Dead by Daylight Survivor Guide: Generators, Chases, Hooks & Escape
Dead by Daylight Survivor guide covering generator repair, Exit Gates, chases, pallets, windows, Scratch Marks, rescues, healing, teamwork and balancing objectives against Killer pressure.
Dead by Daylight Survivor Guide: Generators, Chases, Hooks & Escape
Dead by Daylight Survivor Guide: Generators, Chases, Hooks & Escape
Dead by Daylight Survivors are a team of four trying to escape a Killer. Behaviour's official game guide defines the core objective clearly: repair generators, power the Exit Gates and survive long enough to leave the Trial.
Generators Drive the Match
Survivors need generators completed before the Exit Gates can be powered.
If nobody is repairing, the Killer gains time for free.
Do Not Stack Every Survivor on One Generator
Working together can finish one generator faster, but spreading across the map can:
- Pressure several generators.
- Reduce the Killer's ability to interrupt the whole team at once.
- Force the Killer to travel farther.
Repair With Awareness
While repairing, continue watching and listening for:
- The Killer.
- The Terror Radius where applicable.
- Nearby chase activity.
- Teammates becoming injured or hooked.
Skill Checks
Failed healing and generator Skill Checks can create noise notifications that help the Killer locate Survivors.
Do not panic when a Skill Check appears.
Chases Buy Time
If the Killer is chasing you, the rest of the team may have an opportunity to repair generators, heal or reposition.
A chase does not need to end with you escaping forever to create value.
Use Windows
Behaviour's official guide identifies windows as one of the Survivor's main chase tools.
Use them to:
- Create distance.
- Force the Killer onto another route.
- Extend a chase.
Use Pallets
Pallets can temporarily block the Killer and may create a stun opportunity.
Do not drop every pallet immediately.
A pallet used with no pressure provides less value later in the match.
Scratch Marks
Behaviour confirms that running Survivors leave Scratch Marks the Killer can follow.
Running is necessary in many chases, but outside immediate danger it can reveal where you went.
Break Line of Sight
Chases become harder for the Killer when they cannot continuously see your route.
Use:
- Walls.
- Buildings.
- Terrain.
- Windows.
Do Not Run Without a Destination
Look ahead for the next:
- Pallet.
- Window.
- Strong structure.
- Route away from teammates working on generators.
Hooks
The Killer's core progression is downing Survivors, carrying them to hooks and advancing their sacrifice state.
When a teammate is hooked, coordinate the rescue rather than sending the entire team simultaneously.
Do Not Rescue Unsafely
If the Killer is still directly controlling the hook area, rushing in without a plan may create another down.
Use timing, distraction or another teammate where appropriate.
Do Not Leave Teammates Hooked Unnecessarily
Generators matter, but allowing a teammate to progress deeper into their hook state when a safe rescue was available can weaken the whole team.
Healing
An injured Survivor can still perform objectives, but healing may improve survival chances in the next chase.
Choose whether to heal according to:
- Killer pressure.
- Generator progress.
- Your current location.
- The Survivor's condition.
Do Not Heal in an Unsafe Location
Moving somewhere safer first can prevent the Killer from interrupting both Survivors.
Information
Watch the HUD and the match around you.
Useful information includes:
- Who is being chased.
- Who is injured.
- Who is hooked.
- Which generators are nearly complete.
Exit Gates
Once the required generators are completed, the Exit Gates become the final objective.
Do not automatically assume the Trial is over.
The Killer can still:
- Down Survivors.
- Defend gates.
- Control hooked players.
Know When to Leave
Helping a teammate can be worthwhile, but a rescue attempt that turns several escaped Survivors into additional sacrifices may be the wrong decision.
Survivor Routine
- Find and repair useful generators.
- Monitor the Killer's pressure.
- Use pallets and windows deliberately in chase.
- Coordinate hook rescues.
- Heal when the situation supports it.
- Finish remaining generators.
- Open and use the Exit Gates.
Common Survivor Mistakes
- Ignoring generators.
- Dropping pallets with no pressure.
- Running past teammates' generators while chased.
- Sending several Survivors for the same rescue.
- Healing in exposed locations.
- Assuming powered gates mean everyone is automatically safe.
Bottom Line
Dead by Daylight Survivor play is about dividing the Killer's attention. Repair generators while another Survivor is chased, use pallets and windows to extend pressure, rescue intelligently and remember that escaping is a team objective even when only one Survivor is currently in danger.