"Top 15 Beginner-Friendly Killers in Dead By Daylight: Play Guide"

Summary

• Dead by Daylight features 26 killers and maintains a strong player base, averaging thousands of monthly players.
• Key killers like The Demogorgon, The Clown, and Albert Wesker offer unique strategies and perks, enhancing gameplay variety.
• Beginners are recommended to start with easier-to-learn killers such as The Trapper, The Nightmare, and The Wraith before exploring more complex options.

When Dead by Daylight was released in 2016, it started with just three killers and four survivors, designed as a thrilling game of hide-and-seek where survivors had to outsmart the killer to escape. Few could have predicted its meteoric rise, transforming it into what some enthusiasts call the "Super Smash Bros. of horror."

With 26 killers and an average of 62 thousand players as of July 2021, Dead by Daylight continues to thrive. The game offers a solid tutorial that covers the basics, but mastering the intricacies of each killer can be challenging. Without friends to practice with, testing new killers is tough since there are no bot matches available. Choosing from 24 characters can be daunting, but some are more beginner-friendly.

Updated on January 15, 2025, by Rhenn Taguiam: As Dead by Daylight gears up for the release of a new Licensed Killer in March 2025 and an Original Survivor in April 2025, fans are buzzing with speculation about these new additions. Meanwhile, newcomers have ample time to experiment with various killers. Must-try characters include the iconic villain from D&D and Stranger Things, a crazed clown, and Resident Evil's sunglasses-wearing mastermind.

15 The Beast - The Demogorgon

Cover Distance With Portals

The Demogorgon, an interdimensional being from the sci-fi horror series Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons, entered Dead by Daylight in Chapter 13: Stranger Things. With its menacing appearance and ability to vanish and reappear, the Demogorgon can outsmart survivors who think they can escape by running.

How To Play The Demogorgon

The Demogorgon excels in surprise attacks, utilizing Portals to cover large distances. Its Of the Abyss Power allows it to sense survivors near its Portals, enabling a swift leap attack. Players can set up to six Portals across the map to facilitate chases, though survivors can seal visible Portals.

The Demogorgon's unique perks enhance its Portal interactions, such as blocking vault locations upon generator repair (Cruel Limits), inflicting Blindness and Exhausted on survivors repairing generators (Mindbreaker), and causing generator regression when a basic attack sends a survivor into the Dying State (Surge). Players should strategically place Portals near generators and use feints to keep survivors off balance.

14 The Clown - Kenneth Chase, Jeffrey Hawk

A Killer Clown With An Infectious Laugh

Before becoming the Clown, Kenneth Chase was a solitary child fascinated by life. As an adult, known as Jeffrey, he used his circus connections to collect human "keepsakes." After his dark deeds were discovered, he fled until the Fog claimed him. The Clown uses noxious gas to hinder survivors during pursuits.

How To Play The Clown

The Clown's Afterpiece Tonic releases clouds of gas that impair survivors' vision and movement, ideal for chases. His perks enhance his pursuit capabilities, such as blocking windows after vaulting (Bamboozle), reducing healing speed and increasing skill check rotations within his terror radius (Coulrophobia), and causing generator regression after hooking a survivor (Pop Goes The Weasel).

Survivors often pre-drop or pre-run to evade the Clown, requiring players to develop strong game sense and map knowledge. Clown mains should identify when to engage in chases and use generator regression strategically. Proper management of Tonics, using Purple Gas Clouds for zoning and Yellow Antidote Bottles for pre-chase preparation, is crucial.

13 The Mastermind - Albert Wesker

Never Get Caught In His Attacks

Introduced in Chapter 25: Resident Evil: PROJECT W, Albert Wesker, known as the Mastermind, brings his superior genetics and mutated biology to Dead by Daylight. Skipping his confrontation with Chris Redfield, Wesker enters the Fog to eliminate weaklings using the Uroboros Virus.

How To Play

Albert Wesker's Virulent Bond allows him to charge a Bound Attack, enabling a lunge that auto-vaults over pallets and windows or interacts with survivors, infecting them with the Uroboros Virus, which eventually leads to a Hindered Status Effect. His perks reflect his advanced genetics, such as detecting nearby survivor auras while carrying one (Awakened Awareness), boosting vaulting speed after a nearby survivor's rushed vault (Superior Anatomy), and inflicting Broken on injured, dying, or hooked survivors until an exit gate is opened (Terminus).

Wesker mains should capitalize on his power's range and impact, finishing chases when advantageous. Alternating to knife attacks is best against survivors adept at evading his more aggressive moves. Mastery of Wesker's control over distance requires strong map knowledge and control, making him a formidable killer when played effectively.

12 The Trapper — Evan MacMillan

The Trapper, one of the original killers since Dead by Daylight's 2016 launch, remains a solid choice for beginners. His straightforward skillset, pursuit capabilities, and reliance on bear traps make him an excellent starting point for new players.

How To Play The Trapper

Despite his name, The Trapper's kit is simple. Evan uses bear traps to immobilize survivors, gaining a movement speed bonus via Agitation when carrying them. As an Area Denial Killer, he sets traps to lead survivors away from objectives and into his traps. While trap placement requires learning, their ease of use makes them ideal for beginners. The Trapper can also break through pallets and walls more easily and cause increased generator damage, making him a formidable presence.

11 The Nightmare — Freddy Krueger

Dead by Daylight excels at integrating iconic horror figures, with Freddy Krueger being a prime example. Introduced in 2017 as a DLC character, Freddy's dream-stalking persona and auto-stealth ability make him an accessible killer for beginners.

How To Play The Nightmare

Freddy's Dream Demon power allows him to remain visually invisible to survivors at a distance, becoming intermittently visible as he closes in and fully visible within 16 meters. This stealth advantage helps beginners surprise new survivors. Freddy's Fire Up perk increases his action speed as generators are fixed, and he can become obsessed with a single survivor, delaying exit gate openings with each basic attack. He can even temporarily shut exits after hooking a survivor, making him a great choice for those learning the killer role.

10 The Cannibal — Leatherface

The Cannibal, available through the "Leatherface" DLC, is one of the easier killers to learn. His Barbeque & Chili perk is highly versatile across the killer roster. While effective against new survivors, he struggles against more experienced players.

How To Play Leatherface

Leatherface uses his chainsaw for a sweeping dash attack, starting with three charges per match. A 2-second chainsaw sprint significantly boosts his movement speed, instantly downing survivors hit by the attack. However, using his ability builds a "tantrum" meter, which, when full, causes him to stop and swing wildly, downing nearby survivors but halting his movement. Balancing his power with tantrums is crucial, especially against survivors skilled at looping.

9 The Deathslinger

Released with the 2020 Chains of Hate DLC, The Deathslinger offers a unique ranged ability reminiscent of FPS games. New players who enjoy FPS games should try him, though his effectiveness depends on good aim.

How To Play Deathslinger

While Deathslinger's perks aren't meta, they are suitable for new player lobbies. His harpoon gun requires a single shot before reloading, making misses costly. Successful hits allow him to reel in survivors, leaving them injured and suffering from Deep Wounds, which can down them if not mended in time. Controller users may find his aiming challenging due to limited sensitivity options in Dead by Daylight.

8 The Trickster

Initially considered one of the weakest killers, The Trickster received a significant buff on July 27, 2021, enhancing his viability. His Showstopper ability allows him to throw multiple blades, building up survivors' laceration meter and causing damage upon reaching six hits.

How To Play The Trickster

Activating Showstopper lets The Trickster throw blades one at a time or continuously, slowing him down. Building up his Main Event special allows for rapid, unlimited blade throws, downing nearby survivors. However, he must restock blades from lockers. Like the Deathslinger and Huntress, his effectiveness relies on good aim, which can be challenging with a controller due to basic sensitivity options.

7 The Huntress

The Huntress, available to all players, is identifiable by her haunting hum. While challenging to master, her power is simple and easy to learn, making her suitable for beginners.

How To Play The Huntress

The Huntress primes a throwing hatchet by holding down the power button, releasing to launch it forward. Without a crosshair or aiming sights, hitting survivors can be challenging, especially on cluttered maps. Her intuitive power and decent lunging attack make her a good choice for new players, though hatchets must be restocked at lockers.

6 Legion

Legion is one of the most mobile killers, with unmatched speed on foot. Their power is easy to learn but can be frustrating at higher levels.

How To Play Legion

Legion's Feral Frenzy allows them to sprint and chain attacks, losing sight of survivor tracks but gaining the ability to slide over pallets and vault windows. Survivors hit during Feral Frenzy become injured and afflicted with Deep Wounds, with others in the terror radius temporarily marked. However, Legion cannot down survivors during Feral Frenzy, requiring players to finish them off without the power, making Legion easy to learn but weaker overall.

5 The Doctor

The Doctor is considered one of the toughest killers for survivors, especially in new lobbies. His ability is powerful when used correctly, though understanding its effects can be complex.

How To Play The Doctor

The Doctor induces Madness in survivors using Static Blast within his terror radius, causing them to scream and reveal their positions, and Shock Therapy, which affects a smaller area in front of him. Madness has three tiers, with increasing negative effects like backward skill checks, hallucinated pallets, and fake terror radius notifications, making it a constant passive debuff.

4 The Pig — Amanda Young

Amanda Young, known as The Pig from the SAW franchise, is a stealthy killer. Her ability to crouch grants the Undetectable effect, removing her terror radius and red killer light, allowing for surprise attacks.

How To Play The Pig

From a crouched state, The Pig can activate the Ambush Dash to sprint and attack survivors, either injuring or downing them. After downing a survivor, she can place a reverse bear trap on their head, which activates after a generator is completed and kills the survivor after 150 seconds unless they find the right key in a Jigsaw box. While more complex, her ability and traps are easy to understand.

3 The Hillbilly

The Hillbilly, inspired by Leatherface, offers a different take on the chainsaw rush. His power is easy to learn but challenging to control, especially for controller players.

How To Play The Hillbilly

The Hillbilly's chainsaw rush propels him forward at twice his regular speed in a straight line, instantly downing survivors and destroying pallets and breakable doors. While user-friendly, he can be easily dodged or baited into obstacles. Mastering his chainsaw rush requires skill in turning and maneuvering, making him less beginner-friendly for controller users due to limited sensitivity options.

2 The Shape — Michael Myers

Michael Myers, the first licensed killer in Dead by Daylight, is a recognizable slasher icon. His power is simple to learn, making him suitable for new players, though he is considered a late-game killer.

How To Play The Shape

Myers builds his power meter by stalking survivors, moving slower while doing so. Stalking highlights survivors, with white-highlighted ones building the meter faster than red-highlighted ones. At tier three, Myers can down survivors in one hit until his meter reverts to tier two. The skill lies in knowing when to activate tier three and how to move effectively.

1 The Wraith

The Wraith, one of the original killers, is highly forgiving, especially against new survivors. He is the best option for new players learning the game.

How To Play The Wraith

The Wraith can cloak himself using his Wailing Bell, gaining the Undetectable status and becoming nearly invisible. He must uncloak to attack, receiving a speed boost upon doing so, which can help him catch survivors off guard. His power is easy to learn, making him a fun and accessible killer for beginners.