Houndmaster Slayer: Essential Tips, Perks, and Strategies

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The Houndmaster has just been introduced as the latest killer in Dead by Daylight, and understanding the best build for this character can provide you with a competitive edge. Unlike the last two killers, Castlevania’s Dracula and Dungeons & Dragons‘ Vecna, the Houndmaster is a unique addition to the game’s universe. Similar to characters like the Knight and the Twins, the Houndmaster comes with a special companion, Snug the Dog.

To become a proficient Houndmaster, it’s essential to effectively control Snug. It’s also crucial to apply perks that either amplify the Houndmaster’s distinct strengths or compensate for her weaknesses. Aiming plays a vital role for all killers, but you’ll need to focus on accuracy in particular when playing as the Houndmaster.

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Best Tips For Playing The Houndmaster
- Using Snug Effectively to Compensate for the Houndmaster’s Limitations

Best Perks For The Houndmaster

When selecting perks for the Houndmaster, it’s important to keep several key points in mind. First, the Houndmaster relies solely on basic attacks to hit survivors. Therefore, perks that benefit killers who excel in performing basic attacks are especially beneficial for her. Additionally, aura-reading perks can be quite useful, showing you where to direct Snug.

Currently, players are combating the Houndmaster’s abilities by dropping pallets on Snug. To combat this, choosing perks that can help navigate these obstacles would be wise. For example, Brutal Strength allows you to break pallets more quickly.

The Houndmaster possesses a unique perk called No Quarter, which complicates healing for survivors. If you want to make healing even harder for the survivors, consider adding other perks that hinder their recovery speed; for example, the Leverage perk can slow down their healing process.

Houndmaster Perks

Perk	Effect
All-Shaking Terror	Increases the range of the killer’s Lunge Attack by 75% after falling.
No Quarter	Survivors healing must complete continuous skill checks after 75% health, becoming broken if they fail.
Scourge Hook: Jagged Compass	Certain highlighted hooks become Scourge Hooks. Hooking a survivor on these reveals the aura of the generator with the most progress.

Recommended Killer Perks

Perk	Effect
Save the Best for Last	Reduces cooldowns for Basic Attacks while the killer’s obsession is alive.
Starstruck	Survivors become exposed within the killer’s terror radius while carrying a survivor. After the survivor is hooked, all nearby survivors remain exposed for a brief time.
Rapid Brutality	Stops the killer from gaining Bloodlust, but hitting a survivor grants them +5% Haste for a limited time.
Grim Embrace	Gains a token for each survivor hooked. After four tokens, generators become blocked temporarily, and the Obsession’s aura is revealed.
Brutal Strength	Increases the speed of breaking pallets and damaging generators.
Leverage	Decreases the healing speed of survivors after they unhook another survivor.

Best Powers For The Houndmaster

The Houndmaster’s abilities center around effectively commanding her dog, Snug. You can either issue a Chase Command or a Search Command, each having its own distinctive effects. Depending on the situation, one command may prove to be more advantageous than the other.

Chase Command

Dead by Daylight. Snug can make minor turns and jump over pallets or through windows. When Snug captures a survivor, a special interaction called Dog Grab occurs. While in the dog’s grasp, the survivor is pulled toward the Houndmaster for eight seconds, revealing their aura. They can escape by dropping a pallet on Snug or getting rescued by another survivor.

After their release, the survivor is Hindered, losing 10% of their movement speed for five seconds. Additionally, Exit Gates remain blocked for the grabbed survivor for five seconds, giving the Houndmaster a better chance to knock them down before they can escape. This power is key for the Houndmaster to effectively capture survivors since she can only deliver damage through basic melee attacks.

Search Command

While Search Command is useful for locating survivors, many players will likely prioritize the Chase Command to capture them. Nonetheless, Search Command excels in scenarios with low visibility, helping to alleviate the frustration tied to finding survivors in hiding.

Top Tips for Playing the Houndmaster

Maximizing the Use of Snug to Offset the Houndmaster’s Limitations

The Houndmaster is particularly vulnerable to being looped. Unlike killers like Dracula or the Xenomorph alien, who can hit survivors from a distance with special attacks, the Houndmaster relies solely on her basic attack for dealing damage. Timing Snug’s actions is crucial; holding him back until the survivor drops a pallet or vaults a window can allow the Houndmaster to close the distance and land a hit.

Given the Houndmaster’s limited mobility compared to other killers, you should also send Snug to search when the location of survivors is unknown. Don’t hesitate to utilize Snug for both searching and chasing—waiting for the right moment may result in missing out on catching a survivor altogether. Additionally, you should practice aiming Snug effectively. While Dead by Daylight isn’t as precision-heavy as a first-person shooter, players might find it frustrating if Snug misses the targets they aim for.