Dead by Daylight just turned five, which means the game has come a long way in terms of content since it was first released. It can be daunting for people who come to the game with a new face, but never fear because we're here to tell you the best killers for beginners!
If you're completely new to the game, don't worry, we've got you covered. Each Killer, just like the Survivors, has their own advantages and strengths to play with; so we will cover them in our ranking as well.
the crook
The Trickster isn't actually a basic game killer, however, others on this list are, so you'll still have other choices. If you purchased the game and bundled it with the All-Kill DLC, you'll have the Trickster available to you.
It offers good perks and doesn't have such a steep learning curve when it comes to trying to master the killer playstyle. His Starstruck perk is great when you've captured a Survivor, as it activates the Exposed status effect, allowing you to deal double damage even with basic attacks.
No Way Out is also handy as it audibly notifies you when a Survivor has activated an exit, as well as sending an entity to jam the exit door switches to prevent your prey from escaping so easily!
Related: Best Survivor Maps in Dead by Daylight
Trapper
You might recognize this guy, yes, that's him on the cover! The Trapper is a base game killer, which means you can start with him right from the start! Its perks are handy, and it's also not too hard to pick up to learn how the killer playstyle works.
The Brute Force perk allows you to smash breakable pallets and walls as well as damage generators, which means survivors will have a much harder time fixing generators and finding places to hide!
Baffling Presence is also part of behind-the-scenes operations, as it increases Survivors' skill check chance by 10%, meaning they're 10% more likely to fail the skill check and let you know. their presence. You can also increase movement speed when carrying a survivor to a hook with the Unrest perk.
Huntress
We've already covered The Huntress in our best Dead by Daylight killers list, so the fact that she also appeared on the best newbies list is a nice coincidence!
She is a ranged slayer who uses hatchets to attack survivors. This means you can get Survivors running from further away, which is great if you're not used to being up close with them yet.
Its perks are very useful, but No One Escapes Death is one of its best because you can hit survivors and take them down in one go, making it a super strong enemy to take on. Such tactics mean that you increase your chances of winning the match while getting used to playing the role of the killer.
Related: How Many People Die in the Light of Day?
Hillbilly
The Hillbilly is also another base game killer, so you don't have to spend extra dollars on DLC to get used to playing efficiently.
Its perks are also in a similar space to The Trickster in how you can get sound notifications about what Survivors are up to. The Tinkerer perk will allow you to hear a notification when a survivor has repaired a 70% generator, so you know to start hunting them to thwart their efforts!
With Lightborn you can also see the auras of survivors trying to blind you with a flashlight, which means their mission to escape you isn't as successful, as you can see exactly where they are in a certain ray after the flashlight attack!
Spectrum
The Wraith, by many people's estimates, is best to start with when you dip your toes in the pool of being the killer. Its mechanics aren't as difficult to master as others and its perks are also very useful and friendly enough to make it easier for you to adapt to your alter ego!
Wraith perks are mostly very visual in nature, in that they help you see exactly what survivors are doing at various points in the match.
Predator is great for seeing where survivors are heading through the use of Scratch Marks. These are left when Survivors have used 60% of their running capacity, as discussed in our last Scratch Duration article. These are obvious visual signs of survivors' whereabouts, and with a predator your senses are heightened.
Bloodhound causes pools of blood to appear as bright red and can be tracked. These pools can sometimes be overlooked when darker in color, so the increased brightness in their appearance is a great gift. Shadowborn is also handy because you have an increased field of vision, so more survivors can be seen at once!
The best killer to start with will depend on your personal preference, as they have different features, perks, and mechanics. Some players may like the ranged style of play offered by The Huntress, while others may like to get up close and opt for one of the others on this list.
Whichever you choose will be the right one for you, because there are no wrong answers. But we think for those new to the game, or long-time players who have only played as Survivors, this selection should get you started in the spooky boots!
Looking for more help? Why not check out the best Dead by Daylight DLCs to get?
