New players coming into Dead by Daylight have the daunting task of having to select which survivor to main from a rather long list. As with the killers, beginner-friendly characters focus on the fundamentals of the game and on learning transferable skill sets to prevent being carried.

Beginner-Friendly Survivors Tier List from Worst to Best

David King

• Playstyle: Tank-focused altruist (helping teammates)
• Best Personal Perk:
  • Dead Hard: Triggers Endurance for 0.5 seconds, when deactivated, triggers Exhausted for 60/50/40 seconds
• Great for Learning: Chase avoidance, Hook rescuing

If you are looking to be the knight in shining armor for your fellow survivors, David King is the optimal choice. His personal perks allow him to take more hits and rescue his fellow survivors from hooks. As an altruist survivor, he mainly does best when helping other players avoid being hooked and injured.

Meg Thomas

• Playstyle: Run-and-escape
• Best Personal Perk:
  • Sprint Burst: Grants 50% Haste Status Effect from 60/50/40 seconds. Activation causes Exhausted to be applied for 60/50/40 seconds.
• Great for Learning: Evading killers, Surviving Chases, understanding game stages

If gotta go fast were personified, it would be Meg Thomas. Her personal perks are all straightforward and focus on mobility, and in a meta that favors mobility, Meg Thomas is both beginner-friendly and meta-capable. 

Feng Min

• Playstyle: Mobility and information gathering
• Best Personal Perk:
  • Alert: Whenever the Killer performs a Break or Damage Action, reveal Aura to Feng Min for 3/4/5 seconds.
• Great for Learning: Map Awareness, Exit Strategies, Repositioning

Feng Min benefits from knowing where the Killer is most of the time, thanks to her perk Alert. Her mobility pairs really well with Alert, as when you inevitably get chased, having that movement speed buff can be the difference between dying and living. Feng Min offers a balance of utility and mobility, a definite beginner-friendly survivor that remains consistent in the meta.

Kate Denson

• Playstyle: Looping and Chase
• Best Personal Perk:
  • Windows of Opportunity: The Aura of Breakable Walls, Pallets, and Windows are revealed to Kate within 24/28/32 meters.
• Great for Learning: Map Awareness, Loop Routes

If you were drawn to Dead by Daylight with looping montages, Kate Denson will undoubtedly be an amazing survivor to learn. Her perks focus on the chase aspect of the game. However, she does require some level of forward planning to maximize her looping potential.

Dwight Fairfield

• Playstle: Team Support
• Best Personal Perk:
  • Bond: The Aura of all other Survivors is revealed to Dwight within 20/28/36 meters.
• Great for Learning: Team play, Objective Rushing

Don't let the character model of Dwight Fairfield discourage you from using him. His perks are undeniably beneficial and focus primarily on supporting your team. While many would consider Prove Thy Self as his most useful perk, visual clarity and information on where your teammates are located are much more important for new players. It is genuinely hard to go wrong with Dwight, as his perks make him useful even just by being near people.

Learning how to play a specific role in Dead by Daylight takes time; you inevitably make mistakes that can cost you the match. These 5 Survivors allow you to learn the game while still actively and passively contributing to the team effort. After all, teamwork makes the dream work.