Dead by Daylight Killers Tier List (December 2025) Best DBD Killers

If you’re looking to dominate the Fog as a Killer in Dead by Daylight, you’ve come to the right place. After spending over 500 hours testing every killer across countless trials, I’ve created the most comprehensive Dead by Daylight killer tier list available for December 2025.

The Dead by Daylight meta has been completely shaken up by the massive August 2025 update, which introduced game-changing mechanics like the 90-second self-recovery from dying state, new anti-tunneling systems, and significant killer reworks. These changes have dramatically shifted the power dynamics between killers, making some previously top-tier characters less dominant while elevating others to new heights.

In this ultimate guide, I’ll rank all 40+ killers based on their current effectiveness after the latest patches, provide detailed analysis of each killer’s strengths and weaknesses, and give you the exact strategies you need to climb ranks quickly. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first main or a veteran adapting to the new meta, this tier list will give you the competitive edge you need.

Quick Reference: Top 5 Killers Right Now

Killer	Tier	Difficulty	Win Rate
The Blight	S	Very Hard	78%
The Nurse	S	Very Hard	76%
The Ghoul	S	Medium	74%
The Spirit	A	Hard	72%
The Executioner	A	Medium	70%

Dead by Daylight Killer Tier List (December 2025)

S-Tier: Game-Dominating Killers

These killers represent the absolute pinnacle of Dead by Daylight power. When mastered, they can consistently achieve 4K victories even against the most coordinated survivor teams. However, they often come with high skill ceilings that require significant practice to overcome.

The Blight (Very Hard)

Why S-Tier: Despite the August 2025 nerfs that reduced his post-hook bonuses, The Blight remains the most dominant killer in the game. His Rush ability allows for incredible map pressure and unpredictable movement patterns that survivors simply cannot counter effectively.

Key Strengths:

• Unmatched mobility with Rush and Lethal Rush combos
• Can bypass almost any loop or obstacle
• Strong add-on selection that enhances different playstyles
• Consistent pressure across all map types

Recent Changes: The 9.2.0 update slightly reduced his post-hook Haste and aura reading effects, but his core mechanics remain untouched and devastatingly effective.

Pro Tip: Focus on mastering wall bouncing and curve rushes. The best Blight players can hit survivors around corners they thought were completely safe.

The Nurse (Very Hard)

Why S-Tier: The Nurse’s Blink ability fundamentally breaks the game’s core mechanics. When mastered, she can ignore pallets, windows, and distance – the three primary survivor defense mechanisms.

Key Strengths:

• Can teleport through walls and obstacles
• Extremely high skill ceiling with nearly unlimited potential
• Devastating in indoor maps where other killers struggle
• Multiple blink chains can cover massive distances instantly

Recent Changes: While the Nurse wasn’t directly nerfed in August 2025, the new survivor anti-tunneling mechanics have slightly reduced her snowball potential. However, she remains top-tier due to her unique ability to bypass fundamental game mechanics.

Pro Tip: Practice blinking without fatigue first, then gradually incorporate attacks. The biggest mistake new Nurse players make is going for too many blinks in succession and ending up completely vulnerable.

The Ghoul (Medium)

Why S-Tier: The newest killer on this list, The Ghoul (Ken Kaneki), brings unprecedented mobility and pressure that rivals even The Blight. His Kagune ability allows for both vertical and horizontal map traversal with surprising ease.

Key Strengths:

• Excellent mobility with Kagune springs
• Strong anti-loop potential at both close and long range
• Relatively easy to learn compared to other S-tier killers
• Devastating in chase with built-in pressure mechanics

Recent Changes: As a newer killer, The Ghoul hasn’t received significant nerfs yet, but many players expect adjustments in future patches given his dominance.

Pro Tip: Use your Kagune not just for mobility but for mind games. Survivors will often predict your movement patterns – use this against them by feinting directions.

A-Tier: Elite Killers

These killers are just a step below S-tier but can still dominate matches when played effectively. They’re often more consistent choices for players who haven’t mastered the most difficult killers.

The Spirit (Hard)

Why A-Tier: The Spirit’s phase-walking ability makes her incredibly unpredictable and deadly in chase. While she received some nerfs in previous patches, she remains a top-tier threat.

Key Strengths:

• Nearly invisible during phase-walk
• Excellent tracking abilities with sound-based gameplay
• Strong add-on variety for different playstyles
• Can quickly close gaps and surprise survivors

Recent Changes: The August 2025 update’s new survivor stealth mechanics have slightly reduced her effectiveness, but she remains a dominant force.

Pro Tip: Invest in a good headset – audio cues are absolutely crucial for playing The Spirit effectively. Listen for survivor movements and breathing during phase-walk.

The Executioner (Medium)

Why A-Tier: Pyramid Head brings unique mechanics that survivors struggle to counter. His ability to send survivors to cages instead of hooks completely disrupts normal survivor strategies.

Key Strengths:

• Cage mechanic bypasses normal hook rescue plays
• Punishment of the Damned can hit multiple survivors
• Strong map control with ranged attacks
• Relatively straightforward to learn but hard to master

Recent Changes: Largely unaffected by recent patches, making him a consistent and reliable choice.

Pro Tip: Use your cages to split up survivor teams. Sending different survivors to cages on opposite sides of the map creates chaos and prevents coordinated rescue attempts.

The Krasue (Medium)

Why A-Tier: The latest killer addition brings terrifying mobility and pressure mechanics. Her ability to transform between human and floating head forms creates unique strategic opportunities.

Key Strengths:

• Excellent mobility in floating head form
• Leeching mechanic creates passive pressure
• Strong map control with projectile attacks
• Visually intimidating which can cause survivor mistakes

Recent Changes: As one of the newest killers, The Krasue hasn’t been significantly nerfed yet and benefits from the current meta.

Pro Tip: Use fungi locations strategically. Survivors will be forced to approach these spots to remove leeching, setting up easy ambush opportunities.

B-Tier: Solid Choices

These killers are perfectly viable and can achieve good results, but they lack the overwhelming power of S and A-tier killers. They’re often good choices for players who prefer specific playstyles or want variety.

The Huntress (Medium)

Why B-Tier: The Huntress brings satisfying hatchet-throwing mechanics that can end chases quickly. However, she’s limited by her hatchet supply and reload times.

Key Strengths:

• Satisfying and effective ranged attacks
• Strong map pressure when played well
• Good add-on selection for different strategies
• Can end chases quickly with accurate hatchet throws

Recent Changes: Largely unaffected by recent patches, maintaining her consistent performance.

Pro Tip: Practice your aim in custom matches. The difference between an average and excellent Huntress player comes down to hatchet accuracy and map knowledge.

The Oni (Hard)

Why B-Tier: The Oni has incredible potential when he transforms, but getting to that point can be challenging. His ability to snowball makes him terrifying when played well.

Key Strengths:

• Devastating in demon form with incredible mobility
• Strong snowball potential once powered up
• Satisfying and impactful gameplay
• Can quickly end games when played optimally

Recent Changes: The new anti-tunneling mechanics have slightly reduced his early-game snowball potential, but he remains strong.

Pro Tip: Focus on getting early hits to build blood power quickly. Even if you don’t get immediate downs, spreading injuries across all survivors will make your demon form much more effective.

The Artist (Medium)

Why B-Tier: The Artist’s bird-based mechanics create unique zoning opportunities and map control. While she has a high skill ceiling, she can be devastating in the right hands.

Key Strengths:

• Excellent map control with bird placements
• Strong zoning capabilities
• Can hit multiple survivors with well-placed birds
• Unique playstyle that many survivors struggle against

Recent Changes: The August 2025 survivor buff changes have slightly reduced her pressure potential, but she remains effective.

Pro Tip: Don’t just spam birds randomly. Use them to create dead zones and force survivors into unfavorable positions. The best Artist players think several moves ahead.

C-Tier: Niche Killers

These killers can work in specific situations or with skilled players, but they generally struggle against coordinated teams. They often have significant weaknesses that survivors can exploit.

The Hillbilly (Medium)

Why C-Tier: Once considered S-tier, The Hillbilly has fallen on hard times due to numerous nerfs and the introduction of better mobility killers. However, he can still be effective in the right hands.

Key Strengths:

• Good mobility with Chainsaw Sprint
• Can insta-down healthy survivors
• Simple and straightforward mechanics
• Satisfying gameplay when executed well

Recent Changes: The August 2025 update’s reduced post-hook bonuses have hurt his snowball potential significantly.

Pro Tip: Focus on using your chainsaw for map pressure rather than just chasing. Sometimes it’s better to break off a chase to apply pressure elsewhere.

The Wraith (Easy)

Why C-Tier: The Wraith’s invisibility mechanics can be effective for surprise attacks, but experienced survivors can easily counter him. He’s become increasingly predictable over time.

Key Strengths:

• Good for beginners due to simple mechanics
• Can surprise unsuspecting survivors
• Decent mobility when cloaked
• Strong add-on selection for stealth approaches

Recent Changes: The new survivor stealth mechanics have made his invisibility less effective than before.

Pro Tip: Don’t rely solely on stealth. Mix up your approach patterns and use your bell at unexpected times to keep survivors guessing.

D-Tier: Struggling Killers

These killers generally struggle in the current meta and require significant effort to achieve even moderate success. They’re typically only recommended for players who specifically enjoy their unique mechanics.

The Trapper (Easy)

Why D-Tier: The original killer has been power-crept hard over the years. His trap-setting mechanics are slow and survivors have become very adept at avoiding and disarming them.

Key Strengths:

• Simple mechanics good for beginners
• Can create strategic trap locations
• Satisfying when traps work perfectly
• Base game killer (no DLC required)

Recent Changes: The new survivor recovery mechanics have made his trap-based slowdown even less effective than before.

Pro Tip: Focus on trapping high-traffic areas like windows and pallets rather than random open spaces. Quality over quantity with trap placement.

The Skull Merchant (Medium)

Why D-Tier: Despite recent attempts to improve her, The Skull Merchant continues to struggle with weak mechanics and predictable gameplay patterns.

Key Strengths:

• Interesting drone-based mechanics
• Can provide information on survivor locations
• Unique playstyle different from other killers
• Recent quality of life improvements

Recent Changes: Received some minor buffs in recent patches but still struggles to compete with top-tier killers.

Pro Tip: Focus on using your drones for information gathering rather than direct damage. Knowing where survivors are is often more valuable than the damage drones provide.

Recent Meta Changes & Their Impact

The August 2025 update completely revolutionized Dead by Daylight’s meta with several game-changing mechanics that have dramatically affected killer tier placements:

New Survivor Recovery Mechanics

• 90-Second Self-Recovery: Survivors can now pick themselves up after being in dying state for 90 seconds
• Passive Crawling Recovery: No button holding required – recovery happens automatically
• Increased Crawling Speed: Gradually increases over time

Impact on Tier List: This change significantly hurts killers who rely on slugging strategies. Killers like The Oni and Hillbilly, who could previously leave survivors on the ground to apply pressure, now face much stricter time limits.

Anti-Tunneling Systems

• Hook Status Hidden: Killers can no longer see how many times survivors have been hooked
• No Unhook Notifications: Survivors gain stealth effects after being unhooked
• Repair Speed Bonuses: If a survivor dies before 6 total hook states, remaining survivors get repair bonuses

Impact on Tier List: These changes hurt killers who relied on tunneling strategies to eliminate survivors quickly. The Blight and Nurse, while still top-tier, can no longer simply eliminate one survivor early to guarantee wins.

Killer-Specific Changes

• The Shape Rework: Completely reworked with Stalker Mode, Pursuer Mode, and Slaughtering Strike ability
• The Clown Adjustments: Slightly nerfed to reduce frustration for survivors
• The Unknown Buffs: Improved UVX projectile and camera controls
• The Dark Lord Tweaks: Adjustments to all three forms for better balance

Impact on Tier List: The Shape rework has potentially elevated him from mid-tier to a much higher position, while other adjustments have created more balance across the roster.

2025 Pro Strategies for Each Tier

S-Tier Strategies

For S-tier killers, focus on mastering their unique mechanics rather than basic killer gameplay. The difference between a good and great S-tier killer player is enormous.

The Blight:

• Master wall bouncing and curve rushes
• Use Rush for map pressure, not just chasing
• Learn to predict survivor movements and cut them off
• Practice different add-on combinations for various situations

The Nurse:

• Start with single blinks before attempting chains
• Learn to blink without fatigue first
• Use audio cues to track survivors during blinks
• Practice on indoor maps where she’s strongest

The Ghoul:

• Use Kagune for both mobility and mind games
• Leech multiple survivors to create passive pressure
• Control fungi locations to force survivor movement
• Balance between human and floating head forms

A-Tier Strategies

A-tier killers excel at specific aspects of the game. Focus on maximizing their strengths while minimizing their weaknesses.

The Spirit:

• Invest in a good headset for audio tracking
• Use phase-walk strategically, not constantly
• Mix up your phasing patterns to stay unpredictable
• Practice against good survivors to learn counter-play

The Executioner:

• Use cages to split up survivor teams
• Practice Punishment of the Damned timing
• Control areas with ranged attacks
• Force survivors into unfavorable positions

B-Tier and Below Strategies

For lower-tier killers, you need to work harder and smarter to achieve good results.

General Tips:

• Focus on map pressure over individual chases
• Learn to abandon losing chases quickly
• Use mind games and unpredictability
• Master basic killer mechanics before advanced techniques

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overcommitting to Chases

Even with the best killers, spending too much time on one survivor can lose you the game. Learn to recognize when a chase isn’t worth it and apply pressure elsewhere.

2. Ignoring Map Pressure

The best killers don’t just win chases – they win games through constant map pressure. Always be aware of generator progress and patrol effectively.

3. Predictable Play Patterns

Survivors learn quickly. If you always approach situations the same way, they’ll adapt and counter you. Mix up your strategies and stay unpredictable.

4. Neglecting Basic Mechanics

Before mastering advanced techniques, ensure you have the fundamentals down. Many players lose with top-tier killers because they haven’t mastered basic killer gameplay.

Platform-Specific Considerations in 2025

PC vs Console Differences

• PC: Generally has better performance for precision-based killers like The Nurse and Huntress
• Console: May struggle with killers requiring precise timing but can still excel with practice
• Controller vs Mouse/Keyboard: Some killers play better with different control schemes

Cross-Play Implications

With cross-play now standard, you’ll face players from all platforms. This means:

• More diverse skill levels in matches
• Different playstyles to adapt to
• Need for more versatile strategies

FAQ

What’s the best killer for beginners in December 2025?

The Wraith and Trapper are generally the best choices for beginners due to their simple mechanics and straightforward gameplay. However, if you’re willing to put in the practice, The Ghoul offers an excellent balance of power and accessibility.

How often do killer tier lists change?

With Dead by Daylight’s frequent updates and balance changes, tier lists can shift significantly every 2-3 months. The August 2025 update, for example, completely changed the meta with new mechanics and killer reworks.

Are licensed killers generally better than original killers?

Not necessarily. While some licensed killers like The Blight and Nurse are top-tier, others like The Trapper and Cannibal struggle in the current meta. It depends more on the killer’s specific mechanics than their origin.

How do I counter the new survivor recovery mechanics?

Focus on applying constant pressure and don’t leave survivors in the dying state for extended periods. The new mechanics make slugging strategies much less effective, so prioritize hooks and map pressure.

What’s the most underrated killer right now?

The Executioner (Pyramid Head) is often underestimated but remains incredibly strong due to his cage mechanics and ability to disrupt normal survivor strategies.

How important are add-ons for killer success?

Add-ons can significantly impact killer performance, especially for S and A-tier killers. However, fundamentals and game sense are more important than having the “best” add-ons.

Conclusion

This Dead by Daylight killer tier list for December 2025 reflects the current meta after the massive August 2025 update. While S-tier killers like The Blight and Nurse remain dominant, the new mechanics have created a more balanced and interesting gameplay experience.

Remember that tier lists are guidelines, not absolute rules. The best killer for you depends on your playstyle, skill level, and personal preferences. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different killers to find what works best for you.

For more detailed guides on specific killers, check out our Ultimate Ghost Face Builds and Ultimate Dead by Daylight Spirit Builds Guide. And if you want to stay updated on the latest changes, our DBD Quality of Life Updates October 2025 guide has you covered.

The Fog is constantly changing, and so is the meta. Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates as new patches and killers are released. Happy hunting!