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The first licensed Killer to enter Dead by Daylight, The Shape—also known as Michael Myers—is a relentless force driven by a sinister obsession. Known for stalking Survivors from a distance, The Shape builds his ferocity by tracking his prey, ultimately leading to their demise. This chilling pursuit is what makes The Shape a formidable and terrifying presence, capable of eliminating players one by one.
This comprehensive Dead by Daylight guide will explore some of the most effective builds for The Shape, catering to players of all skill levels. It includes both teachable and non-teachable perks to help maximize your gameplay experience with this iconic character.
Updated on January 13, 2025, by Siddarth Narasimman: While Michael Myers may be considered one of the weaker Killers in the game, he remains a favorite among new players. Recent buffs in Patch 8.4.0 have significantly improved his power, making him a more viable choice. With these updates, it's the perfect time to delve into the best builds and add-ons for this legendary horror icon.
The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)
Playing The Shape without access to other Killers' perks can be challenging, yet rewarding. This build utilizes Save the Best for Last to shorten chase times and Sloppy Butcher to slow down the game passively. Additionally, Bitter Murmur and Hex: No One Escapes Death are perfect for dominating the endgame, allowing you to eliminate any remaining Survivors without needing to stalk them for an instant down.
- Save the Best for Last (The Shape) – Gain a token for each hit on a non-Obsession Survivor, up to eight tokens. Each token reduces basic attack cooldown by 4%, up to a maximum of 32%. Hitting the Obsession removes two tokens.
- Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk) – Once the last generator is completed, all Survivors suffer from the Exposed status effect, and you gain a 4% Haste boost until the Hex Totem is cleansed.
- Bitter Murmur (General Perk) – Whenever a generator is completed, the auras of Survivors within 16 meters are revealed for 5 seconds. After the last generator is done, all Survivors' auras are shown for 10 seconds.
- Sloppy Butcher (General Perk) – Your basic attacks inflict the Mangled and Hemorrhage status effects, reducing healing efficiency by 25% and causing healing progress to regress if left incomplete.
The Shape: Best Build (2025)
This build focuses on delaying generator progress while providing a strong start to the game, addressing The Shape's weaknesses in map mobility and early-game performance. By focusing on a cluster of generators, The Shape can effectively monitor their progress and disrupt them using The Artist's Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance and The Cenobite's Deadlock.
The Nemesis's Lethal Pursuer helps The Shape quickly locate and stalk Survivors, giving a strong start to this early-game challenged Killer. Lastly, Coup de Grâce enhances The Shape's ability to navigate loops where he might otherwise struggle.
- Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis) – At the start of the match, see all Survivors' auras for nine seconds. All aura-reading effects are extended by two seconds.
- Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist) – Start with four tokens. Hooking a different Survivor on a Scourge Hook consumes one token and causes the generator with the most progress to lose 25% of its progress.
- Deadlock (The Cenobite) – When a generator is completed, the generator with the most progress is blocked for 25 seconds and its aura is revealed.
- Coup de Grâce (The Twins) – Gain two tokens for each completed generator. Using a token increases lunge attack distance by 80%.
The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)
Memorial Flower
At the common rarity level, the Memorial Flower stands out as the best add-on for Michael Myers. Though not groundbreaking, the 11% increase in stalking rate provides a valuable boost to The Shape's otherwise slow stalking speed.
Dead Rabbit
Despite its grim nature, the Dead Rabbit significantly reduces the Terror Radius by 25% during Evil Within II. However, it increases the Terror Radius during Evil Within III, so pairing it with perks like Monitor and Abuse can help manage your presence and prevent early alerts to Survivors.
J. Myers Memorial
As the second-best add-on for The Shape, J. Myers Memorial offers a 25% increase in stalking gain rate. It is commonly paired with the Tombstone Piece to counteract the increased time required to reach Evil Within III.
Hair Bow
Enhancing The Shape's threat during Evil Within III, the Hair Bow is an excellent add-on. When combined with J. Myers Memorial, it ensures consistent pressure on the map through multiple Evil Within III activations.
Tombstone Piece
Considered The Shape's most potent add-on, the Tombstone Piece allows Michael to instantly kill any Survivor upon reaching Evil Within III, functioning similarly to a Memento Mori. This ability can swiftly shift the game's momentum and surpasses the Ultra Rare Judith’s Tombstone by avoiding the accompanying speed penalty.
Lock Of Hair
Lock of Hair extends Evil Within III by an additional 40 seconds and increases the stalk rate for this power. While generally less preferred than the Hair Bow, it remains a solid choice for players using Lethal Pursuer and J. Myers Memorial.
Fragrant Tuft of Hair
Despite reducing the stalking rate by 200%, the Fragrant Tuft of Hair grants infinite Evil Within III. This means you no longer need to manage your power, allowing you to instantly down Survivors without the need for stalking.
