The beauty of Dead By Daylight is that there isn't one linear path to winning as a survivor, so our guide on the various Dead By Daylight survivor builds should help you figure out what works for you.
When considering the perks and items that you bring into each match, it pays to strategically consider what type of survivor you'll want to be during Dead by Daylight matches.
In these instances, certain perks and items are rendered completely useless if used in the wrong context. With that being said, here are some pointers to keep in mind as you narrow down your survivor play style.
What is the best Dead by Daylight survivor build?
F2P build
Looking for a build that you can nurture but at the same time, you don't want to pay special perks? Here's an F2P build you can depend on:
- Sprint Burst (Meg) - When starting to run, break into a sprint at 150 % of your normal Running Movement speed for 3 seconds. Sprint Burst causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds.
Sprint Burst cannot be used when Exhausted. - Unbreakable (Bill) - Once per Trial, you can completely recover from the Dying State. Your Recovery speed is increased by 25/30/35 %.
- Kindred (General Perk) - Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability: While you are hooked: The Auras of all Survivors are revealed to one another. Whenever the Killer is within 8/12/16 metres of your Hook, their Aura is revealed to all Survivors. While any other Survivor is hooked: The Auras of all other Survivors are revealed to you. Whenever the Killer is within 8/12/16 metres of the hooked Survivor, their Aura is revealed to you.
Adrenaline (Meg) - Once the Exit Gates are powered, instantly heal one Health State and sprint at 150 % of your normal Running Movement speed for 5 seconds. Adrenaline is on hold if you are disabled at the moment it triggers and will instead activate upon being freed. If playing against The Nightmare, Adrenaline will wake you from the Dream World upon activation. Adrenaline ignores an existing Exhaustion timer but causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds.
This build is not exactly the perfect build, but this is the optimum build you can create with free perks you can acquire throughout the game.
Escapist build
Is it hard to do stealth or looping? Then this build is for you! This is perfect for players who want to escape the Killers even though they get captured and hooked. At any time, they can just get away and not become a burden to other Survivors who know how to play the game.
- Balanced Landing (Nea Karlsson) – After falling, the stagger duration is reduced by 75%, and the volume of grunts is reduced by 100%. Afterwards, break into a sprint at 150% normal running speed.
- Flip-Flop (Ashley J. Williams) – While in the dying state, 50% of recovery progression is converted into wiggle progression when picked up by The Killer.
- Power Struggle (Élodie Rakoto) – While being carried by The Killer, reaching 15% wiggle progress allows you to use the Active Ability button to drop a nearby pallet to stun The Killer.
- Plot Twist (Nicholas Cage) – After being injured, press the Active Ability button while crouched and still to silently enter the dying state. In this state, you make no noise and can fully recover your health. Upon doing so, gain 50% Haste for 4 seconds. This perk deactivates upon first use but reactivates once the exit gates are powered.
While this build's perks work well with each other, it does need a sprinkle of luck for it to work perfectly. Everything has to be in specific situations so this build could maximize its value.
New Looper build
Do you look to mess around with the Killers? This is the build that would make them go around in circles, keeping them distracted while other Survivors do their jobs so they could start up Generators and start the escape.
- Lithe (Feng) - After performing a Rush Vault action, break into a sprint of 150 % of your normal Running Movement speed for a maximum of 3 seconds. Lithe causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds.
Lithe cannot be used when Exhausted. - Vigil (Quentin) - Increases your Recovery rate from the Blindness, Broken, Exhaustion, Exposed, Haemorrhage, Hindered, and Oblivious Status Effects by 20/25/30 %. This effect also applies to all other Survivors within 8 metres of your location and lingers for 15 seconds.
- Troubleshooter (Gabriel) - When you are chased by the Killer, Troubleshooter activates: The Aura of the Generator with the most progress is revealed to you. The Aura of the Killer is revealed to you for 4/5/6 seconds after dropping a Pallet. These effects linger for 6/8/10 seconds after ending the Chase, after which the Troubleshooter deactivates.
- Windows of Opportunity (Kate) - The Auras of Breakable Walls, Pallets, and Windows are revealed to you within 24/28/32 metres.
This build is kind of risky in its way since you will be the bait for the Killers while others do work on the Generators and such. So you better be prepared to be hooked or left in a Dying State at any time. If you work diligently though, you can keep the Killers on a loop and keep them fooled until the trial ends.
Adrenaline Junkie build
- Sprint Burst
- Deja Vu
- Resilience
- Adrenaline
Team-focused
- Lithe
- Bond
- We'll Make It
- Prove Thyself
Classic
- Sprint Burst
- Windows of Opportunity
- Botany Knowledge
- No One Left Behind
There you have it, that's all you need to know about the best Survivor builds in Dead by Daylight. Be sure to check back regularly to see how your build could be improved. In the meantime, check out the killers we wish to see in Dead by Daylight.
For even more on Dead By Daylight, check out the latest codes for some freebies. We've also got some handy Genshin Impact codes and Cookie Run: Kingdom codes for free in-game content for other popular games!