Understanding Killer Perks
In Dead by Daylight, playing as a Killer offers a diverse experience with various characters and unique abilities. A crucial aspect of customizing your Killer is selecting perks, which are special abilities that enhance gameplay. Killers can equip a variety of General Perks by default. Additionally, many Killers possess three unique Teachable Perks, also known as Shareable Perks, which can be unlocked and used by any Killer. To make a Killer’s Teachable Perks available to others, you must reach level 50 on that Killer’s Bloodweb and then Prestige them. The right combination of perks can significantly impact your performance in the Realms, allowing you to effectively hunt down Survivors and secure sacrifices.
Top-Tier Killer Perks
Certain Killer perks stand out due to their potent effects and versatility across different Killer builds. These perks can create significant challenges for even the most experienced Survivors.
Save The Best For Last (The Shape): This perk introduces the Obsession mechanic, marking one random Survivor as your Obsession. When you hit any Survivor who is not your Obsession with a basic attack, you gain 1 Token, up to a maximum of 8 Tokens. Each Token provides a 5% cooldown reduction for basic attacks, potentially reaching a 40% reduction. However, hitting your Obsession with a basic attack causes you to lose 2 to 4 Tokens, depending on the perk’s tier. Once the Obsession is sacrificed or killed, no more Tokens can be gained or lost. This perk is highly effective for reducing cooldowns after basic attacks, helping you maintain pressure on fleeing Survivors.
Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Upon starting the Trial, four random hooks transform into Scourge Hooks, whose auras are visible to you in white. The perk begins with 4 Tokens. When you hook a Survivor on a Scourge Hook for the first time, one Token is consumed, and the Generator with the highest progression explodes. This explosion causes the Generator to instantly lose 15% to 25% of its maximum possible progression, after which normal regression continues. Survivors working on the affected Generator will scream, but their location will not be revealed. This perk is excellent for any Killer, especially those who can quickly down and hook Survivors, as it can be activated up to four times by hooking different Survivors.
Lethal Pursuer (Nemesis): This perk allows you to see the auras of all Survivors for a duration at the start of the trial. It is considered a strong perk, enhancing your ability to locate and initiate chases early in the game.
No Way Out (The Trickster): When you hook a Survivor, you gain a Token. Once the exit gates are powered, if you have at least one Token, the exit gate switches will be blocked for a duration based on the number of Tokens you have. This perk can delay Survivor escape attempts, buying you crucial time. It is rated as a “God Tier” perk.
Corrupt Intervention (The Plague): At the beginning of the Trial, the three Generators farthest from your starting position are blocked for 80 to 120 seconds. This forces Survivors to approach Generators closer to your location. If a Survivor is put into the Dying State before the block timer expires, the perk deactivates early. This perk is considered very powerful for controlling early game Generator progression. It is rated as a “God Tier” perk.
General Killer Perks for Any Build
Some perks are universally beneficial and can be integrated into almost any Killer’s loadout, regardless of their specific abilities.
Sloppy Butcher (General Perk): This perk is available to all Killers by default. When you hit a Survivor with a basic attack, they are afflicted with the Haemorrhage and Mangled status effects. It also increases the bleeding rate of injured Survivors by 15% to 100% and accelerates the regression rate of partial healing progression due to Haemorrhage by 15% to 25%. Both status effects are removed once the Survivor is fully healed. Sloppy Butcher causes Survivors to leave more blood trails, heal more slowly, and lose healing progress if they don’t fully heal, making it effective for Killers who benefit from keeping Survivors injured. It is rated as a “Very Strong” perk.
Jolt (General Perk): Another General Perk, Jolt, affects Generators. When you put a Survivor into the Dying State with a basic attack, all Generators within a 32-meter radius instantly explode, losing 6% to 8% of their maximum possible progression. Normal Generator regression then resumes. This perk only triggers with basic attacks, making it less ideal for Killers who rely heavily on special attacks. However, Jolt has no cooldown, allowing for multiple Generator explosions if you frequently down Survivors. It can also affect Generators on different floors within the 32-meter radius.
Killer Perks for Generator Control
Controlling Generator progression is a key strategy for Killers. Several perks are designed specifically to slow down Survivors’ objectives and buy you more time.
Deadlock (Cenobite): Deadlock is a straightforward yet highly effective perk. Whenever Survivors complete a Generator, the Generator with the highest progression is blocked for 20 to 30 seconds. The aura of the blocked Generator is highlighted in white. While Deadlock is active, neither Survivors nor Killers can interact with the affected Generator. This perk provides valuable time and strategic opportunities to pressure Survivors.
Pop Goes the Weasel (The Clown): After hooking a Survivor, Pop Goes the Weasel becomes active for 35 to 45 seconds. During this time, performing the Damage Generator action on a Generator will instantly regress it by 20% of its current progression. The perk then deactivates after damaging a Generator or when its timer runs out. This perk is rated as “Very Strong” and is excellent for punishing Survivors who are making progress on Generators.
Discordance (The Legion): This perk highlights the auras of Generators when two or more Survivors are working on them simultaneously. This allows you to quickly identify areas where Survivors are grouping up, enabling you to disrupt their progress efficiently. It is rated as a “Very Strong” perk.
FAQ
What are Teachable Perks? Teachable Perks are unique perks belonging to specific Killers that, once unlocked, can be used by any other Killer.
How do I unlock Teachable Perks? To unlock a Killer’s Teachable Perks, you must level up that Killer to level 50 on their Bloodweb and then Prestige them.
Are General Perks available to all Killers? Yes, General Perks are available to all Killers by default and do not require unlocking through specific Killer progression.
Which perk helps reduce basic attack cooldowns? Save The Best For Last, a perk belonging to The Shape, helps reduce basic attack cooldowns by gaining Tokens when hitting Survivors who are not your Obsession.
Which perks target Generator progression? Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance, Jolt, Deadlock, Pop Goes the Weasel, Corrupt Intervention, and Discordance are all perks that directly affect Generator progression, either by regressing them, blocking them, or revealing Survivor activity on them.