Dead by Daylight has become a popular horror game since it was first released on mobile. Many love the game for its unique concept, but many also fell for the idea of being able to deliberately play as a killer. Each of the Dead by Daylight Killers is equipped with great abilities and skills that will help them thwart any plans of escape made by the Survivors.
In our Dead by Daylight guide, we have already established some tips to play as a successful killer. This time, you will find out which Dead by Daylight Killer is the best to use for your next gaming session!
Inside This Article
What Is Dead by Daylight?
Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical horror game that puts players in a 4-versus-1 environment. It puts four players in the position of the Survivors who have to run away from and outsmart the Killer. The Survivors are tasked to repair generators within their map to power the escape gates that will allow them to win.
As Killers, you will have to hunt down the Survivors one by one and sacrifice them. As the Survivors, your job is to repair the generators, evade the Killer, and rescue your friends when called for.
It’s a game with a unique concept and is one that horror fans should consider trying. It gives players a new experience and allows them to play as both the Killer and the Survivor.
The game is an online multiplayer game that can be played with your friends and with other players as well. It is available on multiple platforms including Android, iOS, Stadia, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 & 5, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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Dead by Daylight Killers: The Tier List
Playing as a Killer is one of the aspects that make Dead by Daylight a unique game. It’s not often that you’ll be able to play as a hunter when most horror games portray players as the hunted. It’s great to have a bit of variation when it comes to gameplay from time to time.
In the Dead by Daylight tier list, you’ll see a few familiar faces; especially if you’re a big fan of the horror genre. This is because the game is no stranger to having collaborations and special projects with well-known horror franchises such as Silent Hill, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Halloween among others. This only makes the game more exciting as you’ll be able to play iconic characters.
That said, here are the Dead by Daylight Killers that you can play as.
List of Killers
As of writing, the game has 23 playable Killers. Most of them are obtainable as you progress through the game, some of them can be bought with in-game currency, and there are also some that you can obtain through exclusive events.
Without further ado, here is the current roster of Dead by Daylight Killers that you can access in the game. Take note that this list is not arranged in a particular order.
- First Row: Trapper, Wraith, Hillbilly, Nurse, Shape, Hag
- Second Row: Doctor, Huntress, Cannibal, Nightmare, Pig, Clown
- Third Row: Spirit, Legion, Plague, Ghost Face, Demogorgon, Oni
- Fourth Row: Deathslinger, Executioner, Blight, Twins, Trickster
While the characters do have given names, they are often classified by the type of Killer that they are instead of their names. Often, you will see characters such as Michael Myers be referred to as the “Shape.”
Favorite Killers
Like most games, there are crowd favorites in Dead by Daylight. These are usually Killers that are popular among all players. These Killers are usually favorites because of their ease of use, strength, perks, and popularity in general.
That said, here are some of the Killers that are favored by Dead by Daylight players:
- Nurse
- Executioner
- Hillbilly
- Shape
- Trickster
Best Killers for Beginners
Getting used to a game is the first thing that gamers should consider. You shouldn’t jump into using a certain character quickly as you will need to try and get a hang of it first. That said, you might want to try playing these Dead by Daylight Killers first before you move on to characters with more complicated skill sets.
If you’ve just begun playing the game, here are some of the Killers that you might want to consider using.
- Hag
- Ghost Face
- Shape
- Deathslinger
- Doctor
Best Killers for Pros
Some Dead by Daylight Killers require a bit more experience than others. This is because they have certain abilities that a beginner might not be able to use properly or quickly get a grasp of. For that reason, there are a couple of Killers that are best played by seasoned players or pros. But fret not, even beginners can try to play as these Killers and, who knows, they might just be able to get a hang of it on their first try.
For seasoned players, it’s recommended that you try out the following killers as they might just be your next favorite character.
- Nurse
- Plague
- Executioner
- Nightmare
- Huntress
Dead by Daylight: The Best Killers
Dead by Daylight Killers play a big role in the game. As the main antagonists, each Killer is equipped with unique skills and perks that make them the best in the game. Depending on your playstyle, you may or may not agree with our picks for the best Dead by Daylight Killers. Regardless, these are the Killers that are often held in high regard among seasoned players of the game.
Nurse (Sally Smithson)
The Nurse is one of the most powerful Killers in the game. She has powerful perks that can be used to the Killer’s advantage. Among the Nurse’s noteworthy abilities include “A Nurse’s Calling” which allows the Killer to see which players are healing themselves within a certain range. Additionally, they also have an ability called “Stridor” which increases the Survivors’ volume of breathing which is a great disadvantage especially if they are trying to escape.
While the Nurse is a great character to use, it does come with some consequences. First, this Killer is quite difficult to master as she has a blink ability. When used incorrectly, it can put the Nurse at a disadvantage and allow the Survivors to escape. The Nurse can also warp through long distances which can be used as a great ambush tactic.
Executioner (Pyramid Head)
The Executioner, otherwise known as Pyramid Head, is an iconic horror figure associated with the Silent Hill franchise. He is also one of the more popular characters in Dead by Daylight and for good reason as well.
Pyramid Head is a versatile Killer with a great ranged attack and quick substitution. Additionally, he also has a skill that can instantly kill a weakened survivor at the final stages of the game. Those with skilled Executioners will be able to predict Survivor movements as they make their escape and then hit them with his ranged attack.
Though, you might want to take note that he isn’t the fastest Killer in terms of getting around. You might be walking or running at a slower pace but his ability to speed up the sacrifice process makes up for his lack of speed.
The Hillbilly (Max Thompson Jr.)
The Hillbilly is a popular Killer to use and his skills match his popularity very well.
If you’re looking for a quick way to cover ground, The Hillbilly can do just that with his chainsaw attack. This is great if you spot Survivors who are trying to fix generators or trying to heal themselves as they will have no choice but to run and stay on the move. Moreover, he can also easily deplete a Survivor’s life with one hit from his chainsaw.
In all, he is a formidable and great Killer to have provided that you can learn how to use him properly.
The Oni (Kazan Yamaoka)
Using the Oni requires a bit of skill but once you get the hang of it, he’s all that you will need to get through the game and come out as a victor.
The Oni has a couple of forms that require Blood Orbs. These Blood Orbs are collected from injured Survivors and will allow this Killer to gain additional abilities. These abilities will surely put the Survivors at a disadvantage because it will not only make the Oni faster but will also give them the ability to put a Survivor into a Dying State with one hit.
His perks and abilities might take a while to master but it will be worth it in the end. After all, the Oni does have the ability to end the game faster provided that you can think of a strategy to make it happen.
The Plague (Adiris)
Lastly, the Plague is a projectile fighter. She can bring Survivors into an “injured state” as the game progresses. However, it doesn’t stop there as this ability levels up to down Survivors quickly.
The Plague lets out a sickness that will affect anyone who is directly hit by it. It also spreads out onto other Survivors and even objects making her a very difficult Killer to defeat. The Plague’s ability can affect an entire map if her ability spreads quickly.
Dead by Daylight Killers: The Worst Killers
If you have the best Dead by Daylight Killers, you can expect the worst as well. The following Killers are often tagged as the worst by players for a couple of reasons including their perks, abilities, and the overall experience while playing as these Killers.
Without further ado, here are the worst Dead by Daylight Killers that you might want to take note of.
The Trapper (Evan MacMillan)
While the Trapper might be one of the more popular faces of the game, he isn’t exactly the best to use if you’re not a seasoned player.
The Trapper, as his name implies, can set traps for Survivors. Compared to other characters with similar abilities like the Hag, his trapping ability is much better because he can immobilize his targets with them. It sounds great and will make you want to use him but there’s a catch: he can only carry one trap at a time when you’re in the lower levels.
This divides your attention because you will have to pick up additional traps as you go through the map. It takes a long time and it takes away from the time that you could use to look for Survivors. On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned player, you might already know how to use the Trapper and his traps efficiently. Though that isn’t the case for all Killers, which is why many throw in the towel and brand the Trapper as one of the worst Killers in the game.
Legion (Frank, Julie, Susie, Joey)
Although the name would make beginners think that Legion was a great character, it bears the opposite effect.
Legion is one of the worst Dead by Daylight Killers and is often compared to the Nightmare before he got a revamp. The problem with Legion is that he is very easy to escape from and can be easily manipulated by Survivors into going in loops. Moreover, it’s a struggle to bring down Survivors even with its Feral Frenzy ability activated.
Legion is also very slow and has a bad skillset that you really wouldn’t want to invest in especially if you have other Killers in your roster. However, if you have the patience for it, you can try to practice and play with him but there’s no guarantee that you’ll win the game.
The Pig (Amanda Young)
At a glance, the Pig is one of the most disturbing characters in the game. She represents the Saw franchise and is by far one of the most nightmare-inducing figures.
However, that doesn’t mean that she is a great Killer. Yes, her traps can give players quite the fright but despite that, there are a lot of flaws in her characters that just make her one of the worst to use. The Pig is primarily great in stealth but that’s just about it.
Her traps take a long time to set up and at that point, it becomes too much trouble to do. Her abilities also allow her to check for regressing generators, lower the cooldown time for destroyed hooks, and expose Survivors who rescued others from being hooked. They are great abilities but unfortunately, the Pig can’t do a lot apart from that.
The Clown (Jeffrey Hawk)
The Clown is one of the Dead by Daylight Killers that you can rely on when it comes to crowd control. But it stops at that.
He is incredibly useful when the Survivors are in one area. That said, they are only useful if the Survivors are bunched together, which only happens if they’re trying to save each other from being hooked. Otherwise, he doesn’t do much, and replenishing his abilities takes a huge amount of time.
He isn’t one that many players know how to use correctly and usually one that many don’t intend to use either because of the time that it takes to master his skills and abilities.
The Wraith (Philip Ojomo)
Much like the Pig, Wraith’s abilities are highly focused on stealth and masking himself to be able to track down Survivors without getting spotted. However, that is also where he falls short.
The Wraith can be easily spotted because of the blurred lines around him. If you’re a keen Survivor, you’ll be able to spot him and make your escape before he can unmask himself. He will not be able to make attacks until he unmasks himself, which gives you more time to run. Additionally, when he unmasks himself, he rings a bell, which automatically alerts the other Survivors nearby.
He’s not the character that you would want to use especially if you’re looking to finish the game quickly.
Dead by Daylight Killers: Tips and Tricks
When playing as the Killer, there are a couple of tips and tricks that you ought to know to make your gaming easier. Not only will these help you become a more efficient Killer but they’ll also give you a chance to get to know each character better and help you find the Killer that’s best suited for your playing style.
Here are some tips that you might want to take note of the next time that you play as a Killer.
Study the Perks
Perks are like power-ups that you can use with the Killer’s existing power. With these, you’ll be able to deal with devastating damage and offer a lot of sacrifices in a short period.
It’s best to take note of each character’s perks earlier on in the game. Some of them can make your life easier but some of them might take a while to get used to. The perks can also help make up for a Killer’s downside. Take time to study each Killer’s perk and try to incorporate them into your playstyle.
Use Different Killers
While many players may have their go-to Killers, it’s best to switch between Killers for more variety. You’ll also be able to unlock more teachable perks if you play as different Dead by Daylight Killers.
If you stick to only one Killer, odds are, you’ll only have a limited number of perks available and they might not be as useful as you think in the higher ranks. It’s best to level up different Killers and level them up to unlock more perks. You’ll also be able to explore more possibilities with different Killers so you can vary your gaming style.
Get to Know the Maps
Dead by Daylight has multiple maps that you can play in. Each of them is different so knowing your environment is very important as a Killer. You don’t have to memorize the entire map per se, but it’s best to have an idea of the map’s basic outline.
By knowing the basic outline, you’ll have an idea of where a Survivor is most likely to hide and you’ll be able to track them down easier. Additionally, you’ll also have an idea of where the Survivors might trap the Killer so you can plan your route while avoiding unnecessary missteps.
Leave the Survivors on the Hooks
A big mistake that many Killers make in the game is waiting for a Survivor to die on a hook. If you’re planning on winning the game, this isn’t something that you should be doing.
By staying in one place, the Killer is allowing the other Survivors to carry on with their repairs without interruptions. Don’t camp around the hooks and instead, try to scout the nearby area as there might be Survivors around who will try to save their comrade. In that case, that’s the best time to kill two birds with one stone.
Play as a Survivor
One of the best ways to get into the mind of an enemy is to become one of them. If you want to be a formidable Killer, the best way to get into the minds of the Survivors is to play as one yourself.
Granted that it might not be as thrilling as being the Killer, playing as a Survivor will allow you to see the tactics that most teams use to survive. By doing this, you’ll be able to see past them the next time that you become the Killer. It’s easily a win-win situation because you’ll have experience in playing as the hunter and the hunted.
Getting to know both sides is essential in being an effective player so it’s best to play as both the Killer and the Survivor for more variety.
Takeaway
Dead by Daylight Killers are a force to be reckoned with. Not only do they possess strong raw power but they are also equipped with skills and abilities that will make them unstoppable. If you intend to play as a Killer, the best thing to do is to take a look at the skillsets and perks of each Killer before deciding on which one to use or stick with. Ultimately, you’ll want to still explore the game’s roster of Killers to get more perks.
