Horror multiplayer title Dead By Daylight has further extended its lead as the King of Multiplayer Horror (sorry Friday the 13th!) by adding A Nightmare On Elm Street DLC, with a new map, survivor, and of course The Nightmare himself, Freddy Krueger! Trouble is, Freddy is very different compared to the other Killers in the game, so we've put together a Guide to help you out playing as both Survivor and Freddy!
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How To Survive Against The Nightmare!
Remember: he's invisible!
Unlike all the other Killers, for the most part Freddy is totally invisible. Even the Wraith can be seen with his own invisible powers, whereas Freddy doesn't even live in our reality. While it does mean he can't actually hurt you directly, it's very easy for him to change that and you can't even see him approach, unless he smashes something, opens a locker or carries someone. Which means you need to rely on something other than your eyes...
When you hear the song, hide!
There's no thumping heartbeat when The Nightmare approaches. Instead you get a soft version of the Freddy nursery rhyme that builds in volume as Freddy gets closer. It is your only indication that Freddy is close, so unlike other Killers you have no idea where he's coming from or when he's going to strike. So be cautious: hide immediately until the song is gone! This leads into the next point...
It's easier to hide against Freddy!
The only way you get by in Dead By Daylight is to learn every Killer's weaknesses and how to exploit them. Freddy only has one major weakness, other than not being able to attack until a survivor is asleep - and that's the fact that it's harder to find hiding Survivors since his vision is reduced. If you've not been pulled into the Dream World (and you'll know if you can see Freddy!) just hide whenever you can. In the Freddy gameplay video below there's one point where there's a Survivor literally right in front of me and I don't see her. Hiding is a lot easier to pull off... well, unless...
If you've been tagged it's hard to hide!
If Freddy tags you with his Dream power, you only have a few seconds to get away before you "fall asleep". You can still move, but you're in the Dream World where Freddy can not only attack you - he can see you a lot easier. If he's got direct line of sight on you he'll see you easily, but get too far away and he'll be able to see you through walls! You can get away from him if he's chasing you and even hide, but you can't stay hidden for long.
Try to get awake as soon as possible!
If you're awake, you can hide. If Freddy's tagged you, he'll be constantly hunting you. While you can use that to your team's advantage if you're an exceptionally good Killer-Avoider, it's far more likely you'll want to stay out of the Nightmare's sights. Find another Survivor and get them to wake you up the same way they'd heal you, then you're safe. For now. Of course, there's another method for waking up, but it's a bit more drastic...
If you get hooked, you're awake!
If Freddy catches you and puts you on a hook, you leave the Dream World. This is important to note for two reasons. One, that means if someone rescues you, you essentially have temporary invulnerability once you leave the hook since it takes time for Freddy's power to kick in - and most likely he'll tag your rescuer instead. Two, unfortunately that also means that the second you're hooked you can no longer see Freddy so you have no idea whether he's just sat there watching you or whether it's safe for someone to save you. If you get rescued, treat it like a Chase and run and hide quickly. 1, 2, Freddy's coming for you.
How To Play As The Nightmare - Freddy Krueger!
Freddy's weakness is that it's harder to see
Mentioned in the Survivor part above but it's more obvious playing as Freddy - he's permanently in the Dream World, which is a lot cloudier and more subdued than the real world. Consequently you need to be looking extra closely for any signs of movement, especially when no Survivors are tagged by his Dream Power. But fortunately there's a good thing too...
They can't see you!
Yes, Freddy is totally invisible, so unlike any other Killer the Survivors will never know where you are, so they'll be constantly moving. Which makes them at least a little easier to spot. If you see them and haven't tagged them already, get close so they can't run far.
Remember to use your Dream Power first!
While it's tempting as the Killer to attack any Survivor who gets close, it'll do nothing here. The way Freddy works is that he can only attack if he pulls Survivors into the Dream World first, and to do that he has to tag them with his Dream Power. They need to be fairly close, and if it works you'll hear Freddy laugh. Now, they're yours.
It takes a few seconds to put them asleep!
Remember this, because tagging Survivors doesn't make them into the Dream World immediately. You have to follow and watch the Survivor you tagged for a few seconds, then they'll get a glowing aura to help you watch them more easily. They also can see you now, remember. And there's a further bonus...
You can see them from anywhere - but only at a distance!
Another advantage to tagging doesn't just give Survivors an easy-to-spot aura, but once they get a certain distance away from you they get outlined very clearly in red. The last kill I got in the video below was a guy I tagged who got away from me, but then I actually saw him go down into the Basement which he obviously thought was the last place I'd look. Since I could see his movements, he was fatally wrong.
Try to tag all the Survivors!
Sounds obvious after everything we've said, but if you want an easier time your main goal should be to tag all the Survivors into the Dream World. Maybe consider breaking off the chase of a tagged Survivor if you spot an un-tagged one, or quickly tag them and move back to chasing? If tagged not only is it more difficult for them to do any actions, but as we've mentioned - you'll see them at almost all times so as long as they forget to wake each other up, you'll be able to easily find them again!
You can't attack anyone saving a Hooked victim, or the victim, unless they're asleep!
Another good reason to tag everyone you can is if you do hook someone, you'll be able to see if anyone tries to rescue them. Just remember if they're not tagged then you won't be able to stop the rescue, and the rescued Survivor will now be awake so you'll have to tag them again. Instead of stopping the rescue, try and tag them both! First rescuer, then rescued! Then make them feel the wrath of Scary Terry! Um, Freddy Krueger!
Have you been playing Dead By Daylight - The Nightmare on Elm Street DLC? Have you tried Freddy or Survivors against him? Any tips we've missed? Let us know below! Don't have nightmares...
