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

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

Quick Links

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

The Shape, Dead by Daylight's first licensed Killer, is a formidable opponent. His strength lies in stalking Survivors, building ferocity for powerful attacks. This guide provides builds for players of all skill levels.

The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

This build compensates for the lack of teachable perks. Save the Best for Last reduces cooldown on attacks, Sloppy Butcher hinders healing, 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 8 tokens). Hitting the Obsession costs 2 tokens.
• Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk): After the final generator, Survivors are Exposed, and the Killer gains Haste until the totem is cleansed.
• Bitter Murmur (General Perk): Reveals auras of Survivors near completed generators. Reveals all auras after the last generator.
• Sloppy Butcher (General Perk): Basic attacks inflict Mangled and Hemorrhage, slowing healing.

The Shape: Best Build (2025)

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

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis): Reveals all Survivor auras for 9 seconds at the start; increases all aura-reading duration by 2 seconds.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Hooking different Survivors destroys the most progressed generator (25% regression).
• Deadlock (The Cenobite): Completing a generator blocks the most progressed one for 25 seconds.
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins): Grants tokens for completed generators (each token increases lunge range by 80%).

The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

The following add-ons significantly enhance The Shape's gameplay:

Memorial Flower

Increases stalking speed by 11%. A solid, common add-on.

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

Instantly downs a Survivor upon reaching Evil Within III, regardless of hook state. A powerful add-on.

Lock of Hair

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

Fragrant Tuft of Hair

Grants infinite Evil Within III, but significantly reduces stalking speed. A high-risk, high-reward option.