Summary
The asymmetrical multiplayer gameDead by Daylightfrom Behaviour Interactive is an absolute treat for horror fans. Pitting four Survivors against a ruthless Killer,Dead by Daylightforces players to work together to survive their very own version of a slasher movie.
With all DLCs combined with the base game ofDead by Daylight, there are currently 44 Survivors and counting for players to choose from and forKillers to get their hands on. Featuring a wide variety of gameplay features and tricks, as well as a unique combination of original and famous horror characters, it can be daunting for players to decide who to play.
Updated on February 18th 2025, by Mara Cowley:Dead by Daylight is still alive and well, constantly churning out new chapters and paragraphs that expand its list of Survivors, bringing even more playable figures and perks into the rotation. New releases have since arrived, breathing a fresh breath of air into the hearty roster of available survivors, including the famed explorer and archaeologist Lara Croft from the hit game series Tomb Raider — as well Dracula and Trevor from the hit Capcom series Castlevania. Now that players have had their fill of crossovers (for now), it is time to put the spotlight back on original Survivors like Taurie Cain, but where will they rank among thebest survivors in DbD?
45Quentin Smith
A Nightmare On Elm Street
Quentin Smithfrom The Nightmare on Elm Street series, specifically the remake, seems to not offer as much as other characters. The “Wake Up!” perk is only useful in the final moments of the game and only within a specific range of the Exit Gates. “Pharmacy” guarantees a Med-Kit but doesn’t really offer anything else. The perk that seems to be the most helpful is “Vigil,” which offers a boost to each Survivor’s recovery.
44Laurie Strode
The Halloween Chapter
FromHalloween,Lauriecan use “Sole Survivor,” so her aura can’t be read by the Killer within a certain range. “Decisive Strike” can be used to easily escape the Killer’s grasp, while “Object of Obsession” can provide a unique challenge of having Laurie’s and the Killer’s auras visible to each other.
43Ace Visconti
Of Flesh And Mud
Most ofAce’sperks aren’t very useful. Both he and other Survivors can gain stackable Luck bonuses for up to 9%, which isn’t very helpful for the game. “Ace in the Hole” allows him to retrieve an add-on with a Very Rare rating or lower, which can be nice but doesn’t help with the game’s overall goal of survival. “Open-Handed” is perhaps the most useful of Ace’s abilities, allowing him to increase the range of his Aura readings.
42Ash J. Williams
Ash Vs Evil Dead
It’s quite unfortunate thatAshfrom theEvil Deadseries isn’t very engaging. The most useful perk is likely “Man of Mettle” but more so for the other Survivors than Ash himself.
“Flip-Flop” is also somewhat useful, depending on whether players prefer recovery or wiggle progression. “Buckle Up” is essentially useless, simply allowing players to read the recovery progress of others.
41Yoichi Asakawa
Sadako Rising
While fans of the 1998 Japanese horror filmTheRingmay rememberYoichias a young boy, in the events ofDead by Daylight, he’s now full-grown and ready to take on the vengeful spirit of Sadako. His skills range from niche to semi-useful. “Parental Guidance” allows players to have their scratch marks, grunts of pain, and pools of blood suppressed for 5, 6, or 7 seconds after stunning the Killer. It’s a fine perk but useful only in the specific circumstance of being able to stun the Killer.
“Empathetic Connection” is Yoichi’s most useful perk, as injured Survivors within a 32, 64, or 96-meter radius will see Yoichi’s aura. Yoichi will alsoheal Survivors 10% faster, making this perk useful for anyone playing medic. His boon, “Dark Theory,” which gives players a 2% Haste status effect that lingers for 2, 3, or 4 seconds after leaving the boon radius, is nice in theory but not very useful overall.
40Trevor Belmont
Castlevania
FromCastlevaniafame, Trevor Belmontis now lending his vampire-hunting expertise to the realm of the entity, where his nemesis Dracula has also been brought. His perks help him keep a close eye on the Killer and give him the edge he just might need to survive long enough to fight another day. Though his perks might not be the best in the meta right now, they are worth checking out for the Belmont experience alone.
39Taurie Cain
Doomed Course
Introduced in the Doomed Course, Taurie is a Survivor with Scottish flair, inducted into the cult, The Black Talon, which all of her family were part of. She was intended to be a sacrifice, and now, in the Entity’s realm, she will find herself in the role of sacrifice time and time again. Hopefully, she can find a way to escape with her perks, but they do fall a little short when compared to all the other survivors.
38Elodie Rakoto
A Binding Of Kin
Arriving on the scene with the Twins Killer, Elodie is a rather adept Survivor, but her perks sadly fall short when compared to others that shine strongly in the meta. Though she can potentially beguile Killers with either Deception or Power Struggle for fun game moments, they don’t see much practical play as they are entirely situational.
37The Troupe - Aestri Yazar & Baermar Uraz
Dungeons And Dragons
One wondered whetherfans might see familiar faces from the vast library ofDungeons and Dragonsheroessuch as Drizzt, Minsc, or Dove Falconhand. Instead, players were given two completely new survivors, collectively known as the troupe, two bards called Aestri and Baermar. Players can swap between the two bards through the cosmetics tab, as both Survivors share the exact same perks, and function more like a legendary skin of other characters such as Chris and Sheva, which are cosmetics available to purchase for Leon and Jill. These perks, while fun to use and definitely fitting for niche scenarios, simply aren’t as well-rounded as others.
36Alan Wake
Alan Wake
From the excellentAlan Wake, the eponymous hero arrived in the fog shortly after the second game’s release, bringing another horror game icon toDbD’s Survivor roster. His perks are more focused on items and their usefulness than outfoxing the Killer, which can make them situational, but they are still very valuable when such situations arise. As expected of Alan Wake, there is one perk thatmakes good use of light, just like in his own game.
