Dead by Daylight Top 10 Best Builds for Survivors

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If you’ve been wondering what the best Survivor Perks in DbD are now, then we present the top 10 best builds for Survivors in Dead by Daylight! Patch 7.7.0 updates included.

As we already know from the Guide for Beginners: The Survivors’ goal is to repair five Generators (out of seven available on the map), open the Exit Gates, and escape. To achieve this, Survivors must carefully consider the Perks they select to avoid becoming vulnerable targets for the Killers. There are currently 137 Perks for Survivors in DbD. In order not to get confused by all this diversity, let’s first look at the general info and types of Perks in DbD.

General Info about DbD Perks

A Character can be equipped with up to four Perks at once. Perk Slots open as you level up your character. All characters start with just one opened Perk Slot and will unlock Perk Slots two, three, and four by progressing characters to Levels 5, 10, and 15.

Perks, like other Unlockables (Items, Addons, Offerings), appear randomly on the Bloodweb. They can be purchased for Bloodpoints, at the same price as other Unlockables of the corresponding rarity. However, each character initially has all three of their Unique Perks of Tier I.

Each Perk has three versions that are called Perk Tiers. They usually differ in buff/debuff percentages or other numerical values. So, the higher a Perk’s Tier, the stronger its effect. In Perk descriptions, variable values for different Tiers are written with a slash.

The current Tier of a Perk is indicated by notches (Pips)  in the upper right corner of its icon, and by a Perk’s rarity, which can be easily identified by icon color:

Types of DbD Perks

There are two big types: General Perks and Unique Perks.

(Source: Dead by Daylight)

General Perks are default Perks. There are currently 27 General Perks, 14 of which are Survivor Perks. General Perks appear randomly in the Bloodweb of all characters and are available to all characters from the very beginning.

In addition to General Perks, each character has three Unique Perks that initially spawn in their own Bloodweb only and not in other characters’, until you level that character’s first Prestige (50 Bloodweb levels).

Furthermore, Perks differ in their characteristics. There are six types: Boon Perks, Hex Perks, Obsession Perks, Scourge Hook Perks, Teamwork Perks, and new Invocation Perks. Three of them are Survivor only, two are Killer only, and one of them is common.

Types of Perks for Survivors

Boon Perks

Boon Perks are conceptually the opposite of Killers’ Hex Perks. But their mechanics are different. There are currently five Boon Perks in Dead by Daylight: Circle of Healing (Mikaela), Shadow Step (Mikaela), Dark Theory (Yoichi), Exponential (Jonah), and Illumination (Alan).

(Source: Dead by Daylight)

How Boon Perks work:

Teamwork Perks

There are currently only two Teamwork Perks in DbD. Both of them belong to Lyra’s siblings: Collective Stealth (Renato) and Power of Two (Thalita).

Teamwork Perks allow Survivors to grant buffs to both themselves and another nearby Survivor after a completed Healing action. Buff works only as long as two Survivors stay within 12 meters of each other.

Invocation Perks

This is a new type of Perk for Survivors that was only added in March 2024 with the release of Sable Ward. Currently, there is only one Perk of this type in the game: Weaving Spiders.

The feature of the Invocation Perks is that the Survivors can perform the Ritual at the salt circle in the Basement. The Ritual takes two minutes if performed by one Survivor. During an Invocation, the Aura of this Survivor is revealed to all other Survivors and they can join in. This will speed up the Ritual by 100% if they have an Invocation Perk equipped too, or by 50% if they haven’t.

At the moment it’s known that the variable in Invocation Perks will only be the final buff. So, in this case it’s +10 Charges to all Generators. There may be other buffs in the future.

Once the Ritual is complete, all equipped Invocation Perks of all Survivors will become disabled until the end of the Trial. The Survivor who initiated the start of the Ritual will receive a debuff until the end of the Trial as a “payment” for the Perk buff.

The Ritual can be interrupted by the Killer or their Perks at any time, then it will have to start over.

Status Effects

Before we get into the builds themselves, let’s look at some of the Status Effects that can be obtained from Perks. All of them are divided into two large groups: buffs (yellow icon) and debuffs (red icon).

In addition, some Status Effects have Tiers, which are indicated by up and down chevrons (arrows). Some Status Effects may be limited in time. In this case, their timer will be shown along the outline of the effect icon.

Let’s look at a few of the most popular ones:

Broken (debuff)

Deep Wound (debuff)

Endurance (buff)

Exhausted (debuff)

Haste (buff)

Introduction to Best Survivor Builds

So, let’s make one simple rule clear: you shouldn’t take too many Perks with a similar effect. It’s unlikely that this will greatly boost your build, but it can really lower your chances of survival.

You should always remember that Survivors are the vulnerable role. It’s the Killer who sets the playstyle, and the Survivors are forced to adapt to it and resist it.

Survivors never know in advance how the Trial will turn out, so ideally, they should be prepared for anything. This is why we believe that the best DbD builds for Survivors are universal.

Each build can contain two or three Perks with similar effects to choose from.

A Small Dictionary of Terms

A short explanation of specific game terms of Dead by Daylight.

Conspicuous Actions

This is a game mechanic for Survivors that prevents specific Perks or Effects from activating under certain conditions. For example, such actions can disable a Perk or remove the Endurance Status Effect.

Conspicuous Actions include:

Obsession

This is a game mechanic that appoints a random Survivor as the Killer’s Obsession.

Top 10 Best DbD Survivor Builds

Top 1: Universal Build for All Skill Levels

Suitable for both Solo players and Survive with Friends groups (SWF):

In the upcoming Patch 7.7.0, two of the most powerful Survivor Perks will both receive changes. So we compiled this top taking into account the upcoming nerfs and buffs.

Adrenaline has been the best Survivor Perk for many years, but it seems its time has come. In the upcoming April 23 Patch, Decisive Strike will likely make a decisive return to the top.

The versatility of this build is proven by the fact that each of the presented Perks is suitable for the progression of each of the Survivor Emblems. That is:

It turns out that each category of Perks helps you to complete Survivor goals and obtain Emblems.

Nevertheless, let’s take a closer look at this build.

Adrenaline (Meg Thomas)

One of the strongest Perks in the game. It can help you get up on your own if the Killer left you on the ground, heal and speed up you right during the chase, or finish the last Generator in the Injured State without wasting time on healing.

Once the Exit Gates are powered, Adrenaline activates:

Decisive Strike (Laurie Strode)

You can stun the Killer for five seconds within a minute of being unhooked if he continues to chase you.

After being unhooked or unhooking yourself, Decisive Strike (DS) activates for the next 40/50/60 seconds:

Both of these Perks can be a huge game changer and significantly increase your chances of survival.

Strength in Shadows (Sable Ward)

This Perk allows you to quickly heal in the Basement, as well as to see the Killer Aura after healing yourself or a teammate.

When you are in the Basement, Strength in Shadows activates:

Plot Twist (Nicolas Cage)

Actually, this Perk can have many uses. Of course, first of all, it allows you to stand up twice in one Trial and fully heal yourself, as well as speed up afterward. However, besides this, this Perk can help in some stealth mind games against Killer.

Whenever you are in the Injured State, Plot Twist activates:

Both of these Perks allow you to heal yourself relatively quickly without a Med-Kit and any help from teammates and also grant additional bonuses.

Lithe (Feng Min)

A good Exhaustion Perk suitable for both beginners and advanced players. Doesn’t require special activation conditions and can be used even outside of a chase.

Performing a Rushed Vault triggers Lithe:

Dead Hard (David King)

Once one of the best Perks in the game, now buried in nerfs. However, advanced players and players with good ping still enjoy its benefits very well.

When you are injured, and Dead Hard is active, tap into your adrenaline bank to avoid damage.

Both of these Perks will help you in the chase or force the Killer to leave you.

Déjà Vu (General)

Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability:

This Perk will help you find Generators on closed maps, identify the Triangle that needs to be repaired first, and also grant you faster repairs.

Top 2: Universal Solo Build for All Skill Levels

This build will help your teammates save you in time, and you will be aware of what is happening around you with the help of Perks for reading Auras.

Kindred (General)

If you are playing solo, this Perk will help provide you with the information you need about the locations of your teammates and Killer when someone (or you) is hooked.

Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability:

While you are hooked:

While any other Survivor is hooked:

Off the Record (Zarina Kassir)

One of the strongest Perks in DbD which grants you the longest Endurance.

After being unhooked or unhooking yourself, Off the Record activates for the next 60/70/80 seconds:

Windows of Opportunity (Kate Denson)

Extremely popular Perk, according to BHVR statistics. It will help newbies navigate the map and solo players know which Pallets have already been spent by teammates.

Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability.

Balanced Landing (Nea Karlsson)

It helps both to jump from a height unnoticed and slip past the Killer and to take the chase to the next level. Second level, apparently.

When falling from a height, you benefit from the following effects:

Top 3: Universal Solo Build for Beginners

This build, consisting of General and free characters Perks, will help a beginner to navigate during the Trial, as well as repair Generators faster.

Bond (Dwight Fairfield)

A good old Perk that helps you find teammates to get healed, repair a Generator together, or avoid bringing the Killer to them during a chase.

Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability:

Technician (Feng Min)

When repairing a Generator, the following effects apply:

Sprint Burst (Meg Thomas)

A good Perk to quickly gain distance with the Killer or catch him off guard at the beginning of the chase.

Starting to run triggers Sprint Burst:

Alert (Feng Min)

Whenever the Killer performs the Break or Damage action, Alert triggers:

Resilience (General)

This Perk is suitable for both beginners and advanced players. Can help with repairs and healing, as well as speed up your vaultings during a chase.

Increases your Action speeds in Repairing, Healing, Sabotaging, Unhooking, Vaulting, Cleansing, Blessing, Opening, and Unlocking by 3/6/9 % when in the Injured State.

Top 4: Anti-Tunnel Build

This build for advanced players will help you avoid the Killer’s constant pursuit and will definitely make them leave you.

Second Wind (Steve Harrington)

A specific Perk that requires some activation conditions, but is good for quickly healing yourself right during a chase or without looking up from repairing the Generator.

When you heal another Survivor for the equivalent of one Health State, Second Wind activates:

While Second Wind is active, the following conditions will deactivate it:

Top 5: Genrush/Repairer Build

This build will help you repair Generators at maximum speed, especially when combined with Commodious Toolbox with Brand New Part and Wire Spool Add-ons.

Stake Out (Detective David Tapp)

A great Perk that speeds up any action that has Skill Checks (repairing, healing, Jigsaw Boxes searching). It also counters Killer Perks, which reduce the Success Zone or speed up Skill Checks.

Hyperfocus (Rebecca Chambers)

Pairs well with Stake Out, but can be used without it if you’re focused enough. Hyper focused even.

After hitting a Great Skill Check while repairing or healing, Hyperfocus gains one Token, up to a maximum of 6 Tokens. For each Token, the following stack-able effects are applied:

Hyperfocus loses all Tokens when succeeding a Good Skill Check, failing a Skill Check, or if the action is interrupted by any means.

Prove Thyself (Dwight Fairfield)

A good old Perk that significantly speeds up the cooperative repair of Generators. Suitable for both teams (SWF) and solo players who like to stay close to their teammates.

Top 6: Rescuer/Healer Build

This build will help you quickly heal, pick up, and unhook your teammates and yourself.

Self-Care (Claudette Morel)

The most controversial Perk. Some love it with all their hearts, others hate it. This Perk allows you to slowly heal yourself without additional conditions. Good for beginners, or in combination with Perks that speed up healing.

Botany Knowledge (Claudette Morel)

A perfect complement to Self-Care, also allows you to quickly heal teammates.

We’ll Make It (General)

Deliverance (Adam Francis)

One of the powerful Perks that allows you to unhook yourself in the first phase. Without this Perk or Luck Perks/Offerings, the chance of self-unhooking is only 4% for each attempt out of three possible.

After performing a Safe Hook Rescue on another Survivor, Deliverance activates:

Desperate Measures (Felix Richter)

Empathic Connection (Yoichi Asakawa)

Top 7: Bodyguard/Tank Build

This build will help you instantly pick up teammates from the ground and get protection hits for them, and then recover on your own.

Unbreakable (Bill Overbeck)

An excellent Perk that allows you to quickly recover on the ground, and also pick yourself up off the ground once per Trial.

Mettle of Man (Ash Williams)

A fun Perk for team players who like to have each other’s backs. High risk, high reward.

After triggering your third Protection Hit, Mettle of Man activates:

For the People (Zarina Kassir)

This Perk allows you to instantly heal one state of your teammate’s health in exchange for your own state.

While healthy and healing another Survivor without using a Med-Kit, press the Active Ability button to activate For the People:

Buckle Up (Ash Williams)

Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability.

When healing a Survivor in the Dying State, Buckle Up activates:

Top 8: Invisibility Build

This build will help you remain unnoticed and quickly elude the Killer during the chase.

Distortion (Jeff Johansen)

A great Perk for beginners, as well as those who like calmer gameplay with a minimum of chases. Counters all Killer Perks and Add-ons for reading Auras.

Start the Trial with three Tokens.

Whenever the Killer attempts to read your Aura, Distortion activates, consuming one Token, and the following effects apply:

Urban Evasion (Nea Karlsson)

Iron Will (Jake Park)

Lucky Break (Yui Kimura)

Whenever you are in the Injured State, Lucky Break activates:

Fixated (Nancy Wheeler)

This Perk works well in combination with Sprint Burst, allowing you to move around the map faster on foot. But it can also be useful in chases.

Smash Hit (Yun-Jin Lee)

Stunning the Killer with a Pallet triggers Smash Hit:

Top 9: Anti-Slug Build

This build will prevent Killer from leaving you on the ground, and if they do they will regret it.

Tenacity (Detective David Tapp)

Power Struggle (Élodie Rakoto)

One of the niche and unusual Survivor Perks, which allows you to free yourself from the Killer’s grasp, in addition to the Decisive Strike.

Reveals the Auras of available Pallets whenever you are in the Dying State.

While being carried by The Killer, reaching 25/20/15 % Wiggling progression activates Power Struggle:

Flip-Flop (Ash Williams)

While in the Dying State, 50 % of your Recovery progression is converted into Wiggling progression, up to a maximum of 40/45/50 %, once the Killer picks you up.

Top 10: Lockers Build

This build will make you the Locker King! Allowing you to use them during the chase, trick the Killer, and heal inside.

Quick & Quiet (Meg Thomas)

Deception (Élodie Rakoto)

Flashbang (Leon S. Kennedy)

A homemade Firecracker that can save a teammate from the Killer’s grasp or help you in the chase.

After repairing Generators for a total of 70/60/50 %, Flashbang activates:

Head On (Jane Romero)

While standing in a Locker for 3 seconds, Head On activates:

Inner Strength (Nancy Wheeler)

One of the great Perks for self-healing.

Each time you cleanse a Totem, Inner Strength activates:

Conclusions

This concludes the Top 10 best DbD builds for Survivors. We’ve taken a detailed look at the best Perks in our opinion and we hope you find this Guide useful. Of course, you can change the Perks to your taste and look for the build that suits you and your playstyle! Please leave comments, likes, and shares.

See you in the Fog.

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Alex Rainbow
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