All Dead by Daylight Status Effects and Symbols, Explained

A walkthrough that explains every status effect in Dead by Daylight and its accompanying symbol.
Is Dead by Daylight (DBD) Down? How To Check Server Status

Dead by Daylight has an ever increasing list of Killers, Survivors, perks, add-ons, items, props, and so on. That also means status effects, which can be beneficial or negative—”buffs” and “debuffs,” respectively—and can be applied to both Killers and Survivors. When you’re affected by a status effect, a symbol appears, but since there are so many symbols, here’s all Dead by Daylight status effects and symbols, explained.

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All Dead by Daylight Status Effects and Symbols, Explained

Blessed

blessed-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

The Blessed status effect is beneficial to Survivors only in Dead by Daylight, and are unique to Boon Totems. The buff it gives depends on the Boon Perk; for example, Circle of Healing will heal you and Exponential increases your recovery speed.

Blindness

blindness-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

When the Blindness status effect is applied, neither Killers nor Survivors will be able to see auras. For example, if an ally is hooked, and you’ve got Blindness, you’re unable to see the aura that appears during the action.

Bloodlust

bloodlust-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

Simply put: Bloodlust is a beneficial status effect (for killers) that increases a Killer’s movement speed when chasing Survivors for 15 seconds. It’s a great way to close the gap if a particular survivor is giving you trouble.

Broken

broken-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

When you, as a Survivor, are inflicted with the Broken status effect, you are unable to heal. This is one of several status effects you want to avoid at all costs because neither medkits or Self-Care will heal you.

Cursed

cursed-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

The Cursed status effect indicates that a Hex Totem is nearby and so long as you’re within its area-of-effect, it will cause various debuffs on you until broken. Be careful: breaking Hex Totems can also cause debuffs after being destroyed.

Deep Wound

deep-wound-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

Once inflicted with the Deep Wound status effect, an orange bar appears below your name. When the orange bar drains completely, you’ll enter the Dying State, which prevents you from doing anything other than crawling away to a safe place to recover.

Endurance

endurance-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

With the Endurance status effect, Survivors can resist damage from the Killer, including Single Hits. Think of it as temporary invulnerability, which comes in handy when you’re rescuing allies or protecting them.

Exhausted

exhausted-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

When a player is inflicted with the Exhausted status effect they either a) used their perks too often or b) it was inflicted by a Killer. Survivors are unable to use their perks while Exhausted.

Exposed

exposed-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

Normally it takes two hits to down a Survivor, but if they are Exposed, a Killer can put them in the Dying State with just a single hit. Some killers inflict Exposed easier than others, through the use of perks, powers, and add-ons.

Hemorrhage

hemorrhage-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

As a Survivor, if you’re dealing the the Hemorrhage status effect, you’ll bleed more often, leaving behind blood splatters that the killer can easily and quickly follow. Your healing progress is also stunted while affected by Hemorrhage.

Haste

haste-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

Simply put: Haste increases your movement speed, which both Survivors and Killers can benefit from. The amount of movement speed you gain depends on the prop, perk, add-on, and power used at the time.

Hindered

hindered-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

Hindered is the opposite of Haste, decreasing your movement speed, which can also apply to Survivors and Killers. Also like Haste, the percentage is based on the prop, perk, add-on, and power used at the time.

Incapacitated

incapacitated-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

As a Killer, inflicting the Incapacitated status effect can make your job a lot easier. When a Survivor is Incapacitated, they are unable to interact with props, such as generators, items, totems, sabotage hooks, and even other survivors.

Madness

madness-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

As it stands right now, Madness is a status effect exclusive to The Doctor. When a survivor is inflicted with Madness, at the highest level, they are unable to heal and will even scream, which gives away their location.

Mangled

mangled-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

When you are experiencing the Mangled status effect in Dead by Daylight, healing is stunted by 20%, even if another Survivor is doing the healing. It takes a lot longer to heal when Mangled is applied.

Oblivious

oblivious-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

The Oblivious status effect is a great way to encounter survivors far more often as its purpose is to disguise your Terror Radius, aura, and heartbeat, meaning survivors won’t know you’re nearby unless they see you. However, chasing a survivor will still play the chase music on their end.

Sleep Penalty

sleep-penalty-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

When under the effects of the Sleep Penalty status effect, it takes much longer to wake from the Dream World. Survivors never have to worry about this status effect until they’re participating in Trials against the Nightmare.

Undetectable

undetectable-symbol-dead-by-daylight
Image Source: Dead by Daylight Wiki

Undetectable is a beneficial status effect for killers, which is essentially a better version of Oblivious. As the killer, your Terror Radius, Red Stain, Aura, and jump-scare sound cue are all hidden from the survivors.

With that being the last, now you know all Dead by Daylight status effects and symbols, explained in detail. For more on Dead by Daylight, read up on how to check the server status. If you have friends playing on other platforms, it’s worth knowing if Dead by Daylight has cross-play.


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Brady is a Freelance Writer at Twinfinite. Though he's been at the site for only a year, Brady has been covering video games, and the industry itself, for the past three years. He focuses on new releases, Diablo 4, Roblox, and every RPG he can get his hands on. When Brady isn't focused on gaming, he's toiling away on another short story.