Dead by Daylight: Best Builds for The Shape (2025)

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• The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

• The Shape: Best Build (2025)

• The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

The Shape, also known as Michael Myers, is Dead by Daylight's first licensed Killer. His terrifying gameplay revolves around stalking Survivors, building ferocity, and ultimately eliminating them one by one. This relentless pursuit makes him a truly frightening opponent.

This Dead by Daylight guide explores the best builds for The Shape, covering both teachable and non-teachable perks to cater to players of all skill levels.

Updated January 13, 2025, by Siddarth Narasimman: While historically considered one of the weaker Killers, The Shape remains a popular choice, especially for new players. Recent buffs in Patch 8.4.0 have significantly improved his viability, making this an opportune time to examine optimal builds and add-ons for this iconic horror character.

The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

Mastering The Shape without access to other Killers' perks presents a challenge, but it's certainly achievable. This build utilizes Save the Best for Last to shorten chase times, while Sloppy Butcher passively slows the game. Bitter Murmur and Hex: No One Escapes Death decimate remaining Survivors in the endgame, minimizing the need for extensive stalking.

• Save the Best for Last (The Shape): Hitting a Survivor who isn't the Obsession grants a token (up to eight). Each token reduces basic attack cooldown by 4%, up to 32%. Hitting the Obsession costs two tokens.
• Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk): After the final generator is completed, all Survivors are Exposed, and the Killer gains a 4% Haste effect until the Hex Totem is cleansed.
• Bitter Murmur (General Perk): Completed generators reveal the auras of nearby Survivors (16 meters) for 5 seconds. After the last generator, all Survivors' auras are revealed for 10 seconds.
• Sloppy Butcher (General Perk): Basic attacks inflict Mangled and Hemorrhage, slowing healing by 25% and regressing unfinished healing.

The Shape: Best Build (2025)

This build prioritizes generator regression and provides a strong early-game boost, compensating for The Shape's limited mobility and traditionally weak early game. Focus on controlling a generator cluster, tracking progress, and utilizing The Artist's Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance and The Cenobite's Deadlock to hinder repairs.

Lethal Pursuer helps quickly locate Survivors for an effective start, while Coup de Grâce improves performance in looping scenarios.

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis): At the match start, see all Survivors' auras for nine seconds. All aura-reading durations are increased by two seconds.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Start with four tokens. Each Survivor hooked on a white Scourge Hook consumes a token and regresses the most-advanced generator by 25%.
• Deadlock (The Cenobite): Completing a generator blocks the most-advanced generator for 25 seconds (revealed by a white aura).
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins): Gain two tokens per completed generator. Spend one token to increase lunge attack distance by 80%.

The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

Memorial Flower

This common add-on provides an 11% increase to stalking speed, a valuable boost to The Shape's inherently slow stalk.

Dead Rabbit

Decreases Terror Radius by 25% in Evil Within II but increases it in Evil Within III. Use with perks like Monitor and Abuse to manage Terror Radius effectively.

J. Myers Memorial

Provides a flat 25% bonus to stalking gain rate. Often paired with the Tombstone Piece to mitigate the increased time to reach Evil Within III.

Hair Bow

Enhances threat level during Evil Within III. Synergizes well with J. Myers Memorial for consistent map pressure.

Tombstone Piece

Arguably The Shape's strongest add-on, instantly killing any Survivor upon reaching Evil Within III, regardless of hook state. Superior to Judith’s Tombstone due to the lack of a speed debuff.

Lock Of Hair

Adds 40 seconds to Evil Within III (10 more than Hair Bow) and increases stalk rate for Evil Within III. A viable alternative to Hair Bow, especially with Lethal Pursuer and J. Myers Memorial.

Fragrant Tuft of Hair

While significantly reducing stalking rate (-200%), it grants infinite Evil Within III, enabling instant downs without stalking.