Key Takeaways
- The number one Killer mistake is over-committing to chases. If you haven't landed a hit in 15 seconds, leave. The other 3 Survivors are doing generators.
- Generator pressure wins games, not kills. A Killer with 0 kills but 8 hook stages played better than a Killer with 2 kills who camped.
- The best Killers for beginners aren't the strongest Killers — they're the simplest. Wraith teaches fundamentals. Nurse teaches bad habits.
Killer Tier List (2026)
| S | Nurse, Blight, Spirit | Ignore game mechanics (Nurse teleports through walls, Blight is too fast) |
| A | Wesker, Artist, Oni, Huntress | Strong powers, map-dependent |
| B | Wraith, Nemesis, Pyramid Head, Plague | Solid, viable, have weaknesses |
| C | Trapper, Clown, Legion, Doctor | Outdated powers, struggle vs good Survivors |
| D | Freddy, Pig, Myers | Desperately need buffs |
For new Killers: Start with Wraith (B tier, simple and effective). Graduate to Huntress (A tier, teaches aim). Avoid Nurse until you have 100+ hours — she requires completely different muscle memory.
The 4-4-4 Rule
At any given moment in a match:
- 4 generators need to be completed (out of 7 total)
- You can only chase 1 Survivor at a time
This means 3 Survivors are on generators while you chase 1. If a chase takes 60 seconds and you get the down, 3 Survivors have accumulated 180 seconds of generator progress (more than 2 full generators).
Winning formula: End chases in <30 seconds OR disrupt multiple Survivors simultaneously.
Chase Tactics
Mindgaming
At a tall wall loop, your red stain (visible light) tells Survivors which direction you're moving. Counter-play: walk backward (hide your red stain), then lunge around the corner the opposite direction. Works on 80% of loops.
Moonwalking
Walk backward around corners to hide your red stain entirely. The Survivor sees no red light and guesses wrong. This is an advanced technique — practice in custom games.
Lunge Timing
Hold M1 at the START of the lunge window, not when you're already close. A lunge covers ~6 meters. If the Survivor is 5 meters away, lunge now — not 3 meters away when they'll have time to dodge.
Generator Pressure
Which Generators to Defend
Not all generators are equal. Prioritize:
1. Center map generators — easiest for Survivors to access from anywhere, hardest for you to patrol.
2. Completed generators near other incomplete ones — creates a 'dead zone' where Survivors can't work without risking you finding them.
3. Generators with progress — a kicked generator regresses at 0.25 charges/second (1/4 of repair speed). Every 4 seconds you delay = 1 second of repair undone.
The 3-Gen Strategy
Identify 3 generators that are close together (within 10 seconds of walking distance). Defend ONLY those three from the start. Let Survivors complete the other 4 generators freely. When 1 generator remains, they MUST come to your 3-gen zone.
This is the most consistent winning strategy for low-mobility Killers (Trapper, Hag, Wraith).
Best Beginner Perk Builds
Wraith Build (Hit and Run)
| Sloppy Butcher | Base perk | Survivors take longer to heal, more time not on gens |
| A Nurse's Calling | Nurse (free) | See healing Survivors within 28m — cloaked Wraith can ambush them |
| Jolt | Base perk | Downing a Survivor near a generator causes it to explode and regress |
| Bitter Murmur | Base perk | See Survivor auras near completed generators |
Huntress Build (Ranged Pressure)
| Lethal Pursuer | Nemesis | See all Survivors at match start, extended aura reading |
| Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance | Artist | Most consistent generator regression |
| Barbecue & Chili | Leatherface (licensed) | See distant Survivors after hooking, find next target |
| Iron Maiden | Legion | Survivors who exit lockers scream + get exposed |
Killer Progression Path
| 0-20 hours | Play Wraith. Learn M1 fundamentals, mindgames, gen pressure. |
| 20-50 hours | Unlock Huntress. Learn ranged attacks, prediction. |
| 50-100 hours | Prestige Wraith + Huntress to P1. Unlock their perks for all Killers. |
| 100-200 hours | Try Spirit or Oni. Learn power-specific mechanics. |
| 200+ hours | Consider Nurse if you want to reach high MMR. |
FAQ
Q: Why do I keep losing?
A: Are your chases lasting more than 30 seconds? If yes, practice mindgames. Are Survivors completing generators fast? If yes, you're not pressuring enough gens. Watch your own gameplay and identify which problem is yours.
Q: What's tunneling and is it bad?
A: 'Tunneling' = focusing the same Survivor who was just unhooked to eliminate them quickly. It's effective but considered toxic by many players. Do it in ranked, avoid it in casual.
Q: What's the best Killer for console players?
A: Wraith, Doctor, and Legion — Killers that don't require precise aiming. Huntress and Nurse are much harder with a controller.