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

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• 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, is Dead by Daylight's first licensed Killer. His terrifying gameplay revolves around stalking Survivors, steadily building ferocity before delivering the final blow. This relentless pursuit makes him a truly formidable opponent, eliminating players one by one.

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. We'll help you maximize your potential with this iconic horror character.

Updated January 13, 2025, by Siddarth Narasimman: While often considered one of the weaker Killers, Michael Myers remains incredibly popular, especially among newer players. Recent buffs in Patch 8.4.0 have significantly improved his viability, making this an ideal time to explore optimal builds and add-ons.

The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

Mastering The Shape without access to other Killers' perks presents a unique challenge. This build utilizes Save the Best for Last to shorten chase times, while Sloppy Butcher passively slows the game. Bitter Murmur and Hex: No One Escapes Death combine to decimate remaining Survivors in the endgame, minimizing the need for extended stalking.

• Save the Best for Last (The Shape): Hitting a Survivor who isn't the Obsession grants a token (up to eight). Each token reduces basic attack cooldown by 4%, up to 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 you gain a 4% Haste effect until the Hex Totem is cleansed.
• Bitter Murmur (General Perk): Completed generators reveal the auras of Survivors within 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, providing a strong early-game boost to compensate for The Shape's limited mobility and weaker early-game presence. Focus on controlling a generator cluster, tracking progress, and disrupting it with Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance and Deadlock. Lethal Pursuer helps locate Survivors quickly, ensuring a strong start, while Coup de Grâce improves performance in looping scenarios.

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis): See all Survivor auras for nine seconds at the match start. All aura-reading durations are increased by two seconds.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Start with four tokens. Hooking different Survivors on white Scourge Hooks consumes tokens and regresses the most-advanced generator by 25%.
• Deadlock (The Cenobite): Completing a generator blocks the most-advanced one for 25 seconds (revealed by a white aura).
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins): Gain two tokens per completed generator. Use a token to increase lunge attack distance by 80%.

The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

Memorial Flower

At common rarity, Memorial Flower is The Shape's best add-on, offering an 11% increase to stalking speed – a valuable boost to his naturally slow stalk.

Dead Rabbit

While seemingly detrimental, Dead Rabbit reduces Terror Radius by 25% in Evil Within II. However, it increases it in Evil Within III, so pair it with perks like Monitor & Abuse to manage Terror Radius effectively.

J. Myers Memorial

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

Hair Bow

The Hair Bow significantly enhances The Shape's threat level in Evil Within III. Pairing it with J. Myers Memorial consistently applies map pressure through multiple Evil Within III activations.

Tombstone Piece

Arguably The Shape's strongest add-on, Tombstone Piece allows an instant kill on any Survivor upon reaching Evil Within III, regardless of hook state—functioning similarly to the old Memento Mori. This ability can dramatically shift the game's momentum and surpasses the Ultra Rare Judith’s Tombstone due to the lack of a speed debuff.

Lock Of Hair

Lock of Hair adds 40 seconds to Evil Within III (10 more than Hair Bow), while also increasing the stalk rate for Evil Within III. While Hair Bow is generally preferred, Lock of Hair is a viable alternative, especially when using Lethal Pursuer and J. Myers Memorial.

Fragrant Tuft of Hair

Despite a 200% reduction in stalking rate, this add-on grants infinite Evil Within III. This eliminates power management concerns, allowing instant downs without prior stalking.