New Killer, struggling with Leatherface chainsaw

illusion

So I just started playing as a killer, and it was suggested that new players start with Leatherface for BBQ&Chili, as well as his ease to play. However, I don't find his chainsaw all that easy to use. Most of the time I just use the hammer, since the chainsaw is saw clumsy and awkward. It feels more detrimental to use it than no. I have downed people with it, but it seems to have been due more to luck than anything else (people trying to juke me and run into it). Any advice on using the chainsaw effectively? Or should I just stick with the hammer?

FireHazard

@illusion

I think what they meant by "ease to play" was that he's ok for low level play, but moderate level play is quite hard with him... since base-kit LeatherFace has very little going for him (except... the fact that he's the best camping Killer due to the chainsaws practicality in tight areas)

Here's the best advice I can give for Leatherface...

LeatherFace is complicated, his base-kit chainsaw is slightly faster than a Survivor... but in terms of comparing it with his actual speed, it's not that good when it comes to catching up to a Survivor.

I'll give you advice on his base-kit, and than touch up on some things that can improve your experience with LeatherFace... making it more, "tolerable."

For one, you need to be right on top of the Survivors when chainsawing, if you chainsaw from a decent or little bit away, you won't make it because of the walking speed LeatherFace goes in base-kit. His chainsaw can also be used to mind-game in a lot of cases, especially in Red Ranks. What you'll wanna do is chainsaw on top of a Survivor at a loop, they'll either drop the pallet prematurely (A lot of Survivors do that...) or they'll bait it out and keep looping.

Either way, you'll destroy the loop or down them. You can also just chainsaw at the pallet when you're a bit behind them, forcing them to panic and either drop it or in some cases play it smart and keep looping.

base-kit chainsawing is slightly faster than the normal pallet smashing speed, so when any pallets are down, use the chainsaw to break them. Also, if you're at a loop that is boxed in to a corner or wall, chainsaw the pallet on the opposite side when chasing the Survivor. This will force them to stay on the "deadzone" side and have a harder time making it to another loop again.

This can give you the chance to chainsaw down them (if nothing is nearby to do so) or you can hit them with the hammer if there is a possibility of them getting to a loop.

First, before we get into builds we need to talk add-ons...

Hands down you'll always want to either use charge add-ons, or the BEST combo is to use the chainsaw sprint speed add-ons WITH the charge add-ons. Add-ons like the standard Knife Scratches + Primer Bulb/Spark Plug is great for a budget add-on match.

But if you want to get more advanced, you'll want to splurge on the Beast Mark + Tuning Guide add-ons... this is by far his best add-on combo, and for good reasons of course.

Now, Knife Scratches + Primer Bulb/Spark Plug is a budget add-on combo, but the combo is still effective regardless. Knife Scratches increases the chainsaw walk speed, making it easier to down Survivors and not require you to be RIGHT on them to do it. And Primer Bulb/Spark Plug is to lessen the negative effect of Knife Scratches WHILE also giving it a charge speed boost with Primer Bulb and canceling out the negative effects of a lesser charge speed with Spark Plug.

If you're looking to use a more "expensive" combo that's 10x more effective though, you'll want to use Beast Marks + Tuning Guide. Beast Marks changes the "Slightly" increased chainsaw walk speed to "Moderately" and BOY does that change show in-game. The best part about this add-on is that the "Slightly decreased charge rate" stays the same on it... meaning it doesn't change it to moderately and cancels out the benefits of Tuning Guide.

Tuning Guide gives a lot of benefits also. Unlike Primer Bulb, not only is the charge speed Moderately increased, but the cool-down of the chainsaw after the "chainsaw walk" is decreased as well, the stun of bumping into things is decreased, and other things as well! This add-on for LeatherFace and Billy is one of their best add-ons to date.

So, if you want a budget combo, use Knife Scratches + Primer Bulb/Spark Plugs... if you want a more high end top ranking combo, use Beast Marks + Tuning Guide... OR, if you feel the penalty's of the decreased charge speed doesn't bother you, than you can make yourself go EVEN FASTER when you combine both Beast Marks + Knife Scratches... but I personally don't recommend it, and Beast Marks + Tuning guide is a lot better.

last, his best build (in my and a lot other other peoples opinion)

This is his most standard build, but it's his "best" as far as LF builds go. This build is comprised of Ruin, BBQ & Chili, Enduring, and Spirit Fury.

Ruin slows the game down a bit for Survivors that can't always hit a Hex Skill-check every single time... and to some that can, it still makes it slower to complete the generators since the Great Skill checks don't boost the gen speed with Ruin on!

BBQ & Chili for the 100% bonus BPs during post-game AND for the main reason... the aura reading! Having spacial and map awareness is great for EVERY single killer in the entire game, and for LeatherFace... this can be very useful for some chainsaw downs in-game.

Enduring to decrease the pallet stuns when you're mind-game with the chainsaw OR you miss a chainsaw at the last second and get pallet stunned... but... this is where Spirit Fury comes in.

Lastly, Spirit Fury is comboed with Enduring to make for a VERY USEFUL combination for someone like LeatherFace. With Spirit Fury at Tier lll and Enduring at Tier lll, you can break two pallets and have a "safety net" active when you're stunned on a pallet. Once stunned, The Entity breaks the pallet for you mid-stun... and Enduring takes off most of the stun so you can charge right at them and chainsaw or hit them with the hammer...

The best way to use Spirit Fury is to use it at loops that you know you'll insta-down them after the stun... once stunned, if the Survivor is injured you can take the stun and than just hit them right after! If they're healthy, you can take the stun and than just run right up to them and chainsaw THEM!

This for sure is his best build imo, just because of how useful Enduring is for Killers like Billy and LF... and also it's a good build BECAUSE of how their powers work with their chainsaw... it's a win-win all around.

CONCLUSION (Tl;dr)

If you want to just use base-kit (this means no add-ons BUT with perks) than you'll have to be on top of them when there is nothing around. You can still do it when trees are around, but be prepared to loop around that tree to not hit it and instead down them.

You can also mind-game with it at pallets to force the drops or force them to go where you want them to by walking around the loop to break it on the opposite side of where you DON'T want them to go.

If you want a build or add-ons to help with LeatherFaces issues, than look above for the titles that tell you all about them!

Hope this helps,

see you in the fog...

Fibijean

Leatherface's chainsaw doesn't give him much of a speed boost - in fact, it slows him down significantly while charging so he usually loses distance. It's easier for Leatherface to maneuver around corners than Hillbilly, but it's still best to avoid running into walls and getting stopped in your tracks. For that reason, it's best used at close range and in open areas. Wait until you're basically within lunge range before using it. If you can catch the survivor in a position where they can't just sprint away or duck behind a large obstacle, it's very difficult for them not to get downed.

Zeidoktor

While I agree with leveling the Cannibal for Barbecue and Chili, I generally recommend the Trapper or Wraith as Starter Killers to actually play since they're relatively straightforward to use, their powers aren't difficult to handle, and the Wraith's perks are good for tracking help.

My roommate tried Hillbilly first and had a hell of a time with his chainsaw. So do I, in fact, to to the point that to back to back Killer games, one as Billy and one as Freddy, who I enjoy playing as, were night and day in how they ended. But lately he's been playing Trapper to much greater success.