Summary
A Survivor’s success inDead By Daylightis never guaranteed, and escape can evade even the most adept player. What constitutes a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Survivor depends on what individual players deem a win. If surviving to the end is considered a win, then the best Survivors would be the ones who escape unscathed, but is this a fair assumption?
Survivors have a few objectives in the game, ranging from repairing generators to healing others and surviving chases with the Killer. MostDead By Daylightplayers will know that it isn’t as simple as ‘escape = best player.’ There are Survivors with terrible escape rates, according to statistics fromNightlight.gg, but are these trulythe worst Survivors inDead By Daylight?
10Kate Denson
Escape Rate: 41.2%
Kate Denson arrived inDead By Daylightalong with The Clown in June 2018. She quickly became a popular characterthanks to her helpful perks, many of which have stayed in player’s perk builds to this day.
It is not surprising to see Kate on a list of low escape rates, as she is used by the sort of player who enjoys engaging in a chase with the Killer. Her perks help gamers to find the best loops, escape chases, or confuse the Killer by suppressing scratch marks. If they are eventually captured, Boil Over can be the key to wriggling free from the Killer’s grasp. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always guarantee escape, and Kate is often captured once again.
9Yui Kimura
Escape Rate: 41.15%
Yui Kimura and The Oni were introduced toDead By Daylightin December 2019. She comes with powerful perks that can be used to help teammates escape, but they often put her in harm’s way.
This Survivor is a favorite among brave players who don’t mind getting up close with the Killer if it means saving a teammate. Breakout, especially when combined with other anti-hook perks like Saboteur, can be a strong perk in the right hands. Players who use Yui are generally great teammates with the bravery and foresight to know when to rush in and help save another Survivor. Unfortunately, this courage means they can become a target for the Killer.
8Jill Valentine
Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy and The Nemesis all arrived in one specialResident Evilchapter back in June 2021. As a licensed character from a different horror franchise,Jill was instantly popular among veteran gamers.
The reason Jill appears on a list of Survivors with the highest escape rates could be due to a couple of reasons. Either she is being used by a new player who was attracted toDead By Daylightafter playingResident Evil, or she was tunneled out by a Killer who hated her use of Blast Mine. Jill players are generally fine. They’re not the worst teammates, but they’re not notably heroic either. Her low escape rate is more than likely caused by frustrated Killers who just wanted to kick a generator without being blasted in the face.
7Felix Richter
Escape Rate: 40.88%
Felix Richter and the chapter’s Killer, The Blight, stepped intoDead By Daylightin September 2020. His character is popular among many players but not for his perks, although Built to Last can be useful. Players tend to choose Felix for his cosmetics and his handsome face, and neither of these things helps with an escape.
Felix players are considered to be eithergreat with a flashlightor the first to be hooked. Unfortunately for Felix, the players who choose him are not adept at looping, but they do tend to try and get a flashlight save. This misplaced bravery and weak attempt at helping teammates is possibly the cause of the low escape rate.
6Adam Francis
Escape Rate: 39.97%
Adam Francis arrived in the Entity’s realm in September 2018 along with The Spirit. He isn’t the most popular character inDead By Daylightand has a low pick rate, but when he is chosen, he is used by some solid teammates.
Seeing an Adam Francis in theDead By Daylightlobby is a sign that the players might all make it out alive. Adam players are quietly confident, focus on getting the objectives done, and never leave a fellow Survivor on the hook. His low escape rate could only be down to the he will sacrifice himself for other players, even going as far as to unhook a teammate during the endgame and be left behind while others escape.
5Jake Park
Escape Rate: 39.09%
Jake Park is one of the original four Survivors who arrived together in June 2016 along with The Trapper. Jake’s perks would suggest that he attracts stealthy players who prefer to keep out of the Killer’s sight, but clearly, this isn’t the case.
Jake is the choice of players who have not been playing the game long. These ‘baby Survivors’ have no clue how the long list of Killer perks work or about scratch marks and noise notifications. They sprint across the map, fast-vault every window, and draw as much attention to themselves as possible. This would account for the low escape rate. Of course, this is a broad generalization, but while Jake players are usually the first on hook and the first to be sacrificed, there are a few who make it to the end.
4Detective Tapp
Escape Rate: 38.96%
Detective Tapp is another licensed character, this timecoming from theSawmovies. He arrived inDead By Daylightin January 2018 with The Pig. He is another character with a low pick rate but is an average teammate when he does appear.
His low escape rate is more than likely the result of his lack of skill more than anything else. Players who choose Detective Tapp are not the worst players by any means, but they don’t usually display any amazing skills either. This could be down to them being casual players who only started playing because they were a fan of theSawmovies.
3Jeff Johansen
Escape Rate: 38.5%
Jeff Johansen came toDead By Daylightwith The Legion in December 2018. His perks remain popular, and his metalhead aesthetic appeals to many players. He is such a well-loved character that when Jeff shows up in the lobby, even the Killer is pleased.
Jeff players are usually the type to go all-out for their team. Much like Adam Francis, Jeff is the one who will unhook another player even when he is injured and the Killer is on his trail. If the game is almost over, Jeff won’t leave a teammate on the hook. Instead, he will gladly sacrifice himself to help another Survivor escape. Gamers who choose Jeff are more than likely going to be veteran players whose sole purpose is to make sure everyone is having a great game, even if it meansthey are sacrificed at the end.
2Dwight Fairfield
Escape Rate: 37.66%
Dwight Fairfield is another one of the original four Survivors inDead By Daylight.The fact he is free with the base game means that he is a pretty popular choice, but he also has one of the worst escape rates.
Those who play as Dwight are either inexperienced players or regular players who have every character at prestige 100, and there is no in-between. This can certainly affect their escape rate in different ways. Dwight is seen as the player who runs straight into trouble on purpose or by accident. He is either a liability or a hero. If Dwight is being played by an experienced player, they can loop the Killer around the map for an age. However, if they have not been playing long, Dwight players will usually be hanging out in a locker near the corner of the map.
1Nicolas Cage
Escape Rate: 30.89%
Nicolas Cage sauntered into the Fog all on his own in July 2023.His character appeals to movie fansand any player who can see the potential for ‘memes’ with his perks.
Nicolas Cage has an incredibly low escape rate compared to other Survivors, and it is easy to figure out why. Those who choose Cage over any other Survivor are in it for the humor and fun. His voice lines are hilarious, and his perks aren’t particularly helpful, but they can be great fun to use. Plot Twist is the only perk in the lot that could be useful for a solo queue player. Nicolas Cage players are not playing for an escape; a win in their eyes is when they bamboozle the Killer, mess around with their teammates, and have a good laugh while dying on the hook.
