Dead by Daylight FAQ#
This page collects the questions players ask most often about Dead by Daylight, along with detailed answers to each one.
Table of Contents#
- Game Basics
- Purchases and DLC
- Platforms
- Game Mechanics
- Ranks and Matchmaking
- Troubleshooting
- Community and Support
Game Basics#
Q1: What kind of game is Dead by Daylight?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | 4v1 asymmetric horror survival |
| Core gameplay | 4 Survivors repairing generators and escaping vs. 1 Killer hunting them down |
| Match length | 10-20 minutes per match |
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly, but true mastery takes hundreds of hours |
Q2: What kind of hardware does the game need?#
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel i3-4170 or AMD FX-8300 | Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 460 or AMD HD 6850 | NVIDIA RTX 2060 or AMD RX 5600 XT |
| Storage | 50 GB | 50 GB SSD |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
Q3: Does the game have a single-player mode?#
| Mode | Details |
|---|---|
| Custom Game | Playable against AI, with no progression rewards |
| Tutorial | Walks you through the basic controls |
| Story mode | No traditional story mode |
| Campaign | No single-player campaign |
Q4: Do I need to be online the whole time?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Connection | Yes, every mode requires an internet connection |
| Offline mode | Not supported |
| Solo content | Still requires being online |
Purchases and DLC#
Q5: How much does the game cost?#
| Edition | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $19.99 | 4 Killers + 4 Survivors |
| Deluxe Edition | $49.99 | Standard Edition + 5 DLC characters |
| Ultimate Edition | $79.99 | All characters (includes future updates) |
| Mobile | Free | Free to play with in-app purchases |
Q6: Do I have to buy DLC characters?#
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Original characters | Unlockable with the in-game currency, Iridescent Shards |
| Licensed characters | Require real money (Myers, Xenomorph, Resident Evil, etc.) |
| Perk crossovers | DLC perks can be bought with Shards in the Shrine of Secrets |
| Necessity | Fully playable without buying, but some strong characters stay locked |
Q7: How do I get Iridescent Shards?#
| Source | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Leveling up | Roughly 250-300 Shards per level | Every level-up |
| The Rift pass | About 2000 Shards per season | Every season |
| Event rewards | Varies | Limited-time events |
| First-win rewards | Daily first win | Daily |
Q8: Are there free ways to get DLC?#
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Shrine of Secrets | 4 rotating perks each week, purchasable with Shards |
| The Rift | The free track grants some items and Shards |
| Events | Limited-time events occasionally give away characters |
| Sales | Regular discounts, with DLC as low as 50% off |
Platforms#
Q9: Is crossplay supported?#
| Platform | Crossplay | Cross-progression |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) ↔ PS5/PS4 | Supported | Not supported |
| PC (Steam) ↔ Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One | Supported | Not supported |
| PC (Steam) ↔ Nintendo Switch | Supported | Not supported |
| PC (Epic) ↔ Steam | Supported | Partially supported |
| PC (Microsoft Store) ↔ Xbox | Supported | Supported |
| Mobile | No cross-platform play | Mobile only |
Q10: What differs between the platform versions?#
| Platform | Highlights |
|---|---|
| PC (Steam/Epic) | Best graphics, fastest updates |
| PS5 | 4K/60fps, fast loading |
| PS4 | Standard graphics, slower loading |
| Nintendo Switch | Reduced graphics, portable play |
| Mobile (iOS/Android) | Separate client with touch controls |
Q11: Steam or Epic on PC — which is better?#
| Comparison | Steam | Epic Games Store |
|---|---|---|
| Player count | Larger | Smaller |
| Achievements | Yes | No |
| Workshop | Yes | No |
| Cross-progression | Syncs with Epic | Syncs with Steam |
| Update speed | Simultaneous | Simultaneous |
Q12: Controller or keyboard — which suits me better?#
| Aspect | Keyboard and mouse | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Camera control | More precise | Smoother |
| Skill checks | Easy | Moderate |
| Movement | 8 directions | Full 360 degrees |
| Recommended | Preferred for Survivors | Preferred for Killers |
Game Mechanics#
Q13: What are skill checks?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Randomly appear while repairing, healing, or cleansing totems |
| Great skill check | Press inside the small white circle = +1% extra progress with no noise |
| Good skill check | Press inside the large circle = normal progress |
| Failed skill check | Miss it or press wrong = progress loss plus a loud noise burst |
| Modifiers | The Doctor’s powers raise the difficulty; some perks widen the zone |
Q14: What are the heartbeat and Terror Radius?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Terror Radius | A 32-meter circular zone around the Killer |
| Heartbeat | The larger the TR, the louder the heartbeat |
| Red Stain | The Killer projects a red glow in the direction they face |
| Ending a chase | 15 seconds without an interaction breaks off the chase |
| Perk effects | Monitor reduces TR by 8 m; some perks eliminate TR entirely |
Q15: What is the Endgame Collapse?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Trigger | Starts once any exit gate has been opened |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
| When it ends | Every Survivor still in the match dies |
| Hatch opening | Opens automatically when only 1 Survivor remains |
| Gate switch | The countdown activates once a gate opens |
Q16: How does the Bloodweb work?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Bloodweb per level | Each character level grants a new Bloodweb |
| Node types | Perks, add-ons, offerings, items, and outfits |
| Bloodpoint cost | Each node costs 2500-6000 Bloodpoints |
| Rarity | The higher the character level, the more rare nodes appear |
| Center node | The center of every Bloodweb holds one item (free) |
| Prestige | Prestiging resets Bloodweb levels in exchange for rewards |
| Greedy nodes | Nodes you leave unselected are devoured by the Entity’s hunger |
Q17: What are Boon Totems?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Activation | Hold the button for 2 seconds on an extinguished totem to bless it |
| Area of effect | A 24-meter circular zone around the Boon Totem |
| Team benefit | The entire team shares the boon effect |
| Stackable | Effects from multiple Boon Totems can stack |
| Snuffing | The Killer can snuff a Boon Totem (takes 1 second) |
| Recovery | A snuffed totem can be blessed again |
| Limit | A map can hold at most 4 Boon Totems |
Q18: What Is Prestige?#
| Prestige | Effect | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige 1 | Resets to level 50 | Bloody outfit Lv1 for that character |
| Prestige 2 | Resets to level 50 | Bloody outfit Lv2 + teachable perks auto-unlock |
| Prestige 3 | Resets to level 50 | Bloody outfit Lv3 + all perks carry over |
| Prestige 4+ | Keep leveling up | Bloodpoint bonus + charms |
Ranks and Matchmaking#
Q19: How do I climb the ranked grades?#
| Grade | Promotion requirement | Demotion protection |
|---|---|---|
| Ash/Bronze | Earn 2 pips | No pips lost |
| Gold | Earn 2 pips | 0 kills loses pips |
| Iridescent | Earn 2 pips | Fewer than 1 kill loses pips |
| Rainbow | Win one match at Iridescent I | A loss drops you back to Iridescent I |
Q20: What is MMR?#
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Matchmaking Rating |
| Purpose | Pits you against opponents of similar skill |
| Survivor MMR | One shared rating across all Survivors |
| Killer MMR | Calculated separately for each Killer |
| Visibility | Hidden and not visible to players |
| Reset | Naturally decays after long periods without play |
Troubleshooting#
Q21: What if the game crashes?#
| Step | Fix |
|---|---|
| 1 | Update your graphics drivers |
| 2 | Verify the integrity of your game files |
| 3 | Close background programs |
| 4 | Lower your graphics settings |
| 5 | Reinstall the game |
| 6 | Contact official support |
Q22: What about network lag or stuttering?#
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| High latency | Check your connection and switch to a wired one |
| Frame drops | Lower graphics settings and turn off V-Sync |
| Packet loss | Restart your router, then contact your ISP |
| Slow matchmaking | High grades queue longer; off-peak hours match slower |
| Region selection | The game automatically picks the lowest-ping region |
Q23: What should I do about cheaters?#
| Step | Method |
|---|---|
| In-game report | Report from the post-match results screen |
| Official website | Submit a ticket at support.deadbydaylight.com |
| Save footage | Record suspicious matches as evidence |
| Don’t fight back | Avoid interacting with cheating players |
Community and Support#
Q24: What official social media accounts are there?#
| Platform | Account |
|---|---|
| @DeadByBHVR | |
| YouTube | Dead by Daylight |
| Discord | Official DBD Discord server |
| r/deadbydaylight | |
| Dead by Daylight official account | |
| Bilibili | Dead by Daylight official account |
Q25: Where can I find teammates?#
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Discord | LFG channel on the official DBD server |
| r/dbdLFG | |
| Steam Community | Dead by Daylight team-up groups |
| In-game | Add friends and queue up together |
| WeChat/QQ groups | Communities for Chinese players |
FAQ Quick Answers#
| # | Quick Question |
|---|---|
| 1 | Is the game free? Paid on PC and consoles, free on mobile |
| 2 | Best starter character? Survivor: Claudette; Killer: The Legion |
| 3 | Strongest killer? The Nurse (highest skill ceiling) |
| 4 | Can I play solo? Yes, but it feels better with a coordinated team |
| 5 | How do I earn more Bloodpoints? Bloodpoint bonus offerings + scoring in every category |
| 6 | Do I need DLC? Not required, but some characters and perks are very practical |
| 7 | How do I level up fast? Use Bloodpoint bonuses + focus on one character |
| 8 | Is Chinese supported? Official Simplified Chinese |
| 9 | How do I report a player? Click report on the post-match results screen |
| 10 | Is there a Steam Workshop? Supported on the Steam version |
- Still have questions? Join the Dead by Daylight community — there is always a veteran happy to help. *