Dead by Daylight: How to Play the Trapper Killer

Abilities

How to Play the Trapper Killer in Dead by Daylight

As the name suggests, the Trapper is a very unique killer in Dead by Daylight in that he uses sturdy, well-hidden bear traps to keep vital parts of the map on lockdown and force survivors into unfavorable positions. When spawning into a match, the Trapper comes equipped with a single bear trap that can be placed just about anywhere. After a lengthy cast time, the trap will lie on the ground until a survivor either runs into the trap or disarms it. If a survivor is caught by the trap, they’ll take one point of damage and will have to attempt escape in the form of a short cast time. The escape attempt is not guaranteed and may require a few attempts to weasel out of the trap. If the survivor manages to spot the trap before getting caught in it, they can disarm the trap. This method takes a bit longer, but it cannot be failed and when successful, it will render the trap useless and the Trapper’s time generally wasted.

You don’t just have one trap to play with. Spread across the map are a ton of inactive bear traps that the Trapper is able to pick up and arm wherever they like. These traps are visible to you even through walls, so you’ll have no trouble finding them. You can only hold one trap though, so careful planning and quick strategic thinking is necessary as focusing too much time on acquiring and laying traps can give the survivors an enormous opportunity to complete their generators. Remember that the traps are a means to an end and that end is sacrificing the frightened teens to your lord and savior, the creepy insect bug-god thing in the sky.

Loadout

How to Play the Trapper Killer in Dead by Daylight

Due to the Trapper’s slow nature, many of the killer’s perks are geared toward enhancing mobility. The Brutal Strength perk will allow the Trapper to destroy barricades much faster, making them one of the scariest killers to be chased by as barricades are one of the best forms of escape for survivors. A survivor’s odds of escaping a meat hook in Dead by Daylight is directly correlated to where that hook is placed on the map. If the hook is surrounded by walls and tall grass, then other survivors may be able to sneak their way in and help their ally, however if the hook is in an open field or the basement, you’ll have far more control over who is around the hook. The Agitation perk gives the killer faster movement while transporting a body which means you’ll have greater choice over which meat hook you choose to go for. Combine these with the Iron Grasp and Monstrous Shrine perks to make all meat hooks nearly impossible to escape.

The Bear Trap add-ons can institute a variety of effects on captured prey. The 4 Coil Spring Kit and Setting Tool are fantastic additions that’ll make arming hard-to-escape traps very quick. The quicker you can arm traps, the more time you’ll have to set more traps or stalk the survivors. The Trapper Bag is another powerful add-on that gives the Trapper a second trap upon starting a match. This will give you a faster start, hopefully securing a sacrifice very early in Dead by Daylight. Finally, the very rare Honing Stone is easily the best attachment to the bear trap as it makes each trap instantly KO any survivor, making them prime for the meat hooking.

Tactics

How to Play the Trapper Killer in Dead by Daylight

Playing the Trapper in Dead by Daylight requires a massive amount of strategy. Bear traps are powerful, but very slow and can hinder time that may be better suited toward chasing the survivors down. Knowing when to set traps and when to search for prey is key to sacrificing as many survivors as possible. One of the best ways to go about this is while searching for survivors always carry a trap with you. Only set the trap if you happen upon another trap and only if there is a good position to place it. Good trap placement is anywhere a survivor may run through or be required to disarm a trap. Choke points, in front of chests, on the sides of generators, and in tall grass are all great spots to bait the line.

Sound cues are incredibly valuable to the Trapper. Bear traps will make all kinds of noise, even if they are disarmed in Dead by Daylight, so listen for the sound of metal clinking and immediately look around the map for any trap that has been recently activated or disarmed. Try not to stray too far from the traps as well. You want to be able to get to any trap that has caught a survivor or else they might be able to escape and receive healing from a teammate. Placing traps beneath meat hooks with survivors on them is a great way to catch any bold, altruistic player seeking to save their friend. Just be sure to place a second trap at an escape point. They never expect the second trap.

How do you think the Trapper ranks up against the other killers in Dead by Daylight? Leave a comment and let us know!