Quick Links
Dead by Daylight, the popular asymmetrical horror game, features a wide variety of perks for both the Killers and Survivors. Each perk has its own unique effects and provides a different experience for all players to work around. However, with hundreds of perks in Dead by Daylight, it can be quite difficult trying to learn what each one does.
Luckily, certain perks have been grouped into different categories: Hex, Boon, Scourge Hook, and Teamwork. The perks in these categories share common traits, and their effects are instantly recognizable. Hex and Boon perks are powerful, but expendable, gameplay boosts connected to Totems. Scourge Hooks make Killers think more carefully about where they hook Survivors. Teamwork perks encourage Survivors to cooperate to survive. Players who are trying to understand these perk types better can gain a better understanding of them here.
Hex
Hex perks are one of the oldest perk types in Dead by Daylight, initially arriving in the game with The Hag. This perk type is unique to Killers. If a Hex perk is selected, one of the five Dull Totems on the map will be randomly selected to become a Hex Totem. The Killer will be able to see the aura of this Totem at all times. If multiple Hex perks are selected, each perk will have its own unique Totem in the match. Each Hex perk will remain active throughout the match unless it is cleansed by a Survivor. Once cleansed, the perk will deactivate immediately.
Hex perks are incredibly powerful, so any Killers running them should make sure to keep an eye on their Totem, and make sure no pesky Survivors are trying to get rid of it. There are currently 14 Hex perks in Dead by Daylight. Some of these include Devour Hope, Ruin, Face the Darkness, No One Escapes Death, and Plaything.
Some Hex perks won't activate until a certain set of requirements has been met. For example, No One Escapes Death will only light up a Totem once all the Generators have been completed. However, if the Survivors cleanse all 5 Dull Totems before the endgame, this perk won't be able to activate.
Boon
Boon perks were first added to Dead by Daylight in the Hour of the Witch Chapter. This perk type is unique to Survivors and allows them to make use of the Totem mechanic to gain some powerful effects. Survivors who have at least one Boon perk equipped can bless any Dull or Hex Totem to turn it into a Boon. It takes 14 seconds to bless a Dull Totem and 28 seconds for a Hex Totem. However, blessing a Hex Totem will remove it from the game. Boon Totems have a radius of 24 meters - this means that their associated effects are only active in this area.
All Survivors will be able to see the Aura of a Boon Totem throughout the match. If the Survivor blessing a Totem has multiple Boon perks equipped, each perk will be associated with the one Totem they bless. If the Boon is snuffed out by the Killer, the Survivor can continue to Boon a Totem indefinitely.
There are 4 Boon perks in Dead by Daylight. These include Circle of Healing, Dark Theory, Exponential, and Shadow Step. Each perk has its own powerful effects. For example, Dark Theory will grant Survivors in the Boon's radius a 2% Haste status effect, whereas Circle of Healing will boost the speed of Altruistic healing.
Scourge Hook
Scourge Hooks were initially introduced to Dead by Daylight in Chapter 21: Hellraiser, and are a unique perk type for Killers. When a Scourge Hook perk is equipped, four hooks in the Trial will become Scourge Hooks. These are visible to the Killer in a white outline. To Survivors, they can't be distinguished from regular hooks, unless they use the perk Saboteur. Hooking a Survivor on a Scourge Hook will activate the chosen perk's effects.
There are currently 4 Scourge Hook perks in Dead by Daylight. These include Floods of Rage, Gift of Pain, Monstrous Shrine, and Pain Resonance. One of the most popular Killer perks is Pain Resonance. This perk activates every time a Survivor is hooked for the first time. Once hooked, the Generator with the most progress will explode and start to lose progress immediately.
Teamwork
The Teamwork mechanic was first added to Dead by Daylight in its 27th Chapter - Tools of Dread. This perk type is unique to Survivors, as it activates after a Survivor finishes a healing action on another Survivor. It will provide both Survivors with some sort of buff, depending on the perk being used. The perk's buffs will last as long as the Survivors stay within 12 meters of each other, promoting cooperation and teamwork.
Currently, there are 2 Teamwork perks in Dead by Daylight. Teamwork: Collective Stealth is one of Renato Lyra's unique perks. This perk will suppress both Survivors' Scratch Marks after completing a healing action. Teamwork: Power of Two belongs to Thalita Lyra, and will grant both Survivors a 5% Haste status effect.
Dead by Daylight is currently available for Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.