Dead By Daylight Best Survivor Perks, Ranked

In the horror game Dead by Daylight, each Killer has a unique power that allows them to terrorize survivors in their own way. Survivors don't have abilities, but they also have perks, which can equip them with a small advantage over the Killer.

Let's go over all of the best survivor perks in Dead by Daylight, as well as what utility they serve in the game and why you should choose them for your loadout.

1 December 2023 - This article has been updated and overhauled to reflect the recent changes to the game's meta.

Best Dead By Daylight Survivor Perks

Here are our top 10 Dead by Daylight survivor perks:

1. Deja Vu
2. Overcome
3. Lithe
4. Sprint Burst
5. Off The Record
6. Kindred
7. Prove Thyself
8. Boon: Circle of Healing
9. Windows of Opportunity
10. Plot Twist

Best Dead By Daylight Survivor Perks, Explained

So why, out of all of Dead by Daylight's many perks, do these ones top the list? We've explained why these are some of our favorite survivor perks below, and the reasons you might want to add them to your next build.

#10 - Deja Vu

Deja Vu might not have always been one of the top Dead by Daylight survivor perks, but over time, it's received buffs that put it on our top ten list. A perk once heavily hindered by a cooldown, players can now see generators at all times using Deja Vu. It reveals the three generators on the map that are closest together, too, allowing you to not only find generators - which is quite easy - but find the ones that you can complete to prevent a 3-gen situation (not so easy).

#9 - Overcome

Overcome is an Exhaustion perk, which makes up some of the most useful and popular perks in the game. Overcome gives you an extra speed boost after you're injured, which can often mean an easy getaway, especially against inexperienced killers. Coupled with perks that hide your scratch marks, Overcome can guarantee a safe getaway.

#8 - Lithe             

"After performing a rushed vault, break into a sprint of 150 % of your normal Running Movement speed for a maximum of 3 seconds.

• Lithe causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds.
• Lithe cannot be used when Exhausted."

Exhaustion perks give you a significant boost in Dead by Daylight, but they can't be used repeatedly. Lithe allows you to gain much distance from the Killer after a vault, enabling you to lose the chase.

Lithe is pretty much guaranteed to give you some form of benefit if you use it; you'll either gain distance on the Killer, resulting in a long chase, or you might be able to lose them altogether.

Lithe is one of Feng Min's teachable perks.

#7 - Sprint Burst

"When starting to run, break into a sprint at 150 % of your normal Running Movement speed for 3 seconds.

• Sprint Burst causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds.
• Sprint Burst cannot be used when Exhausted."

Sprint Burst, like Lithe, is an Exhaustion perk that can only be used sparingly. Once you use it, you'll have to recharge it - but it doesn't recharge while running.

Spring Burst can give you the initial boost you need to discourage the Killer from chasing you altogether; alternatively, just like Lithe, you might lose the Killer when using it.

One benefit of Sprint Burst over Lithe, though, is that you have more control over when you use it. You'll have to walk rather than run if you don't want to trigger it for most of the match, but it'll be worth it when you start to sprint and gain distance on an undoubtedly frustrated killer.

Sprint Burst is one of Meg Thomas' teachable perks.

#6 - Off The Record

"You have learnt that a quiet approach is sometimes best.

• After being unhooked or unhooking yourself, Off the Record activates for the next 60/70/80 seconds:

• Prevents your Aura from being revealed to the Killer, if they attempt to read it.

• Suppresses Grunts of Pain when injured.

• Grants the Endurance Status Effect.

  • This effect is cancelled prematurely if you perform a Conspicuous Action.

• Off the Record deactivates once the Exit Gates are powered."

For a long time, Off The Record was commonly regarded as one of the most useless perks in Dead by Daylight. Very few players included it in their build, for it didn't serve a lot of utility.

That changed after the June perk overhaul, which brought Off the Record into the game's meta. Now, especially if you're playing with friends, you can use your Off the Record wisely to take extra hits for your team and keep all of you standing for longer.

Off the Record is one of Zarina Kassir's teachable perks.

#5 - Kindred

Kindred has long been considered one of the best perks in Dead by Daylight, especially for solo survivor builds, and for good reason. This perk not only allows you to see all other survivors when one is hooked, letting you know if you should go in for the save, but it also reveals the killer's location to you provided they're in close proximity to the hook. This means you'll know when to avoid making the save, making this perk the perfect way to combat face camping.

#4 - Prove Thyself

"Increases your Repair speed by +15 % for each other Survivor within 4 meters of your location, up to a maximum of +45 %.

• This effect is also applied to all other Survivors within that range.

• Grants 50/75/100 % bonus Bloodpoints for Cooperative actions."

Prove Thyself does not stack with other instances of itself.

As a survivor, you can't escape unless you complete all four generators (or, if you're a lucky last-standing survivor, find the hatch). As such, completing generators quickly and efficiently is essential.

Prove Thyself gives you and your teammates a generator progression boost for working together. As a bonus, you'll also get extra co-op Bloodpoints for using this perk. It's a great way to earn Bloodpoints fast.

Prove Thyself is one of Dwight Fairfield's teachable perks.

#3 - Boon: Circle of Healing

"A Boon that offers comfort amidst the terror.

• Press and hold the Active Ability button near a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem.

• Soft chimes ring out within a radius of 24 meters.

• Survivors inside the Boon Totem's range benefit from the following effects:

  • Increases all Healing speeds by 40/45/50 %.

  • Unlocks the Self-Care ability, allowing you to self-heal without needing a Med-Kit at 50 % of the normal Healing speed.

• Boon: Circle of Healing benefits from its effect.

• Boon: Circle of Healing does not stack with other instances of itself.

• You can only bless one Totem at a time.

• All equipped Boon Perks are active on the same Boon Totem."

Boon: Circle of Healing is one of the most powerful perks in the game, providing your whole team with a handy boost.

By creating a space where your teammates can go to heal without the help of their own perks, you can completely change the tone of the game and give fellow survivors endless second chances through healing.

Boon: Circle of Healing is one of Mikaela Reid's teachable perks.

#2 - Windows of Opportunity

"Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability.

• The Auras of Breakable Walls, Pallets, and Windows are revealed to you within 24/28/32 meters."

Windows of Opportunity is arguably the best survivor perk in the game for veterans and new players alike. Windows show you nearby vault and pallet locations, allowing you to decide how best to connect your loops between them.

The longer you stay up in a match, the more time your team can complete generators. Windows of Opportunity allows you to loop the Killer more efficiently, giving your teammates a... window of opportunity.

Windows of Opportunity is one of Kate Denson's teachable perks.

#1 - Plot Twist

As one of Nicolas Cage's signature perks, Plot Twist is sure to be true to its name when used appropriately. When things get dire and you're injured, you can use this perk to go down of your own accord - but you'll do it silently, and when you're back up, you'll have full health again. It's a risk for sure, but most killers won't be able to find you while you're down, making this a great way to get back on your feet and confuse the killer.

Dead By Daylight Best Survivor Builds

If you're curious about how to use the top perks to create a build, you should think about your playstyle and how each of the perks plays into it.

Are you highly efficient in the chase, gaining lots of chase points as you enjoy looping the Killer? Sprint Burst or Lithe might be for you.

On the other hand, if you're focused on altruism, you might try pairing Boon: Circle of Healing with a perk like Off the Record to not only allow your teammates to heal but also take hits for them.

For more Dead by Daylight news be sure to check out our dedicated section, or some of our Guides & Tutorials, just below: