Dead by Daylight is Behaviour Interactive's asymmetric 4v1 horror game where one player controls a Killer hunting four Survivors who must repair generators and escape. With 35+ Killers from original characters to licensed icons (Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Resident Evil's Nemesis), each with unique powers, and 40+ Survivors with unique perks, the game offers deep strategic gameplay. The core loop of chasing, looping, and generator pressure creates intense matches lasting 10-15 minutes.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borrowed Time | S | Survivor — anti-tunnel protection (now basekit) | When unhooking a Survivor, they gain 10 seconds of Endurance (extra hit protection). |
| Dead Hard | A | Survivor — chase extension | Press E while injured to gain a brief Endurance hit, dodging the Killer's attack. |
| Decisive Strike | A | Survivor — anti-tunnel | After being unhooked, if the Killer downs you within 60 seconds, succeed a skill check to stun and escape. |
| Sprint Burst | B | Survivor — positioning and escape | Gain a 150% speed burst for 3 seconds when you start running. |
| Iron Will | B | Survivor — stealth when injured | Reduces injured groaning sounds by 75% (was 100%, nerfed). |
S-Tier: Borrowed Time
When unhooking a Survivor, they gain 10 seconds of Endurance (extra hit protection). Now basekit for all Survivors. The original meta perk that prevented tunnel camping. Essential protection for unsafe unhooks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Survivor — anti-tunnel protection (now basekit) |
| Key Mechanic | generator repair |
| Recommended Build | Nurse |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Borrowed Time: Pairs naturally with Nurse thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Dead Hard
Press E while injured to gain a brief Endurance hit, dodging the Killer's attack. Reworked to require precise timing rather than the old distance dash. Still the most popular exhaustion perk for extending chases.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Survivor — chase extension |
| Key Mechanic | perk builds |
| Recommended Build | Blight |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Dead Hard: Pairs naturally with Blight thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Decisive Strike
After being unhooked, if the Killer downs you within 60 seconds, succeed a skill check to stun and escape. Anti-tunnel perk that punishes Killers for immediately re-downing unhooked Survivors. 5-second stun.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Survivor — anti-tunnel |
| Key Mechanic | bloodweb progression |
| Recommended Build | Spirit |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Decisive Strike: Pairs naturally with Spirit thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Sprint Burst
Gain a 150% speed burst for 3 seconds when you start running. Causes Exhaustion for 40 seconds. More consistent than Dead Hard since it's proactive rather than reactive. Walking conserves it for emergencies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Survivor — positioning and escape |
| Key Mechanic | killer powers |
| Recommended Build | Huntress |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sprint Burst: Pairs naturally with Huntress thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Iron Will
Reduces injured groaning sounds by 75% (was 100%, nerfed). Makes it harder for Killers to track injured Survivors by sound. Especially effective against Spirit and any Killer using audio to locate Survivors.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Survivor — stealth when injured |
| Key Mechanic | survivor loops |
| Recommended Build | Wraith |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Iron Will: Pairs naturally with Wraith thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Macmillan Estate
- Dead Hard → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Decisive Strike → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Borrowed Time → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Run the Killer for 60+ seconds and you've won the chase — that's enough time for teammates to complete 1-2 generators while the Killer is occupied with you.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Dead by Daylight Guides
- Dead by Daylight Dead by Daylight Overview
- Dead by Daylight Best Builds
- Dead by Daylight Tier List
- Dead by Daylight Walkthrough
- Dead by Daylight Beginner's Guide
- Dead by Daylight Tips & Tricks
- Dead by Daylight Combat Guide
- Dead by Daylight Boss Guide
- Dead by Daylight Maps & Locations
- Dead by Daylight Crafting Guide
- Dead by Daylight Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Dead by Daylight, check out these related guides:
- Phasmophobia Weapons Guide — horror game with similar mechanics
- Lethal Company Weapons Guide — horror game with similar mechanics
- R.E.P.O. Weapons Guide — horror game with similar mechanics
