Trying to play killer

So I’ve been playing this game since November. I’m a surv main. And do pretty good at it rank 3. I’ve tried killer once and idk why it’s so hard. And get discouraged. Any tips?

Comments

  • Yamaoka
    Yamaoka Member Posts: 4,321

    DBD is basically two completely different games.

    Survivor: 3rd person jump and run game.

    Killer: 1st person game with variables depending on what killer you choose to play (i.e. almost similar to a FPS shooter when playing Deathslinger)

    That being said it takes a while to get the hang of either role so let me rephrase Bruce Lee on this:

    "if you want to learn how to play killer, play killer!"

  • OmegaXII
    OmegaXII Member Posts: 2,191
    edited February 2021

    First few killer games are very easy, as new survivors dont even know how to play. With your knowledge as rank 3 survivor, it's stomp.

    However, when you ranks up to green or purple, that's when killer starts to be hard.

    I suggest you play until red rank to see how the game looks like from killer perspective.

  • JPA
    JPA Member Posts: 1,685

    Accept that you will lose lots of games as you learn each Killer.

    Accept that without certain meta perks you will have a bad time winning against good survivors at top ranks (no Ruin, no Corrupt? good luck)

    When you accept the fact that you're not always going to win, you'll enjoy the game more, just focus on winning chases and improving your mind games each time, don't fixate on that 4K. There are people who can win without perks or with suboptimal builds, they just tend to have 3k+ hours playing Killer.

    Don't stress about not always pipping up, the pipping system is unrealistic anyway as very rarely will a killer at red ranks be able to get 12 hooks and iridescent medals for gen defense and chase, as you have to slug etc. to stop the gen speeds. Also you will have games were you sweat your heart out, get 2 hooks on everyone, but still get a depip because it's a 0K.

    Try not to stress out as you will get survivors ganging up on you in the lobby quite a lot and blaming you when they lose, and saying your bad when they win. (Not ALL survivors but a substantial amount of them seem to want to make the game unfun for the Killer).

    It is great fun though and a good learning experience.

  • selflessnea
    selflessnea Member Posts: 565

    As many people have said you will need to play alot to become a viable player with all killers.

    What you can do to make it easier is watch some videos of people playing killer if you haven't already. This will help you see how games will go and hopefully give you some tactical help on whatever killer you wanna play. Another thing is to just go on to have fun. You will win some and lose some. Don't let people get you tilted.

  • Dingo88
    Dingo88 Member Posts: 219

    Like people have said don't worry about pips learn how to use your killer as much as possible before u hit red ranks.

    because when u hit red ranks it becomes very difficult

  • edgardot02
    edgardot02 Member Posts: 149
    edited February 2021

    Try to unlock essential perks.

    essential combo that never fails and make your game more easy are:


    corrupt intervention

    pop goes the weasel



    in my opinion I enjoy a lot more playing as killer than survivor.

    so many variables playstyle whit every killer

    your game depends only of you it doesn't feel the same winning as a team than winning completely by yourself.

  • Kazim
    Kazim Member Posts: 229
    edited February 2021

    Don't get used to the noed, sometimes using it is okay.

    Don't always want to win the 4k if you can't, don't get mad.

    Try all the killers and level them up as much as you can.

    Quit chases with good loopers.

    Son of light and Spies from the shadows helps a lot as a rookie killer.

    For example before you want to win with billy learn to move around the map without crashing, the same with bubba first learn not to crash with the chainsaw.

    Combine perks with addons.

    Watch stremers.

  • poomanchu
    poomanchu Member Posts: 242

    All excellent tips, & tricks stated above! One thing to mention though, if you don’t have bad temper, just give it some time, you will. Some survivors can be jerks at the higher levels, you WILL get bullied, and at times lucky to get hits much less hooks. The frustration is REAL! Hopefully your frame rate, and internet is good, because the slightest hiccup will cause you to smack a tree, or end up on the wrong end of a loop. It’s massively frustrating at times. That’s why when I get fed up, I bring Franklins, or play Trapper. Fun times!

  • Tank
    Tank Member Posts: 63

    Alright, for those of you that wanna know what Killer is all about, it's like this y'all. c'mon. Killer is 10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 50% pain and 100% reason to remember the game.

    He doesn't need his 4k every match. He just wants to kill whether it's with M1 or the Powers. They feel so unlike every other Killer, alone. In spite of the fact that Survivors still think that they know 'em. But hook 'em, they know the code, it's not about the victory. It's all about the entity and making some noise. Bringing a Mori, making sure the Hex stays up. That means when you put it down, Surv's pickin' it up.

    Who the heck is the Hag anyway? She's never really seen much. Never concerned with chases but still leavin' them hooked up. Humbled through opportunities, given despite the fact, that many misjudge her because she makes a livin' from laying traps. Put it together herself, now the picture connects. Never asking for Survivor nerfs, or to get some respect. She's only focused on the web she drew; her will is beyond reach. And now it all unfolds, the skill of an artist. This is 20% skill, 80% fear. Be 100% clear 'cause Freddy is ill.

    Who would've thought that he'd be the one to set the forums in flames. Then have him wreckin' with Sloppy Butcher, Jump Rope and Swing Chains. Teleport back, dropped Pop, took the slowdown perks. Unlike Nurse mains, Freddy has the stupidest VS. This dude is the truth, now everybody be givin' him nerf posts. His hate's through the roof; I heard he hookin' the SWF too. This is 10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will, 50% pleasure, 5% pain and a 100% reason to disconnect from the game.

    They call him Oni, he's sick, and he plays kinda like Mike. After the campfire he's slow, then you M1 Survivors to snow (ball). Not a traditional Samurai; he's an Oni; a demon. Survivors want to match with and Trappers hope to be him. Power takes years in the makin' patiently waitin' to blow, now the revival of Yamaoka's takin' over the globe. He's got an ancestral line; her power is equally cool. You won't believe the kind of kills that come out of this kid's tools.

    She's not your usual mindgame or juke. She knows how to work the power she's got, even ignoring the (pallet) drop. She often gets a comment on her rage. People keep asking her, "Was it a given at birth, or does it come from the nurturing?" No, she's livin' proof Kazan was speakin' the truth. You'll hear the buzzin' quicker with her Bloody Hair Brooch. Rin and her line are known around as one of the best, dedicated to what they do and give a hundred percent.

    Don't forget Trapper, nobody really knows how or why he works so hard. It seems like he's never got time, because he picks up the traps to place them every time. And I've seen him at work when that trap goes off in his mind. It's like a design is written in his head every time, before he even knows about the Key or Borrowed Time. And those Add Ons he runs with, the Perks he assigns? Ridiculous, without even trying, how does he do it? It's 10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will, 50% pleasure, 5% pain and a hundred percent reason to remember the game.


    (This is apparently what happens during long lobbies/load times when you drink and DBD, remember to consume alcohol responsibly. I wanted to improve the last part more, but I'm not a Trapper. Pun intended. )

  • TheWarNung
    TheWarNung Member Posts: 794

    Playing killer is a lot more fun and satisfying (for me at least), but it can also be a lot more stressful since you have literally zero downtime and the amount of information you need to keep track of is immense. Managing your time and information is key; it's okay to give up on chases if the survivor is sticking to safe loops like glue or if you need to go defend your gens.

    There are little tricks you can use to help keep track of where survivors are: if someone gets saved from a hook and healed 16 seconds later you can reasonably expect that they and the person who rescued and healed them are going to jump on the nearest gen together. If you can keep track of where you hooked them and how fast they were healed you'll know where to find them. This kind of information is crucial.

    Expect to lose gens early on but make up for it later as the survivors have fewer gens to do and fewer pallets to run to. I often hear new killers getting dismayed because they lose 1-3 gens in the first couple minutes. This is totally normal and you always always have time to make a comeback.

    The most valuable skills you can learn are how to down survivors quickly. This is a big topic and I can't explain it all here but as other people have said you can check out streamers to see what they can teach you. I particularly recommend Otzdarva (https://www.youtube.com/c/notOtzdarva/videos). Mindgaming your red glow to give survivors less time to react is important, but the best advice to winning chases I can give you is to be precise rather than fast. It's always worth taking the extra second to ensure you'll get the hit rather than attacking immediately and getting 360'd/Dead-Harded.

  • WishIcouldmain
    WishIcouldmain Member Posts: 4,082

    Which killer have you been looking at? Tell me and I'll give you a good build and tips.

  • TheWarNung
    TheWarNung Member Posts: 794

    I will drink responsibly when you pry this beer out of my shaking, sweaty fingers.

    Until then I'm going to enjoy the aroma of Pacific Northwestern hops and bounce off of walls and whack people with my cane until I...

    ...wait, what were we talking about?

  • Tank
    Tank Member Posts: 63

    Billy, come on now. It's not worth the risk. You could seriously hurt someone.

  • poomanchu
    poomanchu Member Posts: 242

    Perfect example of your statement about not getting bummed if you lose gens early. Playing Trapper on Red Forest... Difficult to say the least. Lost all my Gens, exit gates open, had a guy on the hook, put three traps around him so I could try and maybe get another down elsewhere, before I even left the area, my traps caught all 3 of the remaining survivors. Left the match with a 4K. Glorious!

  • TheWarNung
    TheWarNung Member Posts: 794

    I'm trying to hurt people! It's just that it's really hard to steer this blasted chainsaw when I'm seeing double!

  • Tank
    Tank Member Posts: 63

    Just use your unpredictability as a weapon. They might be so utterly confused about why you sped straight past them with a charge that was so blatantly not going to hit into a clearly open space that they stop for a second out of fear.

  • nikkim
    nikkim Member Posts: 68

    Update guys I just did a killer match and got 4K.

    Thank you for everyone’s help! And for being so kind!!

  • nikkim
    nikkim Member Posts: 68

    I like ghost face or huntress Michael Myers too but I feel like it’s hard to use him if you’re just starting out

  • TheWarNung
    TheWarNung Member Posts: 794


    You never forget your first. Savor that adrenaline rush. You'll be telling your grandkids about this someday.

    Seriously though, good job. It only gets harder and more satisfying from here though, so keep your head on a swivel and your knife clean.

    Go forth and punish.

  • Tank
    Tank Member Posts: 63

    That's not even the best secret techniques. Streamers and good Killers will try to tell you about all these super thought out tactics to succeed, but nothing can prepare you for a Bubba who's so drunk he doesn't even know what play he's making. Makes them waste so many dead hards since you forget to attack when you really should have, for example.

    (This doesn't actually have any benefits, but it is fun.)

  • TheWarNung
    TheWarNung Member Posts: 794

    I probably shouldn't be sharing this, but a while back I woke up with a hangover and found my computer still on a post-match scoreboard for a Myers match that I didn't remember playing. Got that 4k Merciless though.

    Ahem... yeah, don't drink and DBD.

  • snax9111
    snax9111 Member Posts: 67

    i would suggest that you at least reach red ranks at least once as killer, in your lifetime of playing DBD, and playing couple of matches in red ranks. even if its not fun at high lvl, do that once, after that never pick up killer again if you dont want,

    so you could develop deeper understanding of the game, you get better at running killers, if you understand their power , how they try to mind game , and stuff like that,

    you start to say oh the killer came to this corner at the start of the match for no reason,hmm maybe he has a totem there.

    for me it help me be more relax, because i play both sides, if someone does some BM i go like OH he did that becuse of this , i dont take stuff personal because i have wider understanding. so go for it bro, do it at least once, best of luck to you

  • MadLordJack
    MadLordJack Member Posts: 8,814

    One random tip for playing killer: You will end up chasing people that you literally cannot track. Their scratchmarks will be insane and misleading, their blood will be either covered by foliage (because when I bleed on grass it all sinks to the dirt :) ), or hidden on dark soil, their Iron Will will remove all moans of pain or even breathing, and they will have tonnes of LoS blockers. And to top it all off, the Devs reworked chase music so that it covers footsteps in all but the most loud-feet maps.

    You cannot do anything about this. Get used to it. It is pain and it is not fair, but it happens. You will get used to guessing their pathing with time, but trust me when I say it never fully goes away.

  • nikkim
    nikkim Member Posts: 68
  • WishIcouldmain
    WishIcouldmain Member Posts: 4,082

    Ghostface definitely Sloppy and Nurses. Then Pop Thrilling or Ruin Undying whether you kick gens or not. Always try and approach to a spot behind a Object. Just don't stick to open areas. Since even if you get a mark in it doesn't matter if they can get to good loops. Huntress avoid monitor or Infectious since she's weird with her terror radius. Generally Huntress is aggressive so Ruin is better. Avoid perks involving pallets or windows since her hatchets done right can avoid those. Look for gaps that a hatchet can be tossed through. Definitely bring tracking perks since she can't stealth good. Michael depends on you can choose to be stealthy with him or aggressive. Anti heal Nurse's+Sloppy, Ultra Aggressive Monitor and Infectious, Anti loop Brutal and Bamboozle, Ultra stealth Monitor+Rabbit.

  • Patrick1088
    Patrick1088 Member Posts: 628

    Whats your issue exactly? Is it finding survivors, chases, prioritization, powers?

    I like killer since the game is constant and dynamic. There's no time to sit so its a constant game that requires full attention.

    If be happy to give my advice if I know the issues you're having.

  • nikkim
    nikkim Member Posts: 68

    Thank you. I’m going to level them up and try to get those perks. I appreciate all the help

  • nikkim
    nikkim Member Posts: 68

    I have trouble finding them if it’s a large map. And also chases as well when I get a stab sometimes I have no clue where they went until I hear their grunts

  • WishIcouldmain
    WishIcouldmain Member Posts: 4,082
    edited February 2021

    Tell me if it works and also don't get bothered by what others say you got this.

  • rglarson13
    rglarson13 Member Posts: 205

    I play Devour Michael -- Devour Hope, Hex: Undying, Thanatophobia, and Surveillance.

    It's fun as hell.

    Unexpected one-hit downs on people who think that they can clown around because I'm not T3 (or they just cleansed one totem). Insta-eject the d-bags. And then there's T3 if the totem fails.

    I stilltill get stomped once in a while but the SWF sweat squad, but overall super fun.

  • JPA
    JPA Member Posts: 1,685

    Yeah I play devour on Demo and Clown sometimes but only got Blight recently. Maybe I'll be able to get more consistency out of devour now

  • Shirokinukatsukami
    Shirokinukatsukami Member Posts: 1,624

    Running the game as killer is very different from survivor.

    • Tracking is something totally different and not a skill survivors learn.
    • Second the loops are in reverse. Learn how to counter the shack loop first of all because that is going to wreck you if the survivor knows what he's doing and you don't.
    • Third try not to get into the habit of camping, but learn when and how to slug and camp when needed. They are still really powerful strategies. Getting a basement hook is huge and is enough to win you the game if you play cheap, but you not going to get better at the game doing that.
    • Later on you should learn how to let go of a chase when you've gotten good at the game. But at first keep at the chase until you get it. You will learn a lot that way even if you are outclassed and the survivor loops you around for minutes.


  • niceguy22
    niceguy22 Member Posts: 17

    just hit m1 and u will hit someone from really far away

  • Patrick1088
    Patrick1088 Member Posts: 628

    I have similar issues. Whats helpful is Whispers as a Perk. Itll help point you in the right direction. I also enjoy Doctor since SB allows you to find all survivors in your TR.

    As far as after 1st hit, look up videos on how to follow scratch marks and trails of blood. Survivors can't walk away so you should be able to find their tracks. You can run sloppy Butcher to increase bleeding.

    Once the colorblind settings are in you can adjust then to a brighter color even if not colorblind and track survivors a lot easier.

  • 1) The very players have been ranting about gen speed for 4 years so don't feel discouraged if you're struggling

    2) Many players have thousands and thousands of hours in the game. Even at green ranks, not playing much and rank reset means it's possible to have 7000 hour surviors in low ranks.

    So if things go bad you're not the only person who has felt disappointed. Some killer streamers have thousands and thousands of hours and still rant about gen speed so don't worry about it just focus on what you can do.

    In my opinion you should get corrupt intervention its one of the most important perks. Without it if survivors spread out they can put so much work into 3 gens during your first chase, the time corrupt buys you is essential.

  • nikkim
    nikkim Member Posts: 68

    Thank you! That helps a lot. I have sloppy butcher too so I’m going to put that on

  • nikkim
    nikkim Member Posts: 68

    Yeah it’s crazy how fast they pop! I’ve never realized this much playing survivor side. But now I get how killers feel for sure. It’s hard and pressure is on the whole game