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

Mastering Dead by Daylight: A Killer Guide for Beginners

Dead by Daylight, with its impressive roster of 26 killers, offers a thrilling and consistently popular asymmetrical horror experience. While the game provides a basic tutorial, mastering each killer's unique strategies and perks requires practice. This guide focuses on helping newcomers navigate the initial challenges and choose killers suitable for learning the game's mechanics.

Top Killers for Beginners:

This list prioritizes killers with straightforward abilities and forgiving playstyles, ideal for building fundamental skills before tackling more complex characters.

The Wraith: The Wraith's cloaking ability (activated via his Wailing Bell) provides a significant advantage, allowing for surprise attacks and strategic repositioning. Uncloaking grants a speed boost, making for quick downs. His simplicity makes him perfect for learning basic chase and terror radius management.
The Shape (Michael Myers): Michael Myers' power revolves around stalking survivors to build his Terror Radius, culminating in a powerful one-hit down state. While mastering his stalking strategy takes time, the core mechanic is easy to grasp, making him a good choice for learning map awareness and survivor prediction.
The Hillbilly: The Hillbilly's chainsaw rush offers a high-risk, high-reward approach. While mastering the chainsaw's control takes practice (especially with controllers), the basic concept is simple: charge and sprint. This killer helps develop map awareness and chase mechanics.
The Pig (Amanda Young): The Pig's stealth capabilities (crouching for Undetectable status) and the strategic placement of reverse bear traps offer a unique gameplay experience. While managing the traps adds a layer of complexity, the core mechanics are relatively easy to learn.
The Doctor: The Doctor's Madness effect, induced through Static Blast and Shock Therapy, is deceptively powerful. While understanding the different Madness tiers and their effects is crucial, the basic application of his powers is straightforward, making him a great choice for learning pressure and mind games.
Legion: Legion's Feral Frenzy allows for quick bursts of speed and chained attacks. While they can't down survivors while in Frenzy, the ability to quickly close distances and injure multiple survivors is valuable for learning map traversal and efficient patrolling.
The Huntress: The Huntress's hatchet throws require precision, but the core mechanic is simple: aim and throw. This killer helps develop aiming skills and map knowledge. Hatchet management (replenishing from lockers) adds a strategic layer.
The Trickster: The Trickster's Showstopper ability involves throwing blades to build up a laceration meter, eventually injuring or downing survivors. While aiming is crucial, the basic concept is easy to understand.
The Deathslinger: The Deathslinger's ranged harpoon attack requires aiming, similar to the Huntress. Mastering the harpoon's pull mechanic adds a layer of complexity, but the fundamental gameplay is relatively straightforward.
The Cannibal (Leatherface): Leatherface's chainsaw sprint is powerful but requires careful management of its charges and the "tantrum" meter. While challenging to master, the basic use of the chainsaw is easy to learn.
The Trapper: The Trapper's bear traps are straightforward to use, focusing on area denial and strategic trap placement. This killer is ideal for learning map control and survivor prediction.
The Nightmare (Freddy Krueger): Freddy's Dream Demon power allows for stealthy approaches and surprise attacks. His ability to increase the time it takes to open exit gates adds a strategic element.

More Advanced Killers:

Once comfortable with the basics, consider exploring killers like The Demogorgon, The Clown, and Albert Wesker, each presenting unique challenges and rewarding mastery. These killers require a deeper understanding of map knowledge, survivor behavior, and advanced tactical maneuvers.

The Demogorgon: Utilizing portals for quick traversal and surprise attacks.
The Clown: Mastering the use of his Afterpiece Tonics for effective zoning and chases.
Albert Wesker: Controlling distance and utilizing his Virulent Bond for powerful attacks.

Remember, consistent practice and understanding each killer's strengths and weaknesses are key to mastering Dead by Daylight. Start with the easier options, gradually increasing the difficulty as your skills improve. Good luck, and happy hunting!