One of the few range Killers in Dead by Daylight, "The Huntress" boasts a terrifying set of powers in exchange for her movement speed. The Huntress is a giant lady, but it will not be a hindrance in chasing Survivors.
If you want to use the Huntress, here are the best perks, add-ons, and several tips and tricks to make it easier for you. And while her slow movement speed might be a challenge, this handy guide will teach you how to use her.
While you're here, check out our Dead By Daylight killers tier list to see where each villain ranks. We've also got a dedicated best Pyramid Head build as well as the best Michael Myers build to hone your skills.
Dead By Daylight Huntress perks
The Huntress has three unique perks that can be unlocked for other Killers via the Bloodweb.
Beast of Prey
When you gain Bloodlust at tier one, you gain the Undetectable status effect for as long as Bloodlust is active. You gain 30/40/50% bonus Bloodpoints for actions in the Hunter category.
Territorial Imperative
When a Survivor enters the basement when you’re at least 32 metres away, their aura is revealed to you for three seconds. This perk has a cooldown of 30/25/20 seconds.
Hex: Huntress Lullaby
Every time you hook a Survivor, you gain a token. For each token (up to five) you earn, it shortens the time before you hear the Warning Sound of a skill check. Once you earn up to token five, you hear no warning sound at all. For each failed skill check, Survivors suffer a 2/4/6% penalty on generator repairs and healing.
What is the best build and perks for the Huntress?
We would go with the following perks for the best possible Huntress build:
Lethal Pursuer (Nemesis perk)
This perk suits the Huntress nicely because it is designed specifically for tracking down and eliminating Survivors. Lethal Pursuer will reveal all of the Survivor's locations for 7/8/9 seconds at the start of the match. Also, it extends the duration of a Survivor's aura being revealed for two seconds.
Darkness Revealed (Dredge perk)
This will also bolster the killing prowess of the Huntress. The auras of all Survivors within eight meters will be revealed to you for 3/4/5 seconds when the Huntress searches a locker.
Iron Maiden (Legion perk)
This perk increases the locker search speed by 30/40/50%. Not only that, but Survivors who exit a locker will also scream and reveal their location and suffer from the Exposed status effect.
I'm All Ears (Ghost Face Perk)
Unlocks potential in your aura-reading ability, sharpening your keen senses in the dark Realm of the Entity. Any Survivor performing a rushed action within 48 metres of your location will have their aura revealed to you for six seconds. I'm All Ears can only be triggered once every couple of seconds.
Dead By Daylight Huntress powers
The Huntress' power is called Hunting Hatchets. The Huntress' primary weapon is a large broadaxe that can be used to hit Survivors and injure them when they are close by. However, her hunting hatchets are small, ranged axes that can be used to fling at Survivors over a great distance - even across the map if you're a skilled enough player.
The Huntress starts the trial with five hunting hatchets and must press the power button to wind up her hatchets and throw them. The Huntress can let go of her hatchets immediately or hold them to send off a charged shot - which offers more points - and hit a Survivor. Charging a shot slows the Huntress down considerably, to the point that even Survivors can outrun her with their movement speed.
Once out of hunting hatchets, the Huntress can reload at lockers. The aura of the nearest lockers will be shown as soon as you run out of hatchets.
Best add-ons for the Huntress in Dead By Daylight
The Huntress is a ranged, but slow Killer; so her best add-ons are those that help effectively stop the Survivor from getting away from her, increase the number of hunting hatchets, or make her hatchets a one-shot down if you’re unfortunate enough to get hit by them.
Leather Loop
This add-on lets the Huntress start with one additional hunting hatchet. While it doesn't necessarily do anything fancy, it does let beginner players of the Huntress have a bit more freedom in chases and allows veteran players more chances to knock survivors down. The best of both worlds.
Venomous Concoction
Survivors hit with hunting hatchet suffer from the Exhausted status effect, meaning that exhaustion Survivor perks like Dead Hard, Lithe, Sprint Burst, etc. are no longer usable for five seconds. Considering that you'll most likely be in a chase at this point too, this is a great add-on to prevent survivors from escaping you.
Iridescent Head
An add-on that will most likely lead Survivors to disconnect against you, even now. The Huntress starts the trial with only one hatchet, but if hit by it, a Survivor immediately goes into a dying state. Best paired with the Huntress' other Iridescent add-on, Soldier's Puttee to increase her movement speed whenever she is out of hunting hatchets.
Infantry Belt
The Huntress starts the trial with two additional hunting hatchets, and the capacity moves from five to seven. Paired with an add-on that increases wind-up time, as well as perks that help reveal where Survivors are, you’ll be more of a machine gun of hatchets than your regular Huntress.
Dead By Daylight Huntress tips and tricks
- The Huntress should predict Survivors. If you see them go for a vault or drop a pallet, ready your hunting hatchets and let them fly as soon as the survivors are locked in an animation, or are in a narrow place that it'd be impossible for them to spin out of.
- The Huntress is a slow Killer and is tremendously slowed when using her hunting hatchets, so only use them when you think you're able to get a hit in the places mentioned above.
- Trickier Survivors will know that the Huntress uses her hatchets at windows, vaults, and pallets and will try to bait you into using your hatchets straight away. Try not to overreact to what Survivors are doing, instead watch them and then predict what they’ll do and then strike.
- Perks that let you see Survivor's auras (such as I’m All Ears, Nurse’s Calling, and BBQ + Chilli) are great at letting you predict where Survivors will go, making them prime targets for your hatchets. The more information you know, the deadlier you are as the Huntress.
- If a Survivor is in front of you and you can go for a basic hit instead of hatchets, do a hatchet throw anyway. This is because the cooldown for hatchet throws is much shorter than normal attacks and once survivors are hit, you can then use your basic attack to finish them off quickly.
- Try to bait Survivors into being locked into an animation by either getting too close for comfort by them, or winding up your hatchet further away, making them drop the pallet, and then letting go.
That's all you need to know about the best Huntress builds in Dead by Daylight. Be sure to check back regularly to see how your build could be improved.
In the meantime, check out the killers we wish to see in Dead by Daylight soon, or some games like DBD for when you need a break.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Dead by Daylight and Guides page.