Key Takeaways
- Start as Survivor for your first 20 hours. Killer has a much higher skill floor and you'll get destroyed without understanding how Survivors think.
- Meg Thomas is the best starter Survivor (Sprint Burst + Adrenaline are S-tier perks that stay relevant forever). For Killer, start with Wraith (simple power, teaches hit-and-run fundamentals).
- The perk grind is real. Focus on one character at a time and prestige them to unlock their perks for everyone.
- Don't buy licensed characters until you understand the game. Start with free characters and unlock non-licensed ones with Iridescent Shards.
Survivor vs Killer: Which to Play First
| -------- | ---------- | -------- |
| Skill floor | Low | Medium-High |
| Skill ceiling | Very high | Very high |
| Queue times | 2-5 min | 30 sec-2 min |
| Stress level | High (being hunted) | Medium (being outplayed) |
| Learning speed | Fast (4 teammates can carry) | Slow (you're alone) |
| BP earnings | 15-25K per match | 20-30K per match |
Start Survivor. Understanding how Survivors think is the single most important skill for playing Killer later.
Best Starter Survivors
| Survivor | Best Perk | What It Does | Priority |
| ---------- | ---------- | ------------- | ---------- |
| Meg Thomas | Sprint Burst | Run at 150% speed for 3 seconds when you start running | ★★★★★ |
| Meg Thomas | Adrenaline | Instantly heal one health state when exit gates are powered | ★★★★★ |
| Dwight Fairfield | Prove Thyself | +15% repair speed per nearby Survivor | ★★★★ |
| Claudette Morel | Self-Care | Heal yourself without a medkit (slower) | ★★★ |
| Jake Park | Iron Will | Grunts of pain are 75% quieter when injured | ★★★ |
Level Meg first. Sprint Burst creates distance from Killers at critical moments. Adrenaline can save your life at endgame. Once Meg is Prestige 1 (unlocks her perks for all Survivors), move to Dwight for Prove Thyself.
Best Starter Killers
| Killer | Difficulty | Power | Best For |
| -------- | ----------- | ------- | ---------- |
| Wraith | Easy | Cloak/uncloak, high speed when cloaked | Learning M1 (basic attack) fundamentals |
| Trapper | Easy | Place bear traps | Learning map control and prediction |
| Hillbilly | Medium | Chainsaw sprint across map | Learning map pressure |
| Huntress | Hard | Throw hatchets | Learning ranged attacks |
Start with Wraith. His power is simple (press M2 to cloak, press again to uncloak with a speed boost). He teaches you how to approach Survivors, when to commit to chases, and basic mindgames without the distraction of a complex power.
Core Mechanics
Survivor Objectives
1. Repair 5 generators (each takes 80 seconds solo, 53 seconds with 2 people)
2. Open exit gates (20 seconds)
3. Escape (or die trying)
Simple on paper, complex in practice because the Killer is trying to stop you.
Chase Fundamentals
- Looping: Running around obstacles (pallets, windows) to waste the Killer's time. A good looper can run a Killer for 2+ minutes.
- Pallet discipline: Don't drop pallets immediately. Run through them, fake the drop, force the Killer to respect it. An unused pallet is a resource; a dropped pallet is a countdown.
- 360 juke: Spin in a circle when the Killer swings — it can cause them to miss. Works on new Killers, rarely on experienced ones.
Killer Fundamentals
- Patrol generators: Don't chase one Survivor for 2 minutes. If you can't hit them in 15 seconds, break the pallet and go pressure generators.
- Mindgaming: At a loop, fake going one direction and go the other. Survivors watch your red stain (the light in front of you) to predict your movement.
- Lunging: Hold M1 for a lunge attack (longer range, slight slowdown). Tap for a quick attack (shorter range, no slowdown).
First Week Plan
| 1 | 5 Survivor matches as Meg | Learn generator repair, basic chase evasion |
| 2 | 10 Survivor matches | Learn pallet loops, start understanding Killer behavior |
| 3 | 5 Killer matches as Wraith | Learn basic chasing, generator patrolling |
| 4 | 3 Survivor + 3 Killer matches | Compare perspectives, understand both sides |
| 5 | Prestige Meg to P1 | Unlock Sprint Burst + Adrenaline for all Survivors |
| 6 | Level Dwight, unlock Prove Thyself | Faster generator repairs |
| 7 | Play whichever role you enjoy more | Start building game sense |
Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Running everywhere (Survivor). Running leaves scratch marks that Killers can see. Walk when the Killer isn't nearby.
2. Camping hooks (Killer). Standing next to a hooked Survivor lets the other 3 Survivors repair generators for free. Leave the hook.
3. Self-caring in a corner (Survivor). Self-Care takes 45 seconds. In that time, you could repair half a generator. Heal with teammates or bring a medkit.
4. Respecting every pallet (Killer). If a Survivor stands at a pallet, swing through it. You'll get stunned but often hit them too. The trade is worth it.
5. Not looking behind you (Survivor). Hold the 'look behind' button during chases. You need to see the Killer to predict their movement.