Freddy Krueger might initially be from Friday the 13th, but he is also a killer in the horror game Dead by Daylight, where he is known as The Nightmare. In the game, he can teleport around the map and use his pools to slow survivors down.
If you're trying to make the most of playing The Nightmare in Dead by Daylight, you should choose the best perks for this killer and create a strong loadout. That's why we've compiled this list of the best builds for Freddy Krueger in Dead by Daylight.
31 July 2023 - We've updated the page to reflect any recent changes to perks and abilites that might impact the best Nightmare builds in Dead By Daylight.
Table of Contents
The Nightmare Power And Perks in Dead by Daylight
Before we delve into the best builds for Freddy Krueger, let's look at this killer's power and teachable perks, so you know what you're working with.
First, here are The Nightmare's three teachable perks:
Blood Warden
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When an exit gate is opened, reveal the auras of all Survivors inside the exit gate area. If you hook a Survivor while the gate is opened, The Entity prevents escape for all Survivors for a lengthy duration.
Fire Up
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Whenever a generator is completed, The Nightmare gains a stackable action speed bonus when picking up and dropping Survivors, breaking pallets and walls, damaging generators, and vaulting.
Remember Me
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Become obsessed with one Survivor. Each time your Obsession loses a health state, increase the time it takes to open the exit gates by 4 seconds, up to a maximum of 16 seconds. The Obsession is not affected by the slowdown penalty.
The Nightmare's power is called "Dream Demon." The in-game description reads as follows:
Dream Demon
- The Nightmare spends each trial in the Dream World and can send Survivors to the Dream World with an attack.
- Use Dream Projection to teleport to an unfinished generator, allowing for oppressive map control.
- Use Dream Snares to slow sleeping Survivors down in a chase or Dream Pallets to lure them into unsafe areas.
- To escape the Dream World, Survivors must find an Alarm Clock and wake up.
Best Nightmare Builds In Dead By Daylight
The Nightmare's kit has a variety of features that help him, both in a chase and with map pressure.
As such, there are many different ways you can play this killer. Here are just a few top Freddy Krueger builds you can try.
Beginner Nightmare Build
If you are just getting started as a new Nightmare main, it might be hard to decide which perks to use. Using this loadout on Freddy Krueger as a beginner will help you down survivors and find your footing.
- Jolt
- Hex: No One Escapes Death
- Whispers
- Blood Warden (The Nightmare)
All of the perks included in this build are general perks, meaning they either come by default with The Nightmare or can be found in the Bloodweb of all killers without prestiging or reaching level 50.
Whispers will guide you toward survivors so you can get your downs, while Jolt will provide you with generator regression throughout the match after you down survivors. Hex: No One Escapes Death and Blood Warden ensures a fun end-game, giving you multiple boosts as survivors try to make their way out.
Anti-Generator Nightmare Build
Your goal as the killer is to prevent survivors from completing the generators, so it makes sense that this Freddy build is focused on just that. Freddy's ability allows him to teleport to unfinished generators, making this build especially powerful for him.
- Nemesis (The Oni)
- Dead Man's Switch (The Deathslinger)
- Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist)
- Deadlock (The Cenobite)
Nemesis changes the Obsession when a survivor stuns you and shows you their aura. Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance shows you where survivors are after a survivor is unhooked from a Scourge Hook. Dead Man's Switch will combine with Pain Resonance to annoyingly block survivors' generators. Finally, Deadlock blocks the generator with the most progress after you get a hook, complementing the other perks in this build nicely.
What Are The Best Perks For The Nightmare?
We've given you some builds to test out on Freddy Krueger, but you might be wondering what the best perks are on them.
A few of the best perks on The Nightmare in Dead by Daylight are:
- Barbecue and Chili (The Cannibal)
- Whispers
- Hex: No One Escapes Death
- Jolt
- Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist)
- Scourge Hook: Gift Of Pain (The Cenobite)
- Hex: Ruin (The Hag)
We recommend mixing and matching the perks in the builds we've provided to create your favorite loadout. As you familiarize yourself with this killer, you'll determine which perks are your favorites and be able to mix and match these perks effectively.
For more Dead by Daylight news be sure to check out our dedicated section, or some of our Guides & Tutorials, just below:
MAJOR UPDATES - Next Season Start Time | Rank Reset Schedule | Patch Notes | Prime Gaming Rewards | Year 8 Roadmap | DBD Anniversary
GAME GUIDES - Dead By Daylight Codes | Shrine of Secrets This Week | How To Get Bloodpoints Fast | How To Get Bloody Clothes | Cross-Progression Explained | How To Track Stats
TIER LISTS - Dead By Daylight Killers Tier List | Best Survivor Builds Ranked | Best Survivor Perks Ranked | Best Killer Perks Ranked
BEST KILLER BUILDS – The Artist | The Blight | The Cannibal | The Cenobite | The Clown | The Deathslinger | The Demogorgon | The Doctor | The Dredge | The Executioner | The Ghost Face | The Hag | The Hillbilly | The Huntress | The Legion | The Mastermind | The Nemesis | The Nightmare | The Nurse | The Oni | The Onryō | The Pig | The Plague | The Shape | The Skull Merchant | The Spirit | The Trapper | The Trickster | The Twins | The Wraith
