As of the latest update (Patch 10.1.2a, a server-side update from September 17, 2026), The Nurse, The Blight, and The Hillbilly are the best Dead by Daylight killers. All three combine fast map movement with strong chase pressure. The Nurse has the highest skill ceiling but the steepest learning curve. If you want a strong free killer, The Hillbilly is the pick. Every one of the 44 killers is ranked below.
How These Dead by Daylight Killers Are Ranked
This is a standard public-match ranking, one killer against four survivors. It is not a 2v8 list and not a tournament ruleset. Each killer is judged on:
- Chase power: how reliably they turn a loop into a hit
- Map pressure: how fast they can threaten several generators
- Snowball: how often one down becomes two or three
- Consistency: how well they hold up across different maps
- Execution floor: how much mechanical skill the killer demands
Tier lists are opinion, and no official ranking exists. Placements here reflect the current community consensus across recent lists, and killers near a tier border could reasonably sit one tier higher or lower. Treat the tiers as a guide to what’s strong in general, not a promise of results.
The Full Tier List (44 Killers)
| Tier | Killers |
|---|---|
| S | The Nurse, The Blight, The Hillbilly |
| A | The Spirit, The Ghoul, The Artist, The Huntress, The Xenomorph, The Executioner, The Mastermind, The Lich, The Dark Lord, The Animatronic, The Slasher, The First, The Krasue, The Oni |
| B | The Judgment, The Houndmaster, The Unknown, The Singularity, The Plague, The Knight, The Nemesis, The Dredge, The Good Guy, The Wraith, The Nightmare, The Trickster, The Cenobite |
| C | The Legion, The Deathslinger, The Hag, The Twins, The Pig, The Clown, The Doctor, The Ghost Face, The Demogorgon, The Onryo, The Cannibal |
| D | The Trapper, The Shape, The Skull Merchant |
The roster stands at 44 killers following The Judgment, who arrived with Chapter 41, Chorus of Sin, on August 25, 2026.
Why These Killers Sit in S Tier
The Nurse can blink through walls, pallets, and windows, so the loops that protect survivors matter much less against her. In skilled hands she ends chases faster than anyone. The catch is that a missed blink wastes a lot of time, so her results swing more than any other killer’s.
The Blight gets his strength from speed. His rush attacks cover huge distances and let him rotate between generators before survivors can reset. Like The Nurse, he rewards hours of practice, particularly with bounce control and map knowledge.
The Hillbilly is the most accessible of the three. His chainsaw gives him a fast way across the map, and the threat of an instant down changes how survivors path through open areas. His ceiling is high because curving the chainsaw takes real practice, but the basic version of his power is useful early.
Some current lists also put The Spirit and The Ghoul in S tier. We have them at the top of A tier. Both are strong enough that you won’t be held back by choosing either one.
What A Tier Offers
A-tier killers win plenty of matches. They just give up a bit of consistency or simplicity compared with the top three. The Spirit forces survivors to guess where she is during her phase walk. The Artist scouts and zones with her crows. The Huntress punishes predictable paths with hatchets, but accuracy matters, and a bad throw wastes time.
For an experienced player, A tier is the smartest place to shop. You get strength without the extreme mechanical demands of The Nurse or The Blight.
Where The Judgment Lands (The Newest Killer)
The Judgment sits in B tier for now. His Divine Light can last up to 3 seconds, and Patch 10.1.1 doubled the window for curving it while Zealous, from 0.3 to 0.6 seconds. That helps, but a bigger window doesn’t guarantee map control. Players are also still split on how well his beam aims on controller, so his placement is the most likely to move once the meta settles.
Best Free and Beginner-Friendly Killers
Based on current information, the free killers in the base game are The Trapper, The Wraith, and The Hillbilly. That makes The Hillbilly the strongest killer you can play without spending anything, while The Trapper is in D tier.
If you’re brand new:
- The Wraith teaches patrol timing, ambushes, and target selection with a simple power.
- The Huntress teaches ranged prediction. You will miss at first, and that’s part of learning.
- The Hillbilly is the best long-term free main, since his basic movement is useful from the first match.
Killers outside the free three can be unlocked with in-game currency, Iridescent Shards or Auric Cells, based on current information. Don’t spend currency on a killer you haven’t watched in action first.
Mistakes That Cost You Matches
Buying the highest-tier killer first. The Nurse is the best killer in the game and also one of the worst first choices. A weaker killer you play 50 times beats an S-tier killer you drop after three matches.
Ignoring your controller. Precision killers like The Nurse, The Blight, and The Huntress can feel less consistent on console. The Judgment is the clearest current example. If you play on controller, take this into account before you buy.
Copying a four-perk build for every killer. Perks should fit the power and the map plan. Generic slowdown perks on a killer who already controls the map are wasted slots.
Reading old tier lists. Plenty of pages still rank killers using 9.x patches. Check the patch number at the top of any list before trusting it.
What Could Change the Tier List Soon
Two things are on the horizon, and neither is final.
First, Patch 10.2.0 has been on the Public Test Build since September 15, 2026, with 58 perk changes and no confirmed live date. Perk changes can shift which killers are strong without touching the killers themselves.
Second, a Terrifier chapter featuring Art the Clown as a playable killer is planned for a November 2026 window. Since he isn’t live yet, he has no placement. Expect the roster to grow past 44 when that happens.
If either lands, this list will need a recheck.
Conclusion
The Nurse, The Blight, and The Hillbilly lead the current meta, with The Spirit and The Ghoul right behind. If you’re starting out, choose The Wraith, The Huntress, or The Hillbilly, and treat The Nurse as something to work up to. Check back after Patch 10.2.0 goes live, since perk changes could move several placements.
FAQs
Who is the best killer in Dead by Daylight right now?
The Nurse has the highest ceiling, so she is the best killer for experienced players. The Blight and The Hillbilly are close behind and easier to pick up.
How many killers are in Dead by Daylight?
As of the latest update, there are 44 killers. The Judgment was the most recent addition, and Art the Clown is planned for November 2026.
What is the best free killer in DBD?
Based on current information, The Hillbilly is the strongest of the free killers.
Is The Judgment worth buying?
He’s a B-tier killer with an interesting ranged power. Watch his gameplay first, especially if you play on controller.
Do tier lists change after every patch?
Not every patch, but direct killer balance changes, perk overhauls, and new chapters can all move placements. Check the patch number on any list you read.
What patch is Dead by Daylight on?
As of the latest update, the live version is 10.1.2a. Patch 10.2.0 is still in public testing with no confirmed release date.
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