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As such, killers will need any advantage they can get in the game. As of now, there are more than 90 usable killer perks, and these can be combined into several different builds. Because the killers are all so unique, not every build will be as effective on one killer as it might be on another. It’s a good idea to research the different perks to build around the killer the player enjoys the most, but some generalized builds can be very effective on most killers.

Updated on November 11, 2022: Dead by Daylight’s sense of horror mostly comes from the anticipation of a killer coming toward a player, especially when they’re attempting to turn on a generator. To be the best killer out there in Dead by Daylight, this guide covers the best killer builds. In fact, we’ve updated this post to align with the 2022 meta of Dead by Daylight, making it as fresh and up-to-date as possible.

The General Meta Build

Some perks simply perform well on every killer. These perks are always a safe option for killers looking for a winning combination. They combine Slowdown, Information, and Map control into one solid package. The general meta perks for killers currently are:

Deadlock (The Cenobite) - After a generator is repaired, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 30 seconds. No Way Out (The Trickster) - At the end of the trial, when a survivor interacts with an exit gate, users will receive a noise notification, and the exit gates will be blocked for 12 seconds, plus another 12 seconds for each survivor hooked. Corrupt Intervention (The Plague) - At the start of the trial, the 3 generators furthest from the killer’s starting location are blocked for 120 seconds or until the first survivor is downed. Tinkerer (The Hillbilly) - When a generator reaches 70% progress, users receive a noise notification and are granted the Undetectable status effect for 16 seconds.

These perks will allow the player to block generator progress without stopping to kick, prevent survivors from leaving, block generators at the beginning of the match, and get notified of generators that are nearly complete. This build gives killers a fighting chance against good survivors, and the perks are good on most killers in the game.

The Terror Radius Build

Each killer in Dead by Daylight has a Terror Radius. This is the circle around the killer in which survivors can hear their heartbeat and the music of the selected killer. As the killer gets closer, the heartbeat quickens, and the music becomes more intense while also getting louder. Therefore, maximizing the Terror Radius with perks is a niche build that can work well on killers with already large terror radiuses like The Mastermind.

Distressing (General Perk) - Increases the killer’s Terror Radius by 26%. Starstruck (The Trickster) - While carrying a survivor, others within the Terror Radius are exposed for 30 seconds. Unnerving Presence (The Trapper) - Survivors within the Terror Radius have a 10% greater chance of triggering skill checks, which are 60% smaller. Coulrophobia (The Clown) - Survivors within the Terror Radius heal 50% slower, and skill check speed moves 50% faster.

The Information Build

Information on the survivors’ whereabouts is critical to any killer inside Dead by Daylight. Knowing where to find the survivors is half the battle of winning as the killer. Survivors will often try to be stealthy and hide their position, even while injured. Players looking to find survivors quickly and consistently should try and gather good Information perks. This build will allow players to quickly find survivors working on generators.

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Discordance (The Legion) - Any generators within 128 meters that are being worked on by 2 or more survivors will be highlighted in yellow. Deadlock (The Cenobite) - After a generator is repaired, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 30 seconds. No One Escapes Death (General Perk) - After the final generator is completed, all survivors suffer from the Exposed status ailment, and users gain a 4% Haste effect until the Hex Totem is cleansed. Tinkerer (The Hillbilly) - When a generator reaches 70% progress, users receive a noise notification and are granted the Undetectable status effect for 16 seconds.

The Generator Control Build

Completing generators is the main goal for the survivors in a match. As such, the killer will want to do everything they can to prevent this goal from being achieved. This can be done in a multitude of ways, including directly damaging the generators. Players using this build will be able to quickly identify generators that are almost complete and generators that are being worked on by two or more survivors.

Corrupt Intervention (The Plague) - At the start of the trial, the 3 generators furthest from the killer’s starting location are blocked for 120 seconds or until the first survivor is downed. Call of Brine (The Onryo) - After kicking a generator, over the next 60 seconds, it will regress at 200% normal speed, and each time a Survivor completes a skill check on it, users will receive a noise notification. Tinkerer (The Hillbilly) - When a generator reaches 70% progress, users receive a noise notification and are granted the Undetectable status effect for 16 seconds. Eruption (The Nemesis) - After kicking a generator, its aura will be highlighted in yellow. Upon downing a survivor, all highlighted generators will lose 10% progress, and any survivors working on them will be subject to the Incapacitated status ailment for 30 seconds.

The Anti-Healing Build

If damaging generators is considered to slow down the survivor’s game, then healing could be considered the survivors slowing down the killer’s game. Numerous perks make healing faster and more effective, and the Hour of the Witch update buffed healing even more with the inclusion of Boon Totem perks. Killers tired of survivors instantly healing should consider using the following build:

A Nurse’s Calling (The Nurse) - Survivors who heal within a 28-meter range will have their auras revealed. Deadlock (The Cenobite) - After a generator is repaired, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 30 seconds. Sloppy Butcher (General Killer Perk) - Basic attacks cause the Mangled and Hemorrhage status ailments, slowing down healing by 25% and regressing healing progress when left unfinished. Franklin’s Demise (The Cannibal) - Basic attacks cause survivors to drop their items where their charges will regress over the next 90 seconds.

This build allows the killer to see survivors when they heal and slows down healing progress in general. It also causes survivors to drop their held items when taking damage from basic attacks. The items will lose their charges if not picked up in time, thus ending the healing benefits of items like medkits.

The Early Game Build

Killers can sometimes capitalize on good early-game control and snowball. Quick hooks can lead to more hooks and more survivors being injured. Most importantly, early game snowballing often causes survivors to focus on saving and healing rather than doing generators or cleansing totems.

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The early build is risky because it suffers as the game goes on, but putting pressure on survivors early on never hurts. This build aids the killer in hopefully being able to snowball their pressure into a fast win.

Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis) - At the start of the trial, all survivor’s auras are revealed for 9 seconds. This perk also increases the duration of other aura-reading abilities by an extra 2 seconds. Corrupt Intervention (The Plague) - At the start of the trial, the 3 generators furthest from the killer’s starting location are blocked for 120 seconds or until the first survivor is downed. Deadlock (The Cenobite) - After a generator is repaired, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 30 seconds. Save The Best For Last (The Shape) - For every basic attack dealt to survivors who aren’t the Obsession, gain a 5% decreased attack cooldown, up to a maximum of 40%.

The Late Game Build

Like the early game build, this build focuses solely on control of a certain section of the game. This build is even riskier than the early game build, as it assumes that the survivors have finished all the generators and are trying to open exit gates to win the game for themselves. Playing with this build is risky, but nothing feels more rewarding than swiping victory right from underneath the team of survivors.

No One Escapes Death (General Perk) - After the final generator is completed, all survivors suffer from the Exposed status ailment, and users gain a 4% Haste effect until the Hex Totem is cleansed. Terminus (The Mastermind) - Once the final generator is complete, all injured survivors receive the Broken status ailment until the exit gates have been open for 30 seconds. Blood Warden (The Nightmare) - Once per match, hooking a survivor while the exit gates are open will block the exit for 60 seconds. Deadlock (The Cenobite) - After a generator is repaired, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 30 seconds.

While this build can feel satisfying to use and win with, it is also seen as a bit of a toxic build by some survivors. Expect some disgruntled survivors in the endgame lobby after winning with this build.

The Anti-Loop Build

The largest advantages survivors have are their numbers and their mobility. Killers can often find themselves in endless chases with survivors who know what they’re doing. This can frustrate the killer and lead to the game ending quickly, with all the generators getting completed in one or two chases. Killers have to learn the loops just as much as survivors do, but some perks help the killer resist the looping of survivors.

Deadlock (The Cenobite) - After a generator is repaired, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 30 seconds. Bamboozle (The Clown) - Vault speed is increased by 15%, and performing a vault will block the window for 16 seconds. Hex: Blood Favor (The Blight) - Injuring a survivor blocks all pallets from being pulled down within a 32-meter radius for 15 seconds. Coup de Grace (The Twins) - For each generator completed, this perk gains a token. Use one token to increase the lunge distance by 80%.

This build allows killers to block windows and pallets and extend lunging attack ranges. These can all be critical in ending loops early and hooking the survivor instead of chasing them.

The Destruction Build

Many maps in the game are filled with very safe pallets for survivors to drop. Some pallets can even be pre-dropped because the killer will be forced to break them, as there is no path to simply walk around it.

Killers tired of being slowed down by constantly having to break things should look no further than this destruction build. This build will help killers stick to chasing survivors down rather than breaking pallets and generators.

Deadlock (The Cenobite) - After a generator is repaired, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 30 seconds. Enduring (The Hillbilly) - Pallet stun duration is reduced by 50%. Spirit Fury (The Spirit) - After breaking 2 pallets, the next pallet stun will instantly break it. Brutal Strength (The Trapper) - Performing break actions is 20% faster.

The Hex Build

Hex builds allow killers to transform the dull totems placed throughout the maps into powerful Hexed Totems. These totems offer some of the best killer perks in the entire game, but at the risk of them being cleansed by survivors. Hex builds are the ultimate gamble, as they offer the best perks, but the killer has to hope that the totems get placed in good areas and aren’t cleansed by survivors.

Hex: Pentimento (The Artist) - Cleansed Totems can be rekindled for an additional effect, each decreasing repair, healing, recovery, and exit gate opening speeds by 30%. Hex: Undying (The Blight) - Once per trial, when a Hex Totem is cleansed, the effect of that Hex is transferred to another Totem. Furthermore, survivors standing within 4 meters of a Dull Totem have their auras revealed. Hex: Devour Hope (The Hag) - When a survivor is unhooked from at least 24 meters away, this perk gains a token. At 2 tokens, gain a 5% Haste effect for 10 seconds after hooking a survivor. At 3 tokens, all survivors suffer from the Exposed status effect. At 5 tokens, any survivor, regardless of hook state, can be killed. Hex: Thrill of the Hunt (General Perk) - For each Dull and Hex Totem remaining on the map, survivors’ cleansing and blessing speed is reduced by 10%.

Dead by Daylight is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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