To effectively loop as a survivor in Dead by Daylight, focus on using map geometry, pallets, and windows to create obstacles and maintain distance from the killer, forcing them to spend valuable time in chase while your teammates complete objectives. The goal is to run in circular or semi-circular patterns around structures, strategically dropping pallets and fast vaulting windows to extend the chase.
What is Looping and Kiting?
Looping and kiting are fundamental survivor techniques designed to extend chases and waste the killer’s time. Looping specifically involves running around a central object or structure on the map, such as a large rock, a generator, or a building, in a circular or semi-circular pattern. This forces the killer to follow, allowing survivors to use pallets and windows to maintain distance and create barriers. Kiting is the broader concept of leading the killer on a chase, drawing them away from objectives or teammates, with looping being a specific method within kiting. By skillfully executing these techniques, survivors can evade the killer, buying crucial time for teammates to repair generators and escape.
Key Elements and Types of Loops
Effective looping relies on understanding and utilizing several core elements of the game environment and survivor mechanics. Pallets are primary tools for creating distance, and knowing when to drop them is crucial; dropping too early wastes their potential, while holding too long risks being caught. Windows offer another way to gain distance, particularly through fast vaults, which can be chained with other vaults or loops. Map geometry, including corners, obstacles, and structures, should be used to break line of sight and force killers into longer routes. Maintaining momentum is also vital, as speed enables faster vaults and quicker transitions between loops.
There are several distinct types of loops that survivors can utilize:
| Loop Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Single Pallet Loop | Uses a single pallet to create distance, then moves to another loop or escapes. |
| Window Loop | Utilizes repeated window vaults or a combination with other map elements. |
| Tile Loops | Areas with multiple pallets and windows, offering complex and extended chase opportunities, e. Jungle Gyms or God Pallets. |
| The ‘3-Gen’ Loop | In the late game, survivors kite killers around the last three close-together generators to defend them. |
The ‘Jungle Gym’ is a common structure featuring multiple windows and pallets, providing robust looping potential. ‘God Pallets’ are particularly strong pallets that are very difficult for killers to safely break.
Effective Kiting Strategies
Kiting the killer is a broader strategy that encompasses looping and aims to maximize the time the killer spends chasing you, thereby minimizing their impact on your team’s progress. Effective kiting is about more than just running; it involves strategic resource management, predictive thinking, and environmental awareness.
To kite effectively:
- Conserve Resources: Avoid dropping every pallet you encounter. Save pallets for situations where the killer is very close or when you need to create a significant gap. Wasting pallets early can leave you vulnerable later in the chase or match.
- Predict Killer Movement: Try to anticipate the killer’s actions. Stealth killers might attempt to cut you off by predicting your path, while chase-focused killers will typically follow your exact movements. Adjust your path based on their likely next move.
- Use Your Environment: Do not simply run in a straight line. Utilize obstacles, corners, and structures to break the killer’s line of sight. This forces the killer to adjust their path, often taking longer routes, which buys you more time.
- Communicate with Teammates: While you are in a chase, your teammates should ideally be working on generators. A prolonged chase is a direct benefit to them, allowing them valuable time to complete objectives.
- Know When to Disengage: Not every chase can or should be won. If you find yourself in a poor position with limited resources, or if the killer has a strong advantage (e.g., specific perks or abilities that counter looping), sometimes the best strategy is to break line of sight and attempt to lose the killer to disengage from the chase.
Perks for Looping and Kiting
Several perks can significantly enhance a survivor’s ability to loop and kite, providing speed boosts, stealth, or resource awareness. These perks can help both new and experienced players extend chases and evade killers more effectively.
| Perk Name | Survivor | Effect