| Skill checks |
Hit the white zone for a Great skill check bonus |
| Repair together |
Co-op repairs go faster but trigger more skill checks |
| Generator placement |
Watch how gens are spread across the map; avoid busy Killer patrol areas |
| Know when to walk away |
Hide or leave when the Killer gets close |
Chase Tips#
| Tip |
Notes |
| Look behind you |
Turn the camera to track the Killer, but watch what’s ahead |
| Use pallets |
Learn the timing for pallet drops — don’t waste them |
| Window vaults |
Windows have a use limit: after 3 vaults they get blocked |
| Infinite windows |
Use loops and windows to keep the Killer busy |
| Speed burst |
After taking a hit you get a short speed boost — use it to open distance |
Rescuing Teammates#
| Situation |
What to do |
| Teammate on hook |
Watch out for campers — wait for the Killer to leave, then go for the save |
| Post-unhook protection |
Take a hit for a teammate who just came off the hook |
| Heal the rescued player |
Get them back to full health as quickly as possible |
| Basement rescues |
The riskiest rescue of all — it needs team coordination |
Killer Basics#
As the Killer, your goal is to sacrifice every Survivor.
Core Controls#
| Action | Key | Notes |
|—|—|
| Basic attack | M1 | Melee attack; a hit puts Survivors into the injured state |
| Power attack | M2 (hold) | Uses the Killer’s special power |
| Carry a Survivor | M1 (on a downed Survivor) | Pick them up and head for a hook |
| Kick a generator | M1 (at a generator) | Regresses the gen by 2.5% and reveals its aura |
| Break a pallet | M1 (at a pallet) | Breaking a pallet takes about 2.6 seconds |
| Vault | Space | The Killer vaults windows more slowly than Survivors |
| Stillness sensing | Passive | Survivors who idle for 45 seconds draw The Entity’s displeasure (applies to crouching Survivors) |
Patrol Strategies#
| Strategy |
Notes |
| Opening patrol |
After spawning, sweep an area first to pick up Survivor traces |
| Three-gen setup |
Defend the last three generators that spawn close together to force a dead end |
| Slug strategy |
Skip the hooks — down several Survivors and deal with them all at once |
| Camping vs patrolling |
Sitting on hooks isn’t recommended; the remaining gens will fly by |
Hook Management#
| Stage |
Notes |
| First hook |
They can still be rescued — move on and hunt your next target |
| Second hook |
Near sacrifice; the pressure mounts |
| Third hook |
Instant sacrificial death |
| Sacrifice stages |
Each hooking has 3 stages, each lasting 60 seconds |
Character Recommendations#
Best Starter Survivors#
| Character |
Strengths |
Why they’re recommended |
| Meg Thomas |
Sprint Burst, Quick & Quiet, Adrenaline |
Fast runner — great for learning to loop the Killer |
| Claudette Morel |
Self-Care, Empathy, Botany Knowledge |
Self-healing means you don’t depend on teammates |
| William “Bill” Overbeck |
Unbreakable, Borrowed Time, Left Behind |
Powerful survival perks with a high margin for error |
| Dwight Fairfield |
Leader, Prove Thyself, Bond |
Speeds up gen repairs and marks teammate positions |
Best Starter Killers#
| Character |
Power |
Why they’re recommended |
| The Legion |
Feral Frenzy (rush attack) |
Simple to control, with map-wide chase power |
| The Trapper |
Bear traps |
Easy-to-grasp core mechanics and strong map control |
| The Wraith |
Cloaked approach |
A stealth lesson built in — simple and forgiving |
| The Doctor |
Static Blast + illusions |
Great at exposing hiders, ideal against crouchers |
Survival Essentials#
General Tips#
| Tip |
Notes |
| Stay calm |
Don’t panic when the Killer finds you — use the map structure to loop |
| Sound is everything |
Footsteps, repairs and injured grunts all give away positions |
| Don’t hide in lockers |
Killers check lockers often — save them for emergencies |
| Read the skyline |
Pull the camera up to take in the whole map |
| Know when to run |
Running leaves scratch marks, but sometimes you need the distance |
| Use crouching well |
Break the Killer’s line of sight, especially in bushes |
| Team play |
Don’t be selfish — saves and protection hits earn points too |
| Never give up |
Even if your whole team is gone, the Hatch can still save you |
Maximizing Bloodpoints#
| Category |
Max score |
How to earn it |
| Objectives |
8000 |
Repair generators, open Exit Gates |
| Survival |
8000 |
Survive and escape |
| Altruism |
8000 |
Healing, rescues, taking hits for others |
| Boldness |
8000 |
Chases, pallet stuns on the Killer |
Common Beginner Mistakes#
| Mistake |
What to do instead |
| Hiding in a locker at the start |
Start repairing gens or scouting the map right away |
| Crouching the whole match |
Crouch in moderation — gens win games |
| Ignoring perks |
Remember your 4 perks and use them wisely |
| Wasting pallets |
Use pallets at safe tiles, not on a whim |
| Fighting over every pallet |
Sometimes vaulting a window works better than dropping a pallet |
| Killer never patrols |
Don’t guard one zone — move across the whole map |
| Never checking corners |
Survivors may be crouching in any corner |
| Leaving without checking the gate |
Make sure everyone is safe and no one is hooked before you go |
FAQ#
| Question |
Answer |
| Is the game good solo? |
Yes, but it plays even better with a coordinated group |
| Do I need the DLC? |
The base game stands alone; DLC adds new characters and perks |
| When is the best time to buy characters? |
During sale seasons, or as characters gifted through The Rift pass |
| Do mobile and PC share progress? |
The mobile version runs independently and doesn’t connect to PC |
| Which Killer is easiest to win with? |
The Legion — simple controls and fast chases |
| Which Survivor is easiest to stay alive with? |
Claudette — self-healing makes her very forgiving |
| What is MMR? |
The matchmaking system that assigns opponents based on performance |
| What is a Bloodpoint bonus? |
Extra Bloodpoints per match, from offerings or events |
| How do I unlock more perks? |
Level up the Bloodweb — each level unlocks a random perk |
| Can perks be shared between characters? |
Perks you’ve learned can be taught to other characters |
| What are Exit Gates? |
Powered once all 5 generators are done — open one to escape |
| What is the Hatch? |
Opens when only 1 Survivor remains, letting them escape directly |
| What is Endgame Collapse? |
A 10-minute countdown starts once a gate opens; when it hits zero, anyone left dies |
| How do I use items? |
Equip them before the match, then use them during the trial |
| Do items disappear? |
Items are kept if you die; they’re consumed when you escape |
| What is hidden MMR? |
The system adjusts your matchmaking based on escape rate and performance |
| How do I party up? |
Main menu → Friends → Create a party |
| Can I progress in custom mode? |
No Bloodpoints or rank points are earned in custom games |
| Is Chinese supported? |
The game officially supports Simplified Chinese |
| Is there controller support? |
Controllers are fully supported |
| Does it need a strong internet connection? |
A stable connection is required; broadband recommended |
| How do I report cheaters? |
Report in-game or submit through the official website |
| Is cross-progression supported? |
Not yet on most platforms — Steam and Epic are the exception |
The road to mastery starts here — keep practicing, and you’ll get there!