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

This Dead by Daylight guide details optimal builds for The Shape (Michael Myers), categorized for varying player skill levels, and including both teachable and non-teachable perks. Recent buffs in Patch 8.4.0 have improved his viability.

Quick Links

• 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 pursuit and ability to build ferocity while stalking Survivors.

The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

This build compensates for the lack of teachable perks. Save the Best for Last reduces chase times, Sloppy Butcher passively slows the game, and Bitter Murmur and Hex: No One Escapes Death dominate the endgame.

• Save the Best for Last (The Shape): Hitting a non-Obsession Survivor 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 auras of Survivors near completed generators. Reveals all auras after the last generator is completed.
• Sloppy Butcher (General Perk): Basic attacks inflict Mangled and Hemorrhage, slowing healing by 25% and regressing unfinished heals.

The Shape: Best Build (2025)

This build prioritizes generator regression and strong early-game performance, mitigating The Shape's inherent weaknesses. Lethal Pursuer aids early tracking, while Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance, Deadlock, and Coup de Grâce control generator progress and chases.

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis): Reveals all Survivor auras for 9 seconds at the start, plus a 2-second bonus to all aura readings.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Four tokens; hooking a Survivor on a white Scourge Hook uses a token and regresses the most progressed generator by 25%.
• Deadlock (The Cenobite): Blocking the most progressed generator for 25 seconds after a generator is completed.
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins): Gains two tokens per completed generator; use one to increase lunge range by 80%.

The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

Memorial Flower

A common rarity add-on that boosts stalking speed by 11%.

Dead Rabbit

Reduces Terror Radius in Evil Within II 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 the effectiveness of Evil Within III. Excellent when paired with J. Myers Memorial.

Tombstone Piece

Allows an instant kill on any Survivor upon reaching Evil Within III, regardless of hook state. Superior to Judith's Tombstone.

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 despite a significant reduction in stalking speed. Provides consistent insta-downs.