In Dead By Daylight, blinding and stunning the Killer is the key to ensuring your and your team’s survival. A well-timed stun can mean the difference between a clean getaway, a smooth save, or ending up on a hook yourself. It’s not as simple as pressing buttons and wiggling your mouse. The Killer never stays in one place, so you need sharp timing, smart positioning, and a good read on their next move.
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In this guide, you’ll find all possible ways and perks to stun and blind Killers, common mistakes to avoid, as well as some useful tips to help you save your teammates and stay alive longer.
What You Can Use To Stun Killers?
Here’s everything you can use to stun Killers in Dead by Daylight: From pallets and flashlights to Firecrackers and various handy perks.
Pallets
Pallets are the main mechanic for stunning Killers in Dead by Daylight. One of the best ways to land a stun is to fake running through the pallet, then quickly double back and drop it just as the Killer steps through. It takes practice, so don’t get discouraged if you get hit instead of stunning the Killer right away.
Be careful and don’t waste pallets, though. Every missed drop can make things harder for your team later in the match. Just like looping, knowing the map and learning the tiles are key to making the most of your pallets.
If you have yet to remember the layouts and struggle to find them during a chase, consider bringing the Windows of Opportunity perk to have pallets, vaults, and even breakable walls highlighted.
Flashlights
You can find flashlights in the Bloodweb or loot them from chests during a trial. The best moments to blind the Killer are when they’re pallet-stunned, breaking pallets, vaulting, or picking up a Survivor.
If you activate the flashlight too early, you can cancel and try again for a better shot. If you want to stay on the safer side, back away while shining the beam on the Killer’s face to hold your distance.
Keep your aim steady, as one common mistake is moving the light away too soon. Wait until you see ‘Killer Blind’ in the top right corner of your screen before stopping. If the Killer moves while you’re still shining the flashlight, you’ve missed your chance. And it’s now time to run!
Firecrackers And Flash Grenades
Firecrackers work similarly to Flash Grenades. They can blind, deafen, and even stun the Killer. However, they’re single-use items. Also, you can only get Firecrackers for a limited time during special events.
Using Firecrackers and Flash Grenades can be riskier than a flashlight, but they have their perks. Unlike flashlights, they don’t require the Killer to face you to work. For example, if the Killer is picking up a teammate with their back turned towards you, you can simply run past, drop a Firecracker or Flash Grenade, and wait for the explosion to do its job.
Perks
Certain perks can give you a serious advantage if your main goal is to stun the Killer, especially if you know how to combine them. Below are the best perks for Killer stunning that you may want to bring into the trial.
|
Perk |
Reason And Tips |
|---|---|
|
Decisive Strike |
Decisive Strike gives you one opportunity per trial to stun the Killer after being unhooked or unhooking yourself. It only lasts 60 seconds, and to pull it off, you’ll need to pass a Skill Check to stab the Killer. Using this perk makes you the Killer’s Obsession. However, you don’t need to worry too much since not every Killer has perks that can interact with Obsession. You can also choose to fail the Skill Check intentionally after the first hook, saving Decisive Strike for the second time you get unhooked when the risk to your life is greater. |
|
Flashbang |
Lets you craft a Flash Grenade that can stun and blind the Killer. To get one, you need to repair a generator until you reach 40% progress. Keep in mind that this number refers to your personal progress, not combined team progress. So if you want to trigger Flash Bang fast, you’ll want to fix a generator alone. After that, find a locker to craft the grenade. Once thrown, it explodes in a bright flash, blinding the Killer and any player in its range, including you. |
|
Power Struggle |
Power Struggle activates once you reach 15% Wiggle progress while being carried. If the Killer walks near a pallet, you’ll get the chance to drop it on them, stunning them and escaping. For even better odds, pair it with Flip-Flop to speed up your Wiggle progress and Boil Over to make it harder for the Killer to carry you. Also, wiggling free from the Killer’s grasp also stuns them. |
|
Head On |
Head On lets you stun the Killer by jumping out of a locker if they’re close enough. To activate it, you need to stay in a locker for at least three seconds. However, since Killers may not always patrol near lockers, and there’s little chance they’ll pass by the exact one you’re hiding in, you’ll need to plan ahead. Pay close attention to their movements and position yourself near a locker in their path. Alternatively, you can pretend to be an easy target and lure the Killer to a locker or work with a teammate to draw them toward your hiding spot for a surprise stun. If you’re taking Head On, consider pairing it with Blood Rush since it can help you instantly recover from the Exhausted status effect caused by Head On. That way, you can get more chances at stunning the Killer with lockers. |
|
Blast Mine |
A tactical perk that lets you booby-trap a generator. Your total generator repair progress must reach 40% before you can use Blast Mine. During the mine’s two minutes of active time, if the Killer kicks the generator, it’ll detonate, stunning them for four seconds. This can be a great way to punish a Killer who frequently sabotages your team’s hard work. |
|
Any Means Necessary |
This perk doesn’t directly stun Killers, but it lets you reset dropped pallets, giving you another chance to use them for a stun later in the match. This is especially useful if your teammates waste pallets too early. |
|
Champion Of Light |
With Champion of Light, using a flashlight doesn’t just blind the Killer. It also applies the Hindered status effect, slowing their movement speed. Also, you’ll receive Haste to buff your movement speed. So it’ll be even harder for the Killer to chase you down. |
You can combine perks, items, and the environment to pull off some nasty stun combos. For example, take Blood Rush, Decisive Strike, Head On, and Flashbang.
After unhooking or being unhooked, if you get caught, use Decisive Strike to stun the Killer, then make a quick escape to a locker. While hiding, craft a Flash Grenade, then burst out with Head On for another stun. Toss the Flash Grenade for yet another hit.
If you’re running Blood Rush, you can immediately remove your Exhausted status to perform another Head On. Pay close attention to your perks’ cooldowns and availability, though, to avoid unfavorable scenarios.
What Are Some Common Mistakes?
Here are some common mistakes when it comes to stunning killers:
|
Mistake |
Why? |
|---|---|
|
Trying To Blind Killers With Lightborn |
Killers with Lightborn have immunity from being blinded by any currently available light source in the game. So no matter how many times you use a flashlight or throw Firecrackers and Flash Grenades or trap them with Blast Mine, they won’t be affected. Also, your aura will be revealed to the Killer, which makes you a walking target. |
|
Dropping Pallets Too Soon |
If the Killer isn’t close enough, you’ve wasted both a stun opportunity and a pallet that won’t respawn. Watch their movements. Are they hesitating? Or are they committing to a chase? Time your drop accordingly. |
|
Flashing Carelessly |
A flashlight won’t work unless you aim directly at the Killer’s face. If you point at their back or move the beam away too soon, you’ll waste battery and fail the stun. Keep your aim steady and wait for the ‘Killer Blind’ notification before stopping. |
|
Ignoring Cooldowns |
Some stun-related perks have long cooldowns. Don’t rely too heavily on them. Always keep track of which perks are available and have a backup plan in case they aren’t ready when you need them most. |
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