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

This Dead by Daylight guide details optimal builds for The Shape (Michael Myers), categorized by perk teachability and including add-on recommendations. The Shape, while historically weaker, recent buffs in Patch 8.4.0 have improved his viability.

Quick Links

• Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)
• Best Build (2025)
• Best Add-Ons (2025)

The Shape: Best Non-Teachable Build (2025)

This build compensates for the lack of teachable perks. Save the Best for Last accelerates cooldown, Sloppy Butcher hinders healing, and Bitter Murmur/Hex: No One Escapes Death dominate the endgame.

• Save the Best for Last (The Shape): Hitting non-Obsession Survivors grants tokens (-4% cooldown reduction per token, max 32%). Hitting the Obsession costs two tokens.
• Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk): Post-generator completion, Survivors are Exposed, and the Killer gains a 4% Haste until the Hex Totem is cleansed.
• Bitter Murmur (General Perk): Completed generators reveal nearby Survivor auras (16 meters for 5 seconds; all auras for 10 seconds post-final generator).
• 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 control and early-game aggression, addressing The Shape's weaknesses. Lethal Pursuer provides early Survivor location, Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance punishes generator progress, Deadlock further restricts generators, and Coup de Grâce enhances lunge range.

• Lethal Pursuer (The Nemesis): Initial 9-second aura reveal of all Survivors; all aura reads gain 2 seconds.
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance (The Artist): Four tokens; hooking different Survivors on white Scourge Hooks consumes tokens and destroys the most progressed generator (25% progress loss).
• Deadlock (The Cenobite): Completed generators block the most progressed generator (25 seconds, white aura reveal).
• Coup de Grâce (The Twins): Two tokens per completed generator; use one token for an 80% lunge range increase.

The Shape: Best Add-Ons (2025)

Memorial Flower

A common add-on offering an 11% stalking speed increase.

Dead Rabbit

Reduces Terror Radius in Evil Within II (-25%), but increases it in Evil Within III. Use with Monitor & Abuse or similar perks to manage Terror Radius effectively.

J. Myers Memorial

Provides a 25% stalking gain rate bonus. Often paired with Tombstone Piece.

Hair Bow

Increases Evil Within III threat level. Synergizes well with J. Myers Memorial.

Tombstone Piece

Instantly downs any Survivor upon reaching Evil Within III, regardless of hook state. Superior to Judith’s Tombstone due to lack of speed debuff.

Lock of Hair

Adds 40 seconds to Evil Within III and increases its stalk rate. A viable alternative to Hair Bow, especially with Lethal Pursuer and J. Myers Memorial.

Fragrant Tuft of Hair

Grants infinite Evil Within III despite a significant (-200%) stalking rate reduction. Eliminates power management concerns.