No matter how good the killer is to play, maps in Dead by Daylight are huge factors in how well each side does in the Entity's macabre trial. There are 38 maps total, each with its own random spawn locations for generators, pallets, the basement, and more.
What goes into making a map more killer or survivor-sided can be complex, but generally speaking the smaller a map is, the better it is for killers. Sometimes a single feature can change a map's balance, leaning it to one side or another; whether hiding behind a pallet will lead to death or escape can largely depend on what realm the Entity has decided to open up.
Updated July 2, 2022 by Noah Smith: In order to give more helpful information to players about what's been going on in Dead by Daylight, this article has been updated to list some more maps that specific killers would excel in. All killers can function on a map, but certain locations feel like they were tailor-made to get your killer a win.
10 Sanctum Of Wrath - Yamaoka Estate
Sanctum of Wrath is really on the cusp of being survivor-sided and depends completely on the killer setting up a good three-gen. The first thing the killer should do is head to the top of the shrine and scout out the three generators closes to each other and protect them at all costs.
What makes this possible is the map is split into two sides, bisected by the shrine itself. If the killer can force a three-gen on one side, the map becomes extremely manageable. If not, good luck, as the two sides are extremely far apart.
Killers like the Hag and the Trapper can do well on Sanctum of Wrath because they really focus on securing areas. Choose one side at the beginning that has your three-gen and make sure it is a death-zone for survivors.
9 Father Campbell’s Chapel - Crotus Prenn Asylum
Overall Father Campbell’s Chapel is a relatively balanced map. It is just below the average map size with 140 tiles, (average being 150) meaning it is slightly on the killer’s side in terms of size.
Furthermore, the main structure is not very powerful, meaning survivors will generally have a hard time looping in it – as opposed to its companion map, Disturbed Ward, which has a very powerful central building. If the basement spawns in the Chapel, then the killer will probably have a pretty good game.
Any killer that has strong chase potential will do well on Father Campbell's Chapel, as there is not much killers can do in the way of zoning. The chainsaw bros Billy and the Cannibal would be great on these maps.
8 Suffocation Pit - MacMillan Estate
Yes, the center part of Suffocation Pit is somewhat of a nightmare for killers. However, the rest of the map is generally very playable. Often generators spawn in large dead zones, forcing survivors to hide and take their time getting to work on them.
Killers with any sort of mobility can easily control one side of the map, cutting the space needed to create pressure in half. Blight and Nurse come to mind immediately, but also Hag and Trapper can do well. The lush forest floor hides traps well.
7 Azarov’s Resting Place - Autohaven Wreckers
Azarov’s Resting Place is the second biggest map in the game (tied with Shelter Woods) at 176 tiles. What makes this map so killer-sided is the choke point in the center. Like Sanctum of Wrath, the map has a very narrow opening in the center, often with a generator right in the middle.
Focusing on one side or the other, the killer can easily force a tight three-gen, corralling the survivors and usually getting at least a two-kill. Basically, this map does everything Sanctum of Wrath does, but just slightly better.
Again, like Sanctum of Wrath, the Hag and the Trapper can do really well on this map if they set up on correct side early. Keep traps in the zones with generators, and you should do well.
6 Shelter Woods - MacMillan Estate
While Shelter Woods is large, its usable structures are contained in the very center of the map. The edges are sadly devoid of safe zones, leaving the only real space the killer must protect much smaller than the listed size.
Like the other forest maps, Shelter Woods’ cluttered ground makes any killer belongings much harder for survivors to spot. The Hag and the Trapper love these maps, allowing the foliage to conceal their traps and catch the survivors off guard.
5 Wrecker’s Yard - Autohaven Wreckers
What makes Wrecker’s Yard the gateway into the top tier of killer maps is its consistency. The killer shack is always located in the center, and the basement can only spawn there as well.
Plus, much like Shelter Woods, the loop-able structures are contained within the center of the map, leaving the killer easy access to the basement hooks, more often than not. It is smaller than most of its predecessors too (only 144 tiles), meaning less area for the killer to patrol.
This is one map a slightly underpowered killer like the Clown can do well on as they only have a small space they need to patrol. If you manage to get a survivor in the center basement, then you are golden.
4 Coal Tower - MacMillan Estate
One of the maps consistently used for competitive Dead By Daylight, Coal Tower is also the second smallest map in the game with only 132 tiles. What brings this map higher up on the list is the smattering of safe loops.
There are a few structures surrounding the tower where skilled survivors can loop for what seems like hours. Fortunately, once they are used up the rest of the map is very unsafe.
With that being said, any killer that can chew through pallets quickly is good. The chainsaw bros, and if you managed to get him before he was taken away, the Demogorgon as well.
3 Treatment Theatre - Lery's Memorial Institute
Lery’s Memorial Institute is probably no one’s favorite realm to play in. It is tight, confusing, and monotonous; all things that make the game difficult for survivors. The generators are usually hard to find, scattered throughout a maze-like hospital.
Pallets are even more confusing, with only perks like Windows of Opportunity helping to figure out if it has been used or not. Except for the Nurse and the Hillbilly, killers will probably have an excellent time stalking survivors in the Treatment Theatre.
A killer with built-in aura reading or built-in stealth is going to shine on Lery's. Scratched Mirror Myers, Ghostface, and Wraith are all going to get easy four kills on this map.
2 Midwich Elementary School - Silent Hill
This one might be a little more debated, but Midwich Elementary School is one of the best maps to play as the killer. Yes, the survivors have the good old-fashioned “hold W” technique, but with only 113.5 tiles total, the Silent Hill map is the smallest one in the game.
Performing well as a killer here is all about map knowledge. Pathing is extremely important (unless you just play the Nurse and ignore walls), but after a few rounds, this maze of rooms becomes a simple structure. Plus, the exit gates are always so close to each other that cleaning up an endgame should be a piece of cake.
For Midwich, you definitely want a killer with a teleportation mechanic to quickly switch between floors. Nurse, the Onryo, and possibly even the new killer Dredge can all move between floors easily, making for quick matches.
1 Dead Dawg Saloon - Grave Of Glenvale
Not only one of the most aesthetically pleasing maps in the game, but Dead Dawg Saloon is also one of the absolute best maps for killers. The generators are so tightly placed and with relatively little randomizing, the map is consistent, small, and mostly wide open.
The killer literally has to go out of their way to not force a three-gen, with the gallows generator always spawning in with two others close behind it. Every single killer should hope for this map during that loading screen if they are trying to reach the new Iridescent rank.
A map like this is where ranged killers will shine. The Huntress and the Deathslinger are going to have an easy time picking off survivors from the high, open platforms where survivors must complete generators.
Bonus: Underground Complex - Hawkins National Laboratory
Alas, the Hawkins National Laboratory Underground Complex. It is such a fun and confusing map, boasting one, maybe two safe pallets in the whole thing. Unfortunately, the map is no longer available in the game as of November 2021, meaning this killer-sided complex can only earn itself an honorable mention.
As of the May 2022 update, there are rumors that Netflix will be re-licensing Stranger Things with Dead By Daylight, bringing Hawkins National Laboratory back into the map rotation. While this is itself exciting, there is the feeling that the new license will accompany another Stranger Things DLC, adding new survivors and a new killer from the horror franchise.