Like most people, I started playing Dead by Daylight as a survivor. And once I got comfortable with survivor, I decided to try playing killer. It did not go well. I never found a single survivor to torment and ended the game feeling uninspired. And as you can guess, I went right back to playing survivor.
It wasn’t until recently that I decided to give playing killer another go. I started as The Trapper and didn’t do too bad. This time I was able to listen for survivors repairing gens and set a few bear traps. I may not have hooked anybody but felt good about the little I’d done.
I tried out a few other killers, but The Trapper was my comfort zone and the one I returned to. The more I played him, the better I got. It wasn’t until I was able to get some consistent kills that I decided to learn how to play The Trickster.
What I have learned from the experience is that unlike playing survivor, each killer is unique and comes with their own strength and weaknesses. So, if you’re looking to switch up your game and give playing killer a shot, below are some helpful tips to get you started.
Start with a Basic Killer
Because each killer has their own specific way of hunting survivors, this isn’t quite the same as choosing a survivor. While a killer’s perks are important, it’s their add-ons, which are specific to each killer, that gives them their edge. For instance, The Huntress has her ax, The Houndmaster has her dog, The Trickster has his blades, etc… I suggest starting with The Trapper because his add-on, the bear trap, doesn’t require too much skill. This will give you time to adjust to how he moves and the overall game play.
The Wraith is also a good killer to start with, although I never got into him. Being able to cloak and uncloak is pretty cool, but I never mastered the timing of his bell.
The Bloodweb is Important
If you don’t know what the Bloodweb is, you can read my post on it, Dead by Daylight: The Bloodweb for Beginners. Since a killer’s add-ons get consumed with each trial, being thoughtful about what to buy in the Bloodweb is important. I’ve been trying to stockpile the ones I use the most along with a few I plan on using once my game gets better. Remember, each killer is different, so your goals for improvement will vary per killer.
Memento Mori
If you’re playing for Bloodpoints, this tip is not for you. There are better offerings to get Bloodpoints, like Escape Cake.
Like your Add-ons, the Offerings will be consumed with each trial. Because of this, I suggest holding onto the Memento Mori skulls until you improve your game and consistently get survivors on hooks. These offering will allow you to mori (kill) survivors during the game instead of only being able to do it to the final survivor.
The two Memento Mori Offerings are:
- Ivory Memento Mori: Grants the ability to kill 1 Survivor with 2 Hook Stages once they are in the Dying State.
- Ebony Memento Mori: Grants the ability to kill all Survivors with 2 Hook Stages once they are in the Dying State.
The Memento Mori offerings are the first thing I look for in the Bloodweb and take precedence over specific add-ons for the killer’s special ability.
Listen for Survivors
The notifications for missed skill checks, vaults, etc… are great, but you have to be aware of more than that. You need to listen for the sound of generators being worked on, injured survivors hiding behind walls or in shrubbery, and lockers. If you hear a locker door open, chances are a survivor is inside. if you’re in front of a locker and hear someone in pain, chances are good that they’re inside.
Don’t Get Discouraged
Dead by Daylight is not an easy game for new players to get into as a killer. Game play is very different from survivor, and you’ll occasionally be up against bully teams with annoying flashlights who will find your weaknesses, of which you’ll have many, and exploit them. Even if they realize you’re new, they’re in the game to annoy and won’t care. If this happens, walk to a quiet area of the map and sulk for a minute. When you’re done, go back and do your best. It’s actually good practice.
Accept that you’re going suck at first; smile through it and learn from your mistakes. And when you go back to playing survivor, your game play will change because you’ll have a new perspective on the killer.
Hopefully you found this post helpful. As always, feel free to reach out to me on social media with questions, comments, or just to say hello. If you want to play a few trials with me, feel free to ask.