The Best and Easiest Dead by Daylight Killers for Beginners

These are the best killers you can use as a beginner in DBD. With this list, you're going to understand how each of them work. They are simple, strong and easy to use. Most of these don't even require you to pay real money to unlock them, so if you're starting out you can use some of these killers right away!

The Best and Easiest Dead by Daylight Killers for Beginners Cover

Are you a new player in Dead by Daylight and you’re getting annoyed by Survivors and their little flashlights on every single match you play as a Killer? This online survival horror game has a very complex system to learn, so you’re not one to blame if things get a little bit confusing at the start. Whatever you prefer to play (killer or survivor) you’re going to struggle to learn the mechanics. Some killers have a very difficult power that can take several matches to understand, so it’s going to be a tough road if you don’t know the powers of each of them. This list is going to help you understand some of the easiest (but also good) killers in DBD.

The Easiest DBD Killers for Beginners

While killers are always balanced through updates to offer a fair experience to all players, some of them can be arguably better and easier to understand than others. This list will show you the easiest DBD killers in the game that are actually good! So you’re not going to find any of the weakest killers here like The Trapper, The Nightmare or The Hag (even if they’re very easy to use). And we’re also not going to include any strong killers that are hard to use like Silent Hill’s Executioner, The Blight, The Onryo, or The Cenobite (which can be explained in another guide).

Some of the following DBD killers are included in the base game, others can be unlocked with Iridescent Shards, and others can be unlocked with Auric Cells or purchasing the corresponding DLC. Most of them do not require you to spend any money, so there’s no need to start looking for your credit card (not right now, at least).

Also, in case you need help with it, here you have a list of the best perks to unlock in Dead by DaylightYou’re probably going to need some of them (and maybe also a couple of good add-ons) if you want to be able to see any Survivor’s aura at certain occasions, or catch them before they start vaulting windows all around the place. This will help you to easily track Survivors scratch marks and hit them with your weapons and abilities before they get to open the exit gates or even repair any generators.

Phillip Ojomo – “The Wraith”

The Wraith uses his Wailing Bell to become invisible and undetectable at any moment.

The Wraith uses his Wailing Bell to become invisible and undetectable at any moment.

The Wraith is included in the base game and it’s probably one of the easiest killers to use in DBD. The Wraith’s power is the Wailing Bell. By holding down the power button, The Wraith gets the undetectable status effect (meaning he has a 0 meters terror radius). He also becomes almost completely invisible, so it’s very hard to notice him until he’s very close.

The Wraith cannot attack survivors while he’s invisible. You must hold down the power button again to uncloak and you’ll receive a small speed boost along with the ability to injure survivors. It is quite simple: patrol the generators while being invisible, find a survivor, uncloak, down and hook the survivor, and then repeat. It can’t get any easier than that!

Keep in mind that interactions are faster when you’re cloaked (generators, breakable walls, and pallets).

The Wraith’s unique perks are actually pretty bad though… so if you want to, you can level up other killers in order to unlock a few stronger perks for him.

Recommended perks for The Wraith:

  • Corrupt Intervention
  • Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance
  • Eruption
  • Hex: Blood Favour

If you enjoy using this Killer, you should also try The Knight. He has a very different power, but his Guardia Compagnia also allows him to damage generators and break pallets much faster as well.

Kenneth Chase (alias Jeffrey Hawk) – “The Clown”

The Clown can throw his Afterpiece Tonic bottles to slow down survivors and end chases quickly.

The Clown can throw his Afterpiece Tonic bottles to slow down survivors and end chases quickly.

The Clown was featured in the Curtain Call Chapter DLC. He can be unlocked with 9000 Iridescent Shards, 500 Auric Cells, or purchasing the DLC pack. He is another of the easiest killers to understand in Dead by Daylight.

The Clown’s power is The Afterpiece Tonic. His power allows him to carry 4 bottles. By pressing (or holding) the power button, The Clown throws one bottle after releasing it. Upon breaking, the bottle spreads a purple gas cloud that intoxicates survivors. They will suffer the tonic’s effects while they’re inside the gas cloud and up to 2 seconds after leaving it. The Tonic impairs their vision, triggers involuntary coughing, suppresses the ability to fast vault, and causes the blindness status effect and the hindered status effect (slower movement speed). You can recharge your bottles at any time by holding down the active ability button for a few seconds, allowing you to carry 4 more bottles.

He’s actually very underrated because his power is considered to be “dull” and “boring”. As you can see, The Clown’s power is very simple: throw bottles to slow down survivors and down them easily. Even if there are several strongest killers in the game, The Clown’s power is very effective and easy to use.

Recommended perks for The Clown:

  • Corrupt Intervention
  • Thrilling Tremors
  • Hex: Plaything
  • Hex: Blood Favour

If you enjoy using this Killer, you should also try the Demogorgon and the Mastermind. Both of them also have abilities to injure Survivors faster.

Anna – “The Huntress”

The Huntress is the most basic ranged killer, being able to down survivors from the distance with her Hunting Hatchets.

The Huntress is the most basic ranged killer, being able to down survivors from the distance with her Hunting Hatchets.

The Huntress was included through the A Lullaby for the Dark Chapter DLC. This DLC pack is free in all stores, so you can use her right away without having to spend any points or money!

The Huntress’s power is her Hunting Hatchets. Very simple: you start the match with 5 hatchets. Press or hold down the power button and then release it to throw a hatchet. If a hatchet impacts a survivor, they will become injured or downed, depending on their health state. You can recharge your hatchets by searching lockers.

She is a ranged killer that can injure survivors from very far distances. She has a very slow movement speed compared to other killers, but her hatchets definitely compensate for that. The Huntress is a killer that you must play with (and against) to understand the game’s hitbox system, which can be quite frustrating if you’re not experienced yet.

Recommended perks for The Huntress:

  • Lethal Pursuer
  • BBQ & Chilli
  • Iron Maiden
  • Eruption

If you enjoy using this Killer, you should also try The Trickster, the Twins and The Nurse. These Killers’ specialty is tracking Survivors after injuring them with their main powers, so pay attention if you see tracks of blood or hear a grunt of pain.

Bubba Sawyer – “The Cannibal”

The Cannibal can use Bubba's Chainsaw to dash forward and instantly down healthy survivors.

The Cannibal can use Bubba’s Chainsaw to dash forward and instantly down healthy survivors.

The Cannibal is a licensed killer that was added to the game through the Leatherface DLC. He can be purchased with 500 Auric Cells, or by buying the DLC. Sadly he is part of the killers that cannot be unlocked using DBD’s Iridescent Shards, only real money.

The Cannibal’s power is Bubba’s Chainsaw. The chainsaw has 3 charges. Press and hold down the power button to consume one charge and perform a chainsaw dash for 2 seconds. During this time, you can press the power button again to consume another charge and extend the duration of your chainsaw sweeping. Survivors hit with the chainsaw will get immediately downed without having to injure them first. The Cannibal suffers a movement speed penalty if he bumps against a wall or object during this phase.

The Cannibal is one of the easiest killers to understand in Dead by Daylight and one of the several that can put survivors in the dying state immediately. You have to be precise with his chainsaw though, as bumping into objects when using it will stun Bubba.

As a side note, this killer is a victim of several memes due to the number of people using him to camp the basement hooks and tunneling the same survivor over and over. He is a very good killer, so please make a difference and play fun when you use him. There’s no need to ruin the fun for the survivors.

Recommended perks for The Cannibal:

  • Corrupt Intervention
  • Thrilling Tremors
  • Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance
  • Hex: Plaything

If you enjoy using this killer, you should also try The Hillbilly. This Killer also uses a chainsaw that downs Survivors in one hit.

Michael Myers – “The Shape”

The Shape increases his Evil Within by stalking survivors, granting him the ability to down them with only one basic attack.

The Shape increases his Evil Within by stalking survivors, granting him the ability to down them with only one basic attack.

Michael Myers was added through the Halloween Chapter DLC and was the first licensed killer to arrive in Dead by Daylight. Same as other licensed killers, he can only be purchased with 500 Auric Cells or by buying the corresponding DBD DLC pack.

The Shape’s power is Evil Within. By holding the power button, The Shape can stalk survivors in order to fill his power gauge. Filling Myers’ power gauge will level up Evil Within, increasing his very reduced terror radius. Once The Shape reaches tier 3 of his power by stalking enough survivors, they will get the exposed status effect. This means that The Shape gains the ability to down survivors immediately with your basic attack for a limited time. He will also have an increased action speed (such as lunge, movement speed, and window vaulting).

He is considered an average difficulty killer by many, but his power is actually very simple. Find survivors and stalk them from a far distance with your power as long as you can. You will have a very reduced terror radius, so chances are they’re not going to notice you until it’s too late. Once you reach tier 3 of his power, you must simply approach the survivors and attack them to down them immediately.

Also, just make sure you’re stalking survivors from a discrete point. Standing in the middle of the map will definitely raise their alarms and will run away from you. Get over it Michael, no one wants to be your friend.

Recommended perks for The Shape:

  • Corrupt Intervention
  • Monitor & Abuse
  • Thrilling Tremors
  • Eruption

If you enjoy using this killer, you should also try Ghost Face, Rin Yamaoka and Sadako. They’re all silent killers as well, which makes it easy to surprise Survivors and track them by paying attention to crows and scratch marks. The Oni is also recommended, since he also allows you to down Survivors in only one hit by gathering many blood orbs.

Amanda Young – “The Pig”

The Pig installs deadly traps, crouches to become undetectable, and ambushes survivors with her dash attack.

The Pig installs deadly traps, crouches to become undetectable, and ambushes survivors with her dash attack.

Amanda Young from the Saw series is the last of the licensed DBD killers on the list. She was added through the Saw Chapter DLC and can be unlocked with 500 Auric Cells or by purchasing the DLC pack.

The Pig has several powers, but they’re all quite simple to understand. Press the active ability button to crouch. This will reduce The Pig’s visibility and will make her undetectable. Hold the attack button while crouched to perform an ambush dash, injuring survivors with a greatly increased attack range.

Her main power is Jigsaw’s Baptism. After downing a survivor press the power button to place an inactive reverse bear trap in the survivor’s head. If a generator is powered, the reverse bear trap will become active. The survivor has 150 seconds to find the corresponding key and remove the trap. If they fail… the trap splits the survivor’s head open, killing them instantly.

The Pig is a very underrated killer. In order to use her properly, simply crouch at the start of the trial and ambush the first survivor you find. Once you down them, install a reverse bear trap in their head and hook them normally. Repeat the process by patrolling the generators.

Survivors will have to waste valuable time to break free from the mortal trap. Leave those survivors alone, you can slow down more generator progress in the meantime by torturing more survivors with Jigsaw’s Baptism

Recommended perks for The Pig:

  • Corrupt Intervention
  • Thrilling Tremors
  • Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance
  • Hex: Blood Favour

If you enjoy using this killer, you should also try The Legion (due to their Feral Frenzy power) and Freddy Krueger (due to his dream pallets and dream snares traps).

Caleb Quinn – “The Deathslinger”

The Deathslinger uses The Redeemer to shoot survivors and reel them towards him.

The Deathslinger uses The Redeemer to shoot survivors and reel them towards him.

The Deathslinger is one of the most used killers in Dead by Daylight. He was added through the Chains of Hate Chapter DLC and can be unlocked with 9000 Iridescent Shards, 500 Auric Cells, or by purchasing the DLC pack.

The Deathslinger’s power is The Redeemer. The Deathslinger carries a modified rifle that shoots a spear. Hold the power button to aim down sights. Then, simply press the attack button to shoot the spear. If a survivor is in the path of the spear, they will be injured with it and The Deathslinger will have the ability to reel the survivor towards him by holding the power button again. Once the survivor is close enough The Deathslinger will be able to perform a basic attack to apply the deep wound status effect (or down the survivors if they were already injured before they were speared).

Keep in mind you must reload after every shot, so hold down the active ability button for a few seconds to reload The Redeemer in order to be able to fire it again.

The Deathslinger is one of the favorite killers of the Dead by Daylight community as well as being one of the easiest to use. His power is very simple: If you spot a survivor, shoot them to pull them towards you. Killing was never so easy!

Recommended perks for The Deathslinger:

  • Corrupt Intervention
  • Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance
  • Dead Man’s Switch
  • Hex: Plaything

If you enjoy using this killer, you should also try The Plague. Her Vile Purge and Corruption power also allows you to have control of where Survivors run as they try to escape from your ranged attacks.

Herman Carter – “The Doctor”

The Doctor can easily locate survivors with Carter's Spark, also increasing their madness.

The Doctor can easily locate survivors with Carter’s Spark, also increasing their madness.

The Doctor was included in the Spark of Madness Chapter DLC but it’s also one of the few killers that are included for free in the DBD base game of the console versions.

The Doctor’s power is Carter’s Spark. Press the power button to unleash Shock Therapy, a ranged shock attack in front of The Doctor that increases the survivors’ madness. Madness causes screaming, very difficult skill checks, and hallucinations (such as a fake pallet, for example). But The Doctor’s best ability is definitely Static Blast. By holding down the active ability button, he makes all survivors inside his terror radius scream, giving you a loud noise notification, and increasing the Survivors’ madness as well. Static Blast has a cooldown of 60 seconds.

The Doctor’s Static Blast allows you to find survivors quickly and interrupt their interactions. The Doctor is very easy to use because you will always keep track of survivors. You must always use your power to torment them so they can’t hide from you, as they’re always continuously screaming and revealing their locations. It is one of the few killers for which you want to have a huge terror radius to spot survivors easily and increase their madness.

Recommended perks for The Doctor:

  • Distressing
  • Overcharge
  • Merciless Storm
  • Oppression

If you enjoy using this Killer, you should also try The Nemesis. The T-Virus and zombies of this Killer also allows you to have awareness of the Survivors’ locations.

That was it for the best and easiest DBD killers for beginners. Dead by Daylight is available for PC, PS4 & PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The game is constantly being updated with new characters and discounts (like the current Haunted by Daylight event) so it’s always a good time to jump back into it. See you all in the fog and Happy Halloween!

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