Escaping Dead By Daylight: Strategies For Survivors

Camping is a common strategy in FPS games like Dead by Daylight, where players remain in one spot for an extended period instead of moving about the map. In Dead by Daylight, camping usually involves the Killer remaining near a Survivor on the hook, preventing other Survivors from rescuing their teammate. While this strategy can be lethally efficient for the Killer, it can also ruin the game for the victim and other Survivors. To counter camping, Survivors can use perks like Borrowed Time and Kindred, which help make rescues safer. Additionally, Survivors can focus on completing generators and other objectives to escape, rather than swarming the hooked Survivor, as this will only incentivize the Killer to continue camping.

Understand why camping occurs

In Dead by Daylight, camping is a strategy that involves remaining in one spot for an extended period of time rather than moving about the map. It primarily consists of the Killer remaining near a Survivor on the hook, denying other Survivors the ability to rescue their teammate. This forces the Survivors to make a difficult choice: attempt to rescue the hooked Survivor and risk being caught by the Killer, or leave the hooked Survivor to die.

Camping can be a lethally efficient strategy for Killers, and it often stems from a desire to secure easy kills. By camping, Killers can take advantage of the altruism of other Survivors, who may attempt risky and foolhardy rescues out of a sense of duty to their teammates. This can quickly turn the game in the Killer's favour, as the longer it takes for Survivors to unhook their teammate, the greater the likelihood that the Killer will return and deny the rescue attempt.

While some Killers may camp carelessly or out of spite, others do so with a clear purpose. Some common forms of camping include facecamping, where the Killer stands directly in front of the hooked Survivor, and proxy camping, where the Killer roams the immediate area to scare off potential rescuers.

Understanding why camping occurs is crucial for Survivors who want to counter this strategy and improve their chances of survival in Dead by Daylight.

Learn how to counter face-camping

Face-camping is a common strategy in *Dead by Daylight* where the Killer remains near a Survivor on the hook, either standing directly in front of the Survivor (face-camping) or roaming the immediate area to scare off potential rescuers (proxy camping). While this strategy can be lethally efficient for the Killer, there are several ways for Survivors to counter it:

• The Trade: One common method of counterplay is the trade, where a Survivor rescues the hooked Survivor in front of the Killer, knowing that the Killer will immediately down and likely hook and camp the rescuer. While this may seem pointless, it gives the rest of the team time to finish generators, heal, and complete other objectives. With fewer hook states, the newly hooked Survivor will last longer before dying, giving the team a better chance to escape together.
• Borrowed Time: One of the most effective perks against camping is Borrowed Time (Bill Level 35), which grants the Endurance Status Effect to a Survivor for 12 seconds after they are unhooked. This allows the team to make trades more safely, as the rescued Survivor can position themselves between the Killer and their rescuer, absorbing the Killer's hit and allowing both Survivors to escape.
• Kindred: Another useful perk is Kindred (General), which reveals the aura of the Killer when they are within 16 meters of the hook. This provides crucial information to the team about the Killer's location and strategy, allowing them to plan their rescue attempt accordingly.
• Coordinated Save: One of the most difficult and riskiest tactics is the coordinated save, where multiple Survivors work together to rescue a camped Survivor. This typically involves multiple Survivors descending upon the hook simultaneously, with one Survivor performing the rescue while the others bodyblock and take hits to protect them.
• Focus on Gens: In some situations, the best strategy may be to simply focus on completing generators and escaping, especially if the Killer is a strong camper like the Cannibal. By doing so, you reward the Killer with only a single kill and a small number of Bloodpoints, rather than risking the entire team being killed.
• Signal the Camp: If you are being camped, signal to your teammates that the Killer is camping by tapping the struggle button just enough so they can see your character twitching. This will help them make an informed decision about whether to attempt a rescue or focus on other objectives.

Try the trade method

One of the most common methods to counter camping in Dead by Daylight is the trade method. In this strategy, a Survivor will rescue the hooked Survivor in front of the Killer, knowing that the Killer will immediately down and most likely hook and camp them. While it may seem like trades are pointless, they are actually very important.

The newly hooked Survivor will buy the rest of the team time to finish generators, heal, and complete other necessary objectives. The team can then return to the hook with a plan to rescue the hooked Survivor and hopefully escape together. The fewer hook states a Survivor has, the more beneficial a trade is, as the newly hooked Survivor will last longer before dying.

It's important to remember that a Killer only has an incentive to leave the hook if there are Survivors elsewhere to chase. Having all three teammates swarming the hooked Survivor is the best way to guarantee the Killer won't stop camping, as no generator progress is being made.

To make trades safer, Survivors can use perks such as Borrowed Time (Bill Level 35), which grants the Endurance Status Effect for 12 seconds after they are unhooked. This allows the rescuing teammate to take a hit during the save, and the rescued Survivor can then position themselves between the Killer and their rescuer to absorb the hit with Borrowed Time, allowing both Survivors to escape.

Use perks to counter camping

There are several perks that can help survivors counter camping killers in Dead by Daylight. The most effective and popular perk is Borrowed Time (Bill Level 35). This grants the rescued survivor Endurance Status for 12 seconds after they are unhooked, allowing them to take a hit and then position themselves between the Killer and their rescuer. This means both Survivors can escape.

Kindred (General) is another useful perk against campers. When a Survivor is within 16 meters of the hook, this perk reveals the aura of the Killer. This gives the team crucial information about how to respond. For example, knowing the location of a face-camping Cannibal means the team can plan a rescue or escape.

Other perks that can help counter camping include Dead Hard (Level 35) and Decisive Strike (Laurie Level 40). These perks give the hooked survivor a slim chance of rescuing themselves.

Additionally, a coordinated save can be a risky but effective tactic. This involves multiple survivors working together to rescue a hooked teammate. Every available teammate must bodyblock and take hits so that the Killer cannot take anyone down.

Know when to focus on gens

Knowing when to focus on gens is a crucial aspect of countering camping strategies in Dead by Daylight. When a Killer adopts a camping strategy, they aim to deny Survivors the opportunity to rescue their hooked teammates. This forces the Survivors to make a difficult choice: attempt a risky rescue or leave the hooked Survivor to die.

• Assess the Killer's strategy: If the Killer is facecamping or proxy camping, the risk of attempting a rescue is significantly higher. In such cases, it may be more strategic to focus on completing generators and advancing towards escape.
• Time management: Completing generators takes time, and the longer it takes Survivors to attempt a rescue, the greater the likelihood that the Killer will return and deny the unhook. Therefore, if the Killer is occupied elsewhere, take advantage of this opportunity to focus on gens and create a plan for a coordinated rescue attempt later.
• Trade-offs: Performing a trade can buy valuable time for the team. If one Survivor intentionally gets hooked in front of the Killer, it gives the rest of the team time to work on gens, heal, and prepare for a more coordinated rescue attempt later. While this strategy may seem counterintuitive, it can be effective when executed properly.
• Team communication: Effective communication is essential. If you are the hooked Survivor, signal to your teammates that the Killer is camping by tapping the struggle button. This will cause your character to twitch, indicating to your teammates that the Killer is nearby. Use this signal sparingly to avoid giving away your position to the Killer.
• Perk selection: Certain perks can be advantageous when countering a camping Killer. Borrowed Time (Bill Level 35) grants Endurance Status to a Survivor for 12 seconds after they are unhooked, allowing them to absorb a hit and escape. Kindred (General) reveals the aura of the Killer within 16 meters of the hook, providing crucial information to the team.
• Avoid swarming: Avoid having all teammates swarm the hooked Survivor. This will only incentivize the Killer to continue camping as no progress is made on gens. Instead, have one or two Survivors focus on rescue attempts while the others work on gens.

Remember, while it may be tempting to always try to rescue a hooked teammate, doing so against certain Killers or in certain situations can be a death sentence for the entire team. Assess the situation, communicate with your team, and make strategic decisions about when to focus on gens to increase your chances of survival and escape.

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