Characters from Dead by Daylight and their benefits

Choose from a large cast of Dead by Daylight characters, consisting of 36 murderers and 43 survivors. If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't worry. You'll meet the Nancy to your Freddy, the Jill to your Nemesis, or the Laurie to your Michael. We want to focus on the DBD survivors in this guide, describing their identities, benefits, and, let's face it, their odds of still being alive by day.

For more details on the insane individuals, see our Dead by Daylight killers guide. It provides an explanation of their abilities, advantages, and planned weaponry. We also go into their history, providing some understanding of how they came to be so psychotic. Alternatively, if you're looking for a different kind of horror, check out our lists of the best Switch horror games and best mobile horror games.

The Dead by Daylight survivors have all gathered here:

Dwight Fairfield

Among the first Dead by Daylight survivors is Dwight. We're all nerds here, so it's fair to assume that he's a bit of a geek, and as such, he was teased. In addition, he was something of a joke since he was never selected for any sports teams he tried out for.

Then, as part of a team-building activity, he ventured into the woods one day with his coworkers. Dwight woke up alone after consuming moonshine and was never able to leave the woods. Thankfully, he has all the tools necessary to survive. Because he was bullied, he is used to hiding, which makes it difficult for assailants to find him.

Special benefits:

Meg Thomas

Meg Thomas is a survivor of the first Dead by Daylight, and she exhibits rebellious behavior. It's unclear whether this is due to her upbringing by a single mother or residual resentment against her father for leaving her. She nonetheless continued to do very well in school, even earning a scholarship to a university, but she was unable to go because of her mother's illness. Meg disappeared after going for a run one day. She is a vital buddy because of her amazing endurance and stamina, which allow her to divert murderers while her other survivors do their jobs. If she gets captured, however, simply flee; you can make new friends.

Particular benefits:

Christopher Morel

Claudette, one of the earliest Dead by Daylight survivors, is something of a scientific whiz, having had a lifelong fascination with the field. She was brilliant enough to get an early scholarship to a prestigious university, but because of her advanced age, she found it challenging to socialize. Claudette took a walk in the woods one evening, but she never returned. Even though this survivor isn't very sociable, she still has what it takes to survive the night.

Special benefits:

Jake Park

Jake Park is another original survivor of Dead by Daylight. Park was under a lot of pressure as the CEO's son, particularly because his brother was more academically inclined than he was. After slipping off the radar in the woods, Jake ultimately dropped out of school and broke off touch with his father. Although he continued to see his mother, she eventually stopped seeing him, and Jake ended up being just another unexplained disappearance in the woods.

Special benefits:

Nea Karlsson

Nea was welcomed by Dead by Daylight in the chapter The Last Breath. Nea is a bit of a troublemaker, loves graffiti, and is of Swedish origin. Karlsson is out with pals one evening when he dares to tag the old asylum, only to vanish from sight. She is now confined and battling The Nurse to survive. Being the agile girl that she is, she has what it takes to survive, but does she really want to survive?

Particular benefits:

Laurie Strode

Every horror enthusiast knows Laurie Strode; she is Michael Myers' obsession and the major character from Halloween. It's unfortunate that a crazy knife-wielding murderer wants her dead since she was just like any other adolescent who was babysitting for some extra income. Oh, and if we base it on the original movies, he also happened to her brother.

Special benefits:

Ace Visconti

Ace is a character in the Of Flesh and Mud DLC. He's not a horrible man; he simply made some poor decisions, particularly in regards to gambling. Ace eventually came to regret it since he owed money to the wrong people. He fled from what may have been a grisly ending; it's unfortunate that he went in the direction of what would have been an absolutely horrifying outcome.

Benefits that are specific to you:

Bill Overbeck, Jr.

Anyone here a fan of Left 4 Dead? If so, it's likely that you are familiar with Bill, who appeared in Dead by Daylight in 2017. He was a decorated soldier with many awards and decorations before suffering an accident that forced him to be released from service. He woke up one day to discover the world he knew destroyed and a swarm of enraged zombies outside. At least he could now engage in combat once again.

Special benefits:

Feng Min

We can relate to this survivor, who is making her screen debut in Sparks of Madness, since she is an avid player, even if we would like to stay away from insane murderers if at all possible. Despite her parents' displeasure, her desire to excel at games developed along with her interest for them. Feng had achieved her goal of becoming a professional player, but she was under pressure to perform, which sent her into a downward spiral until she was the victim of the trial.

Special benefits:

David King

David, who hails from a wealthy family and was once a brilliant rugby player—at least until he assaulted a referee and was banned for life—debuted in the A Lullaby for the Dark DLC. Money was not a concern for him, therefore this didn't bother him; it only meant he had more time for other activities, like fighting and drinking at the bar. David eventually vanished, and he is now facing an extreme struggle to survive.

Special benefits:

Smith, Quentin

Quentin is an adolescent from the 2010 reimagining of Nightmare on Elm Street. It becomes out that, up until their parents murdered him, he and his friends and old classmates were being molested by Freddy Krueger. But Freddy came back, assaulting the pupils in their nightmares, determined to murder those who he believed had wronged him.

Special benefits:

Detective David Tapp

To say that Detective Tapp, who originated the Saw series, is obsessed with stopping the jigsaw killings would be an understatement. Regretfully, he acted recklessly in his zeal to apprehend the murderer, which resulted in his partner's death and the deformity of his neck. Although this conduct ultimately resulted in his expulsion from the police, these incidents strengthened his resolve to put a stop to the heinous killings.

Special benefits:

Kate Denson

Kate Denson knew she wanted to be a singer since she was a little child. The child had potential; she was taking guitar lessons and traveling with her family to compete in folk music. As she grew older, she gained the ability to roam alone, which carried her everywhere. Most of the time, this gave Kate ideas, but one day, she was sitting in a peaceful area surrounded by trees. She was drawn into what can only be described as a nightmare as she was strumming her guitar.

Special benefits:

Adam Francis

Adam was an educated guy who understood that becoming a college student was his purpose in life. After putting in a lot of effort, Adam was able to fulfill his dream of teaching overseas and go to Southern Japan to begin a new life.

It wasn't what he had anticipated, however; it took some time for him to get used to this new way of life. The train he was traveling on derailed one day. A door suddenly sprang from its hinges and hurtled toward a little child, but Adam stopped it in time to save her life. But as he opened his eyes and saw nothing but darkness, an odd thing occurred.

Special benefits:

Johansen, Jeffrey "Jeff"

Jeff's early years were not the finest; he was a nervous child who many mistakenly believed to be timid. He put up a strong face at school to keep bullies away from him in order to defend himself. His parents' arguments made life miserable at home, but he found comfort in music and painting. After a while, Jeff's parents were divorced, and he had to move away from all he knew to start over with his mother.

This caused him to make some dubious decisions that almost cost him his vision. Luckily, this served as the necessary wake-up call for him. Jeff made an effort to change his life by returning to school, adopting a rescue dog, and creating record covers and tattoos. After returning to his hometown and remembering his early years, Jeff received a phone call informing him that his father had gone away, which permanently altered his life. After that, no one saw or heard from Jeff again.

Particular benefits:

Jane Romero

Even though Jane's mother was a well-known actress, her father reared her. Romero was naturally conflicted about this; she loved her mother for leaving her but yet respected her for the roles she played in movies. Jane eventually tried to imitate her mother's skills once the latter of her ideas prevailed.

She thus attended several auditions for various jobs before being hired as a co-host of a discussion show. A few years later, she got her own show in which her mother made an appearance. Naturally, that didn't go down well, and Jane had to take a risky journey to her father's home, where she crashed due to black ice. Although her automobile was located by the authorities, Jane Romero's whereabouts are still unknown.

Special benefits:

Ash J. Williams

Are you really a horror enthusiast if you don't know Ash? Being the only surviving character from the first Evil Dead film, he shot to eerie fame. Ash made the grave error of reading from The Book of the Dead while spending a weekend away with friends. This caused an evil force to take control of each of his pals, leaving Ash with no other option than to murder them.

He eventually got sort of retribution. After being sent to the future and defeated by a demon, he and Ash agreed to a deal wherein the demon would return him to his companions provided Ash spared it. But Ash had to speak after the demon and perform an incantation in order to pull this off. Was he able to do this correctly? Did he screw around, and now he's stuck in The Entity's world? Not only that, but maybe worst of all, he doesn't have any alcohol, a shotgun, or a chainsaw.

Special benefits:

Nancy Wheeler

This one has a rebellious tendency, but that's what makes her a fantastic investigator as well as an excellent journalist. When Nancy's friend Barb disappears, she becomes motivated to solve the mystery. She follows a lead one night to the Hawkins National Laboratory, but she passes out quickly and awakens in an unwelcoming environment.

Special benefits:

It's important to note that new players cannot play as her since the Stranger Things chapter is no longer accessible. You may still use her if you purchased the DLC before November 17, 2021.

Steve Harrington

Steve is a special blend of conceit and empathy; he often lends a hand to the smaller children when they need it. After getting a call from his friend Nancy Wheeler one evening, Steve finds himself at Hawkins National Laboratory, where he finds himself—you guessed it—in an unusual location.

Special benefits:

Steve is exclusive to individuals who purchased the Dead by Daylight Stranger Things DLC before November 17, 2021, much like Nancy.

Yui Kimura

Yuri, who loved motorbikes, studied her grandfather's technical manuals to maintain her scooter's condition and enable her to race against larger boys. Her father unfortunately rejected her since she wanted to be a motorcycle racer, but she was able to follow her goals thanks to her grandmother's encouragement. She soon formed a motorcycle gang, but with that came a stalker.

When she got home one night, her stalker was still there. After the cops arrived, Yui went to the hospital even though she had won the battle. She had to wait a while to be able to run again, but her gang's encouragement got her through. They also demonstrated solidarity for any woman in need of assistance from abusers and stalkers. Yui soon found herself competing in a significant race once again, and she was leading it until an odd fog enveloped her.

Special benefits:

Kassir Zarina

Zarina had a distinct sense of justice, which led her to go undercover in a restaurant to demonstrate how horribly its employees were treated. After she succeeded, the report presented the restaurant in a favorable light, giving the impression that they were the ones who were correct.

This inspired Zarina, who went on to become a skilled filmmaker, but she didn't get widespread recognition until her father passed away. In order to establish that it was intentional murder and not manslaughter, she spoke with the guy who had shoved him in front of a vehicle. She then made the decision to provide some context for a tale from an abandoned jail. She took the walking tour, but after going into a cell, she was enveloped in mist.

Special benefits:

Cheryl Mason

The primary protagonist of Silent Hill 3 is Cheryl Mason, who made an appearance in Dead by Daylight as part of the Silent Hill DLC. However, it is not the tale we are following in Dead by Daylight. Instead, Cheryl has managed to flee the cult that has been pursuing her her whole life, but she also loses Harry, her adoptive father. Cheryl volunteers at a center for disturbed kids as a way to deal with her sorrow over his death. One day, however, a black fog envelops her, making her feel as if she is back in Silent Hill.

Special benefits:

Felix Richter

Once his father vanished, this architect became enthralled with riddles. He rose to fame as an architect over time, but he never liked working for other people. He soon established his own business and was employed for a position on Dyer Island, when, just before his surroundings went dark, he heard a voice he knew.

Special benefits:

Elodie Rakoto

Elodie's parents vanished while on a business trip to Dyer Island when she was fourteen years old. Elodie's father persuaded her mother to go as the youngster saw her mother carrying an odd thing on that particular night. Suddenly, darkness descended over them, and Elodie awoke to find her parents missing. Elodie was naturally curious about what had occurred, and it would take her years to achieve any kind of closure. Her journey would take her around the globe.

Years later, Elodie was the target of an enigmatic gang that had started pursuing her for unknown reasons. One day, when she was exploring Madagascar's forests, her surroundings started to alter and she heard someone screaming for her. She knew her pursuers had located her at this very time.

Special benefits:

Yun-Jin Lee

Similar to a specific murderer, Yun-Jin achieved great success in the music business. She differs from The Trickster, however, in that she did not go on a wild rampage and burn her bandmates alive out of envy. But that doesn't mean she wasn't affected by the demands of fame, particularly because she was the producer who brought Ji-Woon Hak into the band No Spin. We all know how that narrative ends, of course, but you may be surprised to hear that Yun-Jin kept on his collaboration with Ji-Woon even after the latter took on the stage name The Trickster. But as time passed, she started to have doubts about Ji-Woon's actions, particularly as his music videos started featuring acts of cruelty and brutality.

The record label apparently thought the same, giving the two of them only three months to come up with a new sound since his present material was, to put it mildly, repulsive. When the moment came, The Trickster chopped off the heads of her colleagues producers while Yun-Jin started choking on smoke. While most survivors would have preferred the darkness, Yun Jin saw it as an opportunity to get revenge on Ji-Woon.

Special benefits:

Jill Valentine

Who is not a fan of Jill Valentine? She is one of the original two protagonists in the Resident Evil series, along with Chris Redfield. Yes, she saw firsthand the atrocities at the Spencer mansion—a mission gone horribly wrong. Furthermore, she had a stand-alone role in Resident Evil 3, battling Nemesis for survival. To be more precise, she is the Jill from the 2020 version of Dead by Daylight that appears in the film.

The monster's only task was to eliminate S.T.A.R.S. members. By the time Jill finished, the creature was able to see stars. Valentine, however, still has more in store for her as, after her encounter with Nemesis, she was transported to the trial grounds by an enigmatic black fog.

Special benefits:

Leon Scott Kennedy

The Resident Evil Franchise gave rise to another well-known horror figure. It's possible that Leon Kennedy's first day of work was the worst ever. While most rookie police officers get gradually acclimated to their new duties, Leon arrived at his destination to find the city in flames, zombies on the loose, and an overtaken police station manned by a massive dictator. Leon and Claire manage to escape the events in Racoon City in some way, while Kennedy goes on to become a special agent who is often thrust into dealing with bioweapons.

Special benefits:

Mikaela Reid

Mikaela spent quality time connecting with her father when they went sailing together when she was younger. She tragically lost her father when she was sixteen, but her family and friends helped her get through it all and even helped her develop a passion for storytelling. Mikaela eventually developed an interest in witchcraft as well; happily, she was less of a Wicked Witch of the West and more of a "Charmed" Wicca.

She eventually received an invitation to appear at a well-known Halloween festival, which is an honor for a storyteller. But this took over her life, causing many restless nights and other unpleasant changes. Mikaela's roommate eventually vanished, but she clung to the hope that he would attend the festival. He never did, but Mikaela's eerie tale—which concluded with a dark fog surrounding her—was what really stole the show.

Special benefits:

Jonah Vasquez

Jonah has always had a knack for arithmetic and brainteasers and has been something of a genius. He was given a mysterious code on his sixteenth birthday, which he was unable to interpret but which led to Chile. Jonah gave up on the puzzle in the end because he thought it was defective. He was employed as a codebreaker by the CIA shortly after he graduated from college. It brought him to Kwantana, where he worked until it was too late and many people died as a result of his labor. Jonah tried to make amends by giving the suffering family a little amount of money. This ultimately resulted in an attempt on his life, but he was able to flee.

Jonah eventually went back to work and received additional tasks. Among them was a code that he was familiar with from his birthday all those years before. Jonah purchased a trip to Chile without consulting his supervisor because he couldn't stop thinking about these statistics. Was it worth the journey? Jonah solved the riddle, and it turned out that he was there at that very time. The smell of blood persisted in the air as he soon found himself on the trial grounds.

Special benefits:

Yoichi Asakawa

Since he was a young boy, Yoichi has been fascinated with the paranormal. This curiosity began after his parents tragically died as a result of an unknown curse. Nevertheless, he made an effort to get over those horrifying experiences. Following in his father's footsteps, he graduated from a Tokyo university with a focus on marine biology and went on to become the school's youngest professor ever. Nevertheless, two of his students' inexplicable disappearances during a study trip in Izu Oshima meant that his history was going to catch up with him.

It turned out that Yoichi was experiencing terrible memories, which culminated in the arrival of Sadako, the horrible person who is still responsible for the curse that kills innocent people. You already know that Yoichi is in grave danger because, for those who do not know, Sadako is none other than Samara from The Ring.

After months of investigation and suffering, Yoichi discovered a tale on Scotland at a lighthouse that was identical to what had occurred to his kids. In a hurry and under the influence of his father's ghost, Yoichi makes his way to the lighthouse. However, while he is on a boat and the lighthouse is visible in the distance, the sea starts acting strangely. Refusing to lose up, Yoichi witnesses a massive wave smash the boat, turning his world completely dark.

He wakes up and walks through dense black fog with his father to the lighthouse's gallery.

Special benefits:

Haddie Kaur

Even though Behaviour removed the Roots of Dread DLC from retail on May 14, 2024, you may still get Haddie Kaur by purchasing the Endless Hunt Chapter Pack. Because Haddie has appeared in many tomes, you could have been familiar with her before she became a playable character. Unfortunately for her, she heard someone call out for aid while exploring a ghostly World War II bunker. Hurrying to the site, she discovered the crash where her parents perished.

When she attempted to apologize to her parents and took blame for the accident, they informed her that they had suffered. Haddie collapses to the ground in agony as tentacles pull her away from reality.

Special benefits:

Ada Wong

Ada Wong, another iconic character from Resident Evil, is prepared to confront The Entity's murders. Even the most devoted Resi followers find her to be rather mysterious. She is a spy, but it's difficult to determine exactly which side she supports—despite the fact that she often lends a helping hand to Leon, which suggests that she has feelings for him.

Special benefits:

Cameron Rebecca

Has anybody requested additional Resident Evil characters? As a member of the S.T.A.R.S Bravo squad, Rebecca Chambers plays a prominent role in Resident Evil 0. This young genius finds herself battling for her life once again and rushing for a flickering light in the dark, as if escaping the horrors of the Spencer Mansion weren't enough.

Special benefits:

Vittorio Toscano

Vittorio originally appeared in Dead by Daylight as a part of the DLC package Forged in Fog, however that set is no longer available. Nevertheless, this character is still available if you purchase the Endless Hunt Pack DLC. The poor man has a difficult time; after setting off on an adventure, he is left in a prison cell by himself with only rats for companionship. Even worse, he was ready to die when a dark mist enveloped him, turning him into a possible target for The Entity.

Special benefits:

Halita Lyra

Since Tools of Torment, Thalita's first DLC, is no longer available, you will need to buy the Endless Hunt Pack DLC in order to utilize her. She comes from an intriguing background and has a gift for uniting people around common interests. One of her pastimes is kite-fighting. She eventually gave up her cherished pastime to pursue a career as a model, and as the years passed, Thalita's renown started to wear thin. Kite-fighting with her brother provided her with some escape, but one day as he ventured into the woods to get his kite, Thalita heard a terrifying scream.

The siblings fled and took cover when they saw that a hunter was about to kill her brother. They found themselves in an abandoned factory that strangely turned to a distant sunny beach. Even when they entered a dark fog, the two continued to run.

Special benefits:

Lora Renato

As Thalita's brother, Renato's story of being imprisoned in this realm is well known to you. He is now included in the Endless Hunt Pack DLC, much like his sister.

Special benefits:

Gabriel Soma

As a particularly clever engineer, Gabriel, the survivor you acquire in the End Transmission expansion, could be able to assist you in escaping by fixing the generators. If you're wondering how Gabriel ended himself in this situation, it was when he was touring an alien planet that he had to hurry through a dense black fog in order to escape a strange woodland.

Special benefits:

Cage, Nicholas

Well, Nicholas Cage, why not? Given that the guy has made millions of dollars from his many films, including Face Off and National Treasure, appearing in Dead by Daylight makes sense. The oddball actor receives a weird screenplay that piques his interest, but it turns out to be much more genuine than he had anticipated. Lights, camera, action, Nic!

Special benefits:

Ellen Ripley

What a symbol! Ellen Ripley is well-known to everybody thanks to the Alien film series. The fact that it took so long for Ripley and the Xenomorph to join the cast of Dead by Daylight is the sole unexpected aspect of her presence. Unfortunately for Ripley, fog engulfed her while she slept in her pod after the ejection of the Xenomorph from the airlock.

One-of-a-kind benefits:

Alan Wake

Since everyone is aware of Alan Wake, the unfortunate writer is forced to solve yet another riddle after deciding to go into the mist since he thought it would lead to his home.

Special benefits:

Sable Ward

The survivor from the March 12, 2024, release of the All Things Wicked DLC is Sable Ward. She met fellow survivor Mikaela in the third grade, and the two have been friends ever since. It's interesting that, considering Sable's preference for gloomy things over unicorns, sunlight, and rainbows, this would turn into her first buddy.

Their bond endures until adulthood, being so strong that Sable goes above and above to locate Mikaela when she vanishes in a black fog while performing a horror tale on stage. Because of her tenacity, she too succumbs to the dark mist and awakens to the realization that ruthless murderers want to claim her as their next victim.

Special benefits:

Baermar Uraz and Aestri Yazar

These two are included in the Dungeons and Dragons DLC bundle, so D&D lovers are in for a treat. They may not feel as fortunate, however, after coming across and investigating a decayed tower. The two discovered a scroll at the summit of the tower, Baermar spoke the lines aloud, and before they knew it, fog enveloped them.

Sara Croft

Lara Croft is the one who would wind up in the fog, if anybody. When everything goes wrong, she is on an archaeological expedition, as one would anticipate from the renowned Tomb Raider. When her companion Sam is kidnapped, she tries to rescue him by having him tethered to a cave fire. However, even though she shot Sam with an arrow, the brotherhood that had carried him out eventually beat her. She was lucky enough to escape thanks to a blazing fog, but her good fortune is short-lived as she finds herself in a bloody river where her limbs drag her down until she emerges into a new world.

Special benefits:

All the information you need on the characters in Dead by Daylight is now available. To get some freebies, go over to our collection of Dead by Daylight codes. After you've done your fair share of slicing and dicing, you may want to explore what adventures are in store for you by looking through our list of the best Switch RPGs.

Should you have a preference for playing with toys, you should read our articles on Poppy Playtime characters, which feature characters like Poppy Playtime Mommy Long Legs and Poppy Playtime Poppy, as well as FNAF characters, which include FNAF Freddy, FNAF Chica, FNAF Bonnie, and FNAF Foxy.