Long time player Feedback on Current game balance

Hi all!

I’ve been playing Dead by Daylight since Michael Myers was first released, and I’ve never felt compelled to make a post like this but the current state of the game has pushed me to speak up. I truly love this game and want to see it continue to thrive, but right now, the balance between killers and survivors feels worse than it has in a long time.

1. Fog Vials:
The recent nerf to fog vials has rendered them nearly useless. I could understand adding a longer cooldown as a balancing measure, but making them easier to see through and limiting their total use per match has taken away what made them worthwhile. When survivors can bring other items with much greater impact, there’s little reason to use fog vials anymore.

2. Clown Buff:
The recent Clown buff is insane and excessive. Killers are already faster than survivors by default, and with certain perks, Clown can now achieve up to a 40% haste buff, which feels unplayable. Perks that enhance killer speed are extremely accessible, and I don’t think the impact of stacking them on top of this buff was fully considered. I honestly think Clown needs to be temporarily killswitched until this can be reviewed.

3. The Ghoul:
Playing against the Ghoul is frustrating to the point where I frequently see multiple teammates disconnect. His grab ability needs a cooldown, with add-ons that can improve it if desired, because right now it feels oppressive and drives players away from even wanting to face him.

4. Springtrap:
Springtrap also needs a rework. His doors often spawn too close to generators, which creates unfair pressure. Adding an audio cue when he teleports would help survivors counterplay, especially since he already gains undetectable status for a long duration after teleporting (which I also feel lasts too long). Combined with his ranged attack, he becomes overwhelming in most matches, and like the Ghoul, I often see teammates DC against him. On top of that, cameras and doors feel practically useless because he always knows when we’re using them, making them easy bait for him to secure kills.

Overall Thoughts:
I understand survivors shouldn’t be overpowered, and I’m not asking for that, but the skill and power discrepancy between high-level and mid-to-low-level players is massive. Killers in low- to mid-level ranks often feel too strong because overpowered builds are very accessible, and killers like Ghoul, Springtrap, and now Clown make matches feel unwinnable unless you’re playing in a well-coordinated SWF team.

These issues don’t make the game more fun for either side: they lead to frustration, disconnects, and fewer people wanting to play survivor. I hope the team can take a closer look at these changes and consider small, targeted nerfs to improve the overall experience.

I would also love to hear feedback on this post from killer and survivor mains alike. No hate, I just really want to see this game improve.