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Dead By Daylight: The 15 Best Killers For Beginners (& How To Play Them)

Author:Kristen Update:Feb 27,2025

Conquer Dead by Daylight: A Killer Guide for Beginners

Dead by Daylight, boasting a roster of 26 killers and a consistently thriving player base, can feel overwhelming for newcomers. This guide focuses on killers easier to master, paving the way for exploring the game's more complex characters.

Key Killers for Beginners:

This list prioritizes intuitive powers and straightforward gameplay mechanics, perfect for learning the ropes.

1. The Wraith: One of the original killers, The Wraith's cloaking ability (activated via his Wailing Bell) provides a forgiving learning curve. He's undetectable while cloaked, offering surprise attacks after a brief uncloaking burst of speed. This simple yet effective power makes him ideal for beginners.

The Wraith

2. The Shape (Michael Myers): This iconic slasher offers a unique power based on stalking. Building a meter through stalking allows for powerful one-hit downs at Tier 3. While mastering his stalking strategy takes time, the core mechanic is straightforward.

The Shape

3. The Hillbilly: Inspired by Leatherface, the Hillbilly utilizes a chainsaw rush for instant downs. While controlling the chainsaw's trajectory requires practice, the core concept is simple: charge and sprint. This killer teaches aggressive map traversal and strategic chainsaw use.

The Hillbilly

4. The Pig (Amanda Young): This stealth-focused killer utilizes reverse bear traps, requiring survivors to find keys within a time limit. While the trap placement adds a strategic layer, the core gameplay of ambushing and deploying traps is relatively easy to grasp.

The Pig

5. The Doctor: The Doctor's Madness effect, induced through Static Blast and Shock Therapy, is powerful but requires understanding its three tiers and effects. While challenging to master, the fundamental concept of inducing madness is relatively simple for beginners to learn.

The Doctor

6. Legion: Legion's Feral Frenzy offers high mobility and chain attacks, but they can't down survivors while in this state. The straightforward power of increased speed and injuring survivors makes them a good choice for those learning the game's pace.

Legion

7. The Huntress: The Huntress's hatchet-throwing ability is intuitive, though accuracy takes practice. The simplicity of throwing hatchets and her strong lunge attack make her a good starting point, even if mastering her requires significant skill.

The Huntress

8. The Trickster: While initially considered weak, post-buff Trickster's Showstopper ability (throwing blades) is relatively simple to understand. Accuracy is key, but the basic mechanic is easy to grasp, making him a viable option for beginners.

The Trickster

9. The Deathslinger: This ranged killer uses a harpoon gun, requiring aim. While controller users might find the aiming challenging due to the game's lack of detailed sensitivity options, the core mechanic is easy to understand.

The Deathslinger

10. The Cannibal (Leatherface): Leatherface's chainsaw rush is powerful but requires timing and strategic use. While his power is simple, mastering his tantrum mechanic adds a layer of complexity.

The Cannibal

11. The Nightmare (Freddy Krueger): Freddy's Dream Demon power allows for stealth and control over the game's pace. His ability to block exits and become stronger as generators are repaired makes him a solid choice for beginners.

The Nightmare

12. The Trapper: The Trapper's bear traps are straightforward to use, making him a great introduction to area denial and strategic trap placement.

The Trapper

More Challenging Killers (For Later):

Once comfortable with the above, consider these more complex killers:

  • The Demogorgon: Portals add a layer of strategic movement.
  • The Clown: Gas clouds and chases require map knowledge and strategic tonic use.
  • Albert Wesker: His Virulent Bond and control over distance demand map awareness and precise timing.

This guide provides a starting point. Experiment, learn from your mistakes, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt!