Why Nerfed Self-Healing is Killing the Thrill in Dead by Daylight

The self-healing mechanic in Dead by Daylight has been a topic of debate, but it's time to seriously consider buffing it, especially for solo players who rely on it far more than in coordinated teams. Here's why:

First, the idea that buffing self-healing would make being injured "no big deal" overlooks the core dynamics of the game. Even with self-care, healing takes time—precious time that could be spent on objectives like working on generators or saving teammates. Survivors still need to find a safe place to heal, and they risk getting caught and downed if they misjudge the situation. Buffing self-healing wouldn’t suddenly make injuries irrelevant; it would just give survivors a more reasonable chance to recover without being overly dependent on their team. In solo queue, you often have to rely on yourself.

Additionally, relying on perks like Botany Knowledge, medkits, or Resurgence can be a gamble. Medkits can be lost to Franklin’s Demise, and you don’t always have the luxury of running multiple healing perks that take up crucial perk slots. Buffing self-healing slightly would give survivors more flexibility without overshadowing existing healing options. It’s about balance and player choice—giving survivors, especially those in solo queue, the tools they need to stay in the game longer without breaking the game’s core tension.

It’s also important to remember that the misuse of self-care (players hiding in corners or taking too long to heal) isn’t a flaw in the perk itself but rather in the playstyle. Any perk can be misused, and we don't generally punish perks for that. What we should focus on is how buffing self-healing can encourage survivors to stay engaged and make smarter decisions. A more reliable self-care option won’t lead to survivors hiding away—if anything, it’ll empower them to get back in the action faster.

Let’s be clear: Dead by Daylight is often balanced around high-level, coordinated play, but the majority of players aren’t in a well-oiled SWF team. For solo queue players, self-healing is a lifeline. Buffing it even a little would give them more agency in matches where they can’t always count on random teammates to heal them. It's about leveling the playing field and making the game more enjoyable for everyone—not just those who have a full squad of friends on comms.

In short, a buff to self-healing would provide a much-needed improvement to the solo survivor experience without tipping the scales too much in favor of survivors. It’s a reasonable, measured adjustment that would keep the game challenging while giving players more strategic options and reducing unnecessary frustration.

I appreciate your perspective on the issue. It's true that teamwork and strategic healing are important in Dead by Daylight. However, the current self-healing speed does have its drawbacks, especially for solo players who might not always have reliable teammates. While having a buddy heal you is often faster, not all survivors can rely on that option consistently.

A self-healing buff to 35% or even 45% would help balance the playing field by giving solo players more flexibility and independence. This would make self-care a viable option without completely undermining the benefit of team healing. Additionally, buffing Circle of Healing to also provide a self-care option would further enhance its utility. It would allow survivors to heal themselves more effectively while still benefiting from the perk’s area of effect for teamwork.

This change would address the potential abuse of self-care by maintaining the advantage of team healing but also making self-care a more practical choice for solo players. Ultimately, a slight buff in self-care and an enhancement to Circle of Healing would improve the game's balance and make the experience more enjoyable for players who find themselves frequently playing solo or facing unreliable teams.

You raise a good point about the contrast between reliable self-healing and the thrill of high-stakes gameplay. However, the idea behind buffing self-healing or Circle of Healing isn’t to eliminate thrill or challenge but to offer a more balanced experience for solo survivors.

Self-healing is meant to provide a viable option for solo players who might not always have access to teammates or who might face situations where teamwork isn't always possible. It’s about giving survivors a bit more agency and reducing the frustration of being left helpless when isolated. This doesn’t mean removing thrill or pressure from the game; it just ensures that solo players have a fair chance to recover without making the Killer's job significantly easier.

Balancing self-healing or Circle of Healing is about finding that middle ground where solo players can feel empowered without making the game overly easy or removing the challenge. It’s about creating a more inclusive and balanced experience for all players.

Players from these servers have a completely different strategic approach in matches. They don’t rely on altruism as much people from American servers do. Therefore, it is a form of survival in such niche environment.

The strategy and game pace would change gradually in the given server. Killers would create a counter play as they always have found, such as map pressure, perks, mind games, baits, etc.