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

Quick Links

• The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

• The Shape: Best Build (2025)

• The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

The Shape, also known as Michael Myers, Dead by Daylight's first licensed Killer, is a terrifying presence. His power lies in stalking Survivors, building ferocity to secure devastating kills. This relentless pursuit makes him a truly formidable opponent.

This Dead by Daylight guide explores the best builds for The Shape, encompassing both teachable and non-teachable perks to cater to players of all skill levels.

Updated January 13, 2025, by Siddarth Narasimman: While historically considered one of the weaker Killers, recent buffs in Patch 8.4.0 have significantly improved The Shape's viability. This makes understanding optimal builds and add-ons even more crucial for players seeking to master this iconic horror character.

The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

Playing The Shape without access to other Killers' perks presents a unique challenge, but it's certainly conquerable. This build utilizes Save the Best for Last to reduce chase times, Sloppy Butcher to passively hinder Survivors, and Bitter Murmur with Hex: No One Escapes Death to dominate the endgame.

• Save the Best for Last (The Shape): Hitting a Survivor who isn't the Obsession grants tokens (max 8), each reducing basic attack cooldown by 4% (max 32%). Hitting the Obsession costs two tokens.
• Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk): After the final generator is completed, all Survivors are Exposed, and the Killer gains a 4% Haste effect until the Hex Totem is cleansed.
• Bitter Murmur (General Perk): Completed generators reveal nearby Survivor auras (16 meters) for 5 seconds. After the last generator, all Survivor auras are revealed for 10 seconds.
• Sloppy Butcher (General Perk): Basic attacks inflict Mangled and Hemorrhage, slowing healing by 25% and regressing unfinished healing.

The Shape: Best Build (2025)

This build prioritizes generator regression while providing a strong early-game boost, addressing The Shape's inherent weaknesses in map mobility and early-game power. Focus on controlling a generator cluster, tracking progress, and leveraging perks for maximum impact.

Lethal Pursuer provides early game awareness, while Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance, Deadlock, and Coup de Grâce offer powerful generator control and chase advantages.

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis): Reveals all Survivor auras for 9 seconds at the match start, and increases all aura-reading durations by 2 seconds.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Starts with four tokens. Hooking different Survivors on white Scourge Hooks consumes tokens and regresses the most progressed generator by 25%.
• Deadlock (The Cenobite): Completing a generator blocks the most progressed generator for 25 seconds (revealed by a white aura).
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins): Gains two tokens per completed generator. Use a token to increase lunge attack distance by 80%.

The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

Memorial Flower

A common rarity add-on, Memorial Flower provides a valuable 11% increase to stalking speed, a significant boost to The Shape's core power.

Dead Rabbit

Dead Rabbit reduces Terror Radius by 25% in Evil Within II but increases it in Evil Within III. Use strategically with perks that modify Terror Radius, like Monitor and Abuse, to avoid premature Survivor alerts.

J. Myers Memorial

This add-on grants a flat 25% bonus to stalking gain rate, often paired with Tombstone Piece to mitigate the increased time to reach Evil Within III.

Hair Bow

Hair Bow significantly enhances The Shape's threat level in Evil Within III. Combining it with J. Myers Memorial allows for consistent map pressure.

Tombstone Piece

Arguably The Shape's strongest add-on, Tombstone Piece instantly downs any Survivor upon reaching Evil Within III, regardless of hook state, surpassing even the Ultra Rare Judith’s Tombstone by avoiding the speed debuff.

Lock of Hair

Lock of Hair adds 40 seconds to Evil Within III (10 more than Hair Bow) while boosting the stalk rate. A viable alternative to Hair Bow, particularly with Lethal Pursuer and J. Myers Memorial.

Fragrant Tuft of Hair

Despite a 200% reduction in stalking rate, Fragrant Tuft of Hair grants infinite Evil Within III, eliminating power management concerns and allowing for instant downs without prior stalking.