Shape Haunts Survivors in Dead by Daylight (2025)

This Dead by Daylight guide details optimal builds for The Shape (Michael Myers), categorized by perk type and including add-on recommendations. Updated January 13, 2025, to reflect recent game balance changes.

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• Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)
• Best Build (2025)
• Best Add-Ons (2025)

The Shape, Dead by Daylight's first licensed Killer, is a formidable opponent known for his relentless stalking and powerful endgame presence. This guide offers builds for players of all skill levels.

Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

This build compensates for The Shape's lack of access to teachable perks. It leverages Save the Best for Last for faster attack cooldowns, Sloppy Butcher to hinder healing, and Bitter Murmur and Hex: No One Escapes Death to dominate the endgame.

• Save the Best for Last (The Shape): Hitting non-Obsession Survivors grants tokens (-4% cooldown reduction per token, max 32%). Hitting the Obsession costs two tokens.
• Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk): After the final generator, Survivors are Exposed, and the Killer gains a 4% Haste effect until the Totem is cleansed.
• Bitter Murmur (General Perk): Reveals Survivor auras near completed generators (16 meters for 5 seconds; all Survivors for 10 seconds after the last generator).
• Sloppy Butcher (General Perk): Basic attacks inflict Mangled and Hemorrhage, slowing healing by 25% and regressing unfinished healing.

Best Build (2025)

This build emphasizes generator control and early-game aggression, addressing The Shape's weaknesses. Lethal Pursuer provides initial Survivor location, while Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance, Deadlock, and Coup de Grâce disrupt generator progress and enhance attack power.

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis): Reveals all Survivor auras for 9 seconds at the match start; all aura readings are extended by 2 seconds.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Four tokens; hooking different Survivors on white Scourge Hooks consumes a token and regresses the most progressed generator by 25%.
• Deadlock (The Cenobite): Completing a generator blocks the most progressed one for 25 seconds (revealed by a white aura).
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins): Two tokens per completed generator; use one to increase lunge range by 80%.

Best Add-Ons (2025)

These add-ons significantly enhance The Shape's power:

Memorial Flower: Increases stalking speed by 11%. A solid common add-on.

Dead Rabbit: Reduces Terror Radius in Evil Within II by 25%, but increases it in Evil Within III. Use with caution, ideally alongside perks that modify Terror Radius.

J. Myers Memorial: Increases stalking gain rate by 25%. Often paired with Tombstone Piece.

Hair Bow: Increases Evil Within III threat level. Excellent when paired with J. Myers Memorial.

Tombstone Piece: Allows instant downs of Survivors in Evil Within III, regardless of hook state. Arguably The Shape's strongest add-on.

Lock of Hair: Adds 40 seconds to Evil Within III and increases its stalk rate. A viable alternative to Hair Bow.

Fragrant Tuft of Hair: Grants infinite Evil Within III, but significantly reduces stalking speed. Provides consistent insta-downs.