The single most important skill for a Survivor in Dead by Daylight isn’t hiding—it’s running. Specifically, it's learning how to 'loop'. Looping is the art of using the map’s obstacles to waste the Killer’s time, and it works because of one simple, counter-intuitive fact: even though the Killer is faster, your character model is smaller. This allows you to hug obstacles far more tightly than they can, creating precious distance with every circle you run. Master this, and you stop being prey and start being a problem.
Forget running in a straight line. That’s a death sentence. A successful chase is a series of controlled loops that buys your team the time they need to power the generators and open the exit gates. This guide breaks down the core mechanics of how to turn any chase into a calculated, time-wasting dance.
Why Does Looping Even Work?
It feels wrong, doesn't it? The Killer is faster, so running in circles should just delay the inevitable. But it works because of a fundamental asymmetry in the game's design: movement speed versus collision size.
Most Killers move at 115% of a Survivor's base speed (or 110% for some), while Survivors run at a fixed 100%. If you run across an open field, they will always catch you. Looping introduces obstacles that negate this raw speed advantage. The reason is that Survivor hitboxes are significantly smaller and more nimble than Killer hitboxes. When you run around a large rock, a junk pile, or the wall of a jungle gym, you can stick to the corner like glue. The Killer, with their larger character model, is forced to take a wider path.
Dead by Daylight in-game screenshot
Each time you complete a circuit around the object—a 'loop'—that small difference in pathing adds up, creating a few feet of extra space. It buys you another second or two before you're in striking distance. The entire game of chase is about repeating this process, squeezing out every possible second until you can safely move to the next looping structure. Your goal isn't to escape the chase immediately; it's to prolong it for as long as humanly possible.
Mastering Windows: The Three Vault Speeds
Windows are your primary tool for creating a large burst of distance during a loop. But not all vaults are created equal. The game registers three distinct types of vaults, and knowing the difference between them is critical. Performing the wrong one can cut your chase short.
Dead by Daylight in-game screenshot
The Slow Vault
A slow vault is performed when you approach a window without running (i.e., walking or crouching) and press the vault button. It’s silent and methodical. You carefully climb through without making a sound. While this is great for stealth when the Killer doesn't know you're there, it is catastrophically bad in a chase. You are a sitting duck, and the Killer will hit you before the animation even finishes. The only time to use this is when you are trying to sneak away, never when the heartbeat is pounding.
The Medium Vault
This is the trap that most new players fall into. A medium vault occurs when you are running, but you don't approach the window with the correct angle or momentum. This typically happens if you start the vault too close to the window or approach it from a sharp side angle. Your character will vault, but it's a clumsy, hesitant animation that is almost twice as long as a fast vault. Like a fast vault, it creates a loud noise notification for the Killer, but it gives them more than enough time to catch up and hit you as you land. Avoid this at all costs.
The Fast Vault
This is the goal. A fast vault is your get-out-of-jail-free card. To perform one, you must be running in a straight line directly at the window for at least a few steps before pressing the vault button. Your character will fly through the opening with a quick, fluid motion that maximizes the distance you create. This is the vault that forces the Killer to either abandon the chase or waste precious seconds walking all the way around the structure. Be warned: after you vault the same window three times during a single chase, the Entity will block it for you for 30 seconds. Plan your route accordingly.
How to Use Pallets Effectively
Pallets are your other key resource. They are finite, single-use obstacles that can either stun the Killer or create a new, powerful looping point. Using them correctly requires good timing and a bit of game sense.
When to Greed vs. When to Drop
Every pallet loop presents a choice. Do you drop the pallet as soon as you reach it, or do you 'greed' it and try to get one more loop around the obstacle before the Killer can hit you? Greeding is risky but rewarding. If you succeed, you've saved a valuable pallet for later in the match. If you fail, you take a hit. A good rule of thumb for beginners is to play it safe. If you feel the Killer is right behind you and has a clear lunge, drop the pallet. It's better to use the resource than to go down.
The Pallet Stun
The most impactful way to use a pallet is to drop it directly on the Killer's head. This requires precise timing. You need to wait until they are in the middle of the pallet drop zone before hitting the spacebar. A successful stun will momentarily blind and immobilize the Killer, giving you a huge opportunity to gain distance. This is the perfect time to break for the next loop. Don't stand there admiring your work; use the time they are stunned to get as far away as possible.
Playing a Dropped Pallet
A dropped pallet isn't just a one-and-done stun. It's a new obstacle. Killers cannot vault pallets, so they are forced to either walk around or spend a few seconds performing the break animation. While they are locked into breaking the pallet, you should be running to the next tile. Survivors, however, can vault the dropped pallet. This can be used to further mind-game a Killer who refuses to break it, letting you hop back and forth to waste even more time.
Putting It All Together: A Basic Chase Flow
Looping isn't about one magic trick; it's a sequence of decisions. Here’s how a simple chase should flow.
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Identify Your Loop: As soon as you hear the terror radius, your first thought should be: 'Where is the nearest pallet or window?' Run towards a structure you can loop, like a jungle gym or a tile with a pallet. Always know where your next 'safe' spot is.
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Run the Loop Tightly: Use your third-person camera to constantly look behind you. This is non-negotiable. You need to see what the Killer is doing to react. Hug the inside of the loop as tightly as you can to maximize the distance you create from their wider pathing.
Dead by Daylight in-game screenshot
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Use Your Resource: When the Killer gets too close for another lap, use the tile's resource. Either fast vault the window or drop the pallet for a stun. The goal is to force the Killer into an animation or a long walk-around.
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Chain to the Next Tile: The moment the Killer is occupied—either stunned, breaking the pallet, or vaulting the window—is your cue to leave. Use the time they are stuck to sprint to the next looping structure you've already identified. Rinse and repeat. If you do get hit, the burst of speed you get from being injured is a crucial tool. Use that 'haste' effect to guarantee you make it to the next safe area.
The Final Take
Looping is the active, engaging core of Survivor gameplay. It transforms you from a terrified victim into a skilled opponent who dictates the flow of a chase. Every second you keep the Killer occupied is a second your teammates are completing objectives. It takes practice, and you will fail a lot at first. But once you learn to read the Killer's movements and chain your loops together, you'll see every map not as a hunting ground, but as your own personal playground.