To get started in Dead by Daylight, forget the idea of winning every match in your first few hours. Your priority is to understand the loop of a match: repair generators, draw the Killer away from other Survivors, unhook a teammate at the right time and escape when the opportunity arises. The game pits four Survivors against one Killer on a map generated with variable objectives and dangers.
This guide is for new players on PC and consoles. It provides a simple routine for your first five matches, the purchases to prioritize in the Bloodweb and the mistakes that can cost a team the game before the final generator.
Key takeaways
- As a Survivor, start with a safe generator and leave as soon as the Killer approaches.
- Do not stay near a hook for long after rescuing a teammate: heal yourself or immediately resume an objective.
- When repairing with others, split between two generators instead of staying grouped without a reason.
- Keep an escape route in mind before touching an advanced generator or a chest.
- Spend your first Bloodpoints on characters and perks that teach you a specific action.
Dead by Daylight beginner guide: choose a first routine
The first decision comes before the match starts: choose the role you want to learn. Survivor is more forgiving of positioning mistakes because a team can still repair while one player is being chased. The Killer, on the other hand, requires you to read the map, control several areas and quickly turn a chase into pressure.
For your first matches, start as a Survivor if you want to understand objectives and movement. Then play a few matches as the Killer: knowing how long a repair takes and where a Survivor tries to break line of sight makes your chases much easier to read.
- At the start of the match, locate the nearest generator and observe the surroundings before repairing.
- Position the camera so you can see at least one possible approach from the Killer.
- If you hear an alert or see the Killer, move toward useful cover instead of running randomly.
- After a chase, return to a different objective to avoid giving up the same area for free.
- With two generators remaining, prioritize ones that are far apart so you do not leave the Killer with an easy area to defend.
The most overrated bad habit is immediately searching for a chest or totem. These actions can be useful, but they do not advance the main victory condition. Until you know how to read the Killer's routes, a safe repair and a clean escape will teach you more.
Repair, flee and rescue: the order of actions in a match
An effective Survivor does not simply repair quickly. They alternate between the three actions that save the team time: progressing on a generator, extending a chase without giving the Killer a quick hook and getting a teammate back into the game.
When to repair
Repair as long as you have clear information about the Killer's position. If no sound or signal indicates that the Killer is approaching, keep progressing on the generator. As soon as danger gets closer, leave the objective before being hit: losing a few seconds costs less than a hook and a long rescue sequence.
When to run
Do not sprint constantly. Running leaves a visible trail and can reveal your direction. Walk when repositioning near an objective, and save your sprint for a dangerous crossing, looping around an obstacle or an urgent escape.
When to unhook
A rescue should not be an automatic reflex. Wait until the Killer has left the area or until you have a fallback route. After the unhook, move away from the hook before healing your teammate. Two Survivors standing still in the same place give the Killer a second source of pressure for free.
Dead by Daylight beginner guide: spend your first Bloodpoints
Progression quickly becomes crowded, but your first purchases should remain simple. First level up one character you enjoy playing, then open their Bloodweb until you collect their perks and useful items. There is no benefit to immediately spreading your points across several Survivors if you have not mastered the basics yet.
To learn without locking yourself into a single playstyle, choose a character whose perks give you information or a safety margin. A perk that reveals an objective, signals a presence or makes healing easier is more instructive than a bonus that is difficult to trigger deliberately. Names and effects can change with updates, so always check their descriptions in the game menu before confirming a purchase.
| Priority | Practical decision | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One main Survivor | You focus your points and learn a consistent playstyle. |
| 2 | Information perks | You understand where to go and when to leave more quickly. |
| 3 | Simple items | They let you test healing or repairing without changing your whole routine. |
| 4 | Additional characters | Add them after identifying the role you enjoy. |
Do not spend your resources solely because an item is rare. A med-kit used poorly in an exposed area is not worth a safe repair, and a flashlight will not make up for a bad loop exit. The best early-game investment is the one that corrects your most frequent mistake.
Mistakes that cost new Survivors a match
The first mistake is repairing in the middle of the map without looking at available cover. A completed generator is useless if you take a hit before reaching an obstacle. Before starting, identify at least one window, pallet or building to run toward.
The second is extending a chase after you have already lost your position. If the Killer forces you across an open area, change your route instead of repeating the same loop. Your goal is not to win every duel, but to waste enough of the Killer's time for the team to progress elsewhere.
The third is immediately returning to an interrupted generator. The Killer often expects to find the player in the same place. Take a short detour, observe the environment and return only when the area is playable again.
The fourth is rescuing a teammate as soon as the hook appears. A rushed rescue can turn one hook into two injured Survivors or two downs. If the Killer is holding the area, work on a generator and force them to abandon the objective, unless your teammate's situation requires quick intervention.
Progress after five matches
After five matches, do not change all your equipment. Instead, note one recurring mistake: leaving a generator too early, attempting a risky rescue, sprinting without a reason or misreading a chase. Work on that mistake for three more matches with the same perks so you can measure real progress.
Then play one match as the Killer, even if your main goal is to play Survivor. You will see approach routes, hiding spots that are too obvious and generators that are poorly defended. This understanding will not automatically improve your mechanics, but it will make your pathing choices more consistent.
Maps and perk effects can change with updates. To check a rule or description that seems different, consult the official Survivor gameplay page and the official Dead by Daylight Steam page. On jeu.vidéo, you can also find the latest video game news, features from the Articles category and topics from the Esport category.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Killer find me right after I repair a generator?
You probably sprinted away from the generator or left a visible scratch-mark trail. First move away while walking behind an obstacle, then run only once you are out of line of sight.
Should I heal a teammate immediately after unhooking them?
Not always. Move away from the hook, check the Killer's position, then heal only if the action does not trap you in an exposed area.
What should I do when three generators are close together?
Avoid abandoning all three without a plan. Repair the one that offers the best cover and gradually move the play area toward more distant objectives.
When should I attempt to open the exit gate?
Open it when you can watch an approach and keep an escape route available. If the Killer still controls the area, first prepare a move toward the other gate or a safe location.
To keep following the topic, also read our article on Path of Exile 2: the beginner build to survive the, our article on WoW professions: how to earn gold without wasting.
Verified sources
These links can be used to verify the key information used in this article.
- deadbydaylight.com: The official Survivor gameplay page confirms the format of four Survivors against one Killer, the five generators to repair out of seven, skill checks, scratch marks, pallets and windows.
- store.steampowered.com: The official Steam page confirms the game and its availability on the platforms listed on its store page; verified on 2026-08-02.
- deadbydaylight.com: The official Dead by Daylight website serves as a reference point for updates and announcements from Behaviour Interactive; verified on 2026-08-02.
