Nightmare Update: Dead by Daylight's Highly Requested Change Coming Soon

The iconic character of Freddy Krueger, known in *Dead by Daylight* as The Nightmare, is set to receive a significant rework in an upcoming patch. This update aims to enhance the gameplay experience by making The Nightmare more competitive and true to his character. Currently perceived as one of the weaker Killers in the game, the rework introduces new mechanics and adjustments to ensure Freddy Krueger can hold his own against the diverse roster of Killers in *Dead by Daylight*.

The most notable change is the ability for The Nightmare to freely switch between Dream Snares and Dream Pallets. This increased flexibility will allow players to adapt their strategy on the fly, making Freddy Krueger a more dynamic and effective Killer. Dream Snares will now move at a swift 12 m/s, capable of traversing walls and climbing stairs, adding a new layer of strategic depth. Additionally, Dream Pallets will feature a new explosive mechanism that can damage Survivors, with different effects depending on their state of wakefulness.

The Nightmare's traversal abilities are also being revamped. Post-rework, he will be able to teleport to any generator in the Dream World, and also appear within 12 meters of Survivors who are healing. This change will make it more crucial for Survivors to use alarm clocks to escape the Dream World, as remaining there will expose them via Killer Instinct during healing. These updates position The Nightmare as a more formidable opponent in the game.

Alongside these core changes, some of The Nightmare's Add-Ons will be adjusted to encourage creative loadout strategies. However, it's worth noting that his perks—Fire Up, Remember Me, and Blood Warden—will remain unchanged. While this might be a concern for some players, it could be an intentional decision to preserve the original essence of Freddy Krueger's character within the game.

Upcoming The Nightmare Rework Notes

• [CHANGE] Press Active Ability to swap between Dream Snares and Dream Pallets.
• [NEW] Dream Snares now move at 12 m/s with a cooldown of 5 seconds. They can go through walls and up stairs, but not off ledges.
• [NEW] Dream Snares now have unique interactions with Survivors whether they are Asleep or Awake. Sleeping Survivors will be Hindered for 4 seconds, while Awake Survivors will gain 30 seconds on their Sleep Meter.
• [NEW] Dream Pallets can be triggered to explode in a geyser of blood. The explosion occurs 1.5 seconds after activation with a 3-meter radius. When a sleeping Survivor is hit, they become injured. When an Awake Survivor is hit, they gain 60 seconds on their Sleep Timer.
• [NEW] The Nightmare can now teleport to completed, blocked, and endgame Generators, as well as any Survivor healing in the Dreamworld. Dream Projection on a healing Survivor will teleport The Nightmare within 12 meters of their position. Upon completing a teleport, Survivors within 8 meters will be revealed with Killer Instinct and gain 15 seconds to their Sleep Meter.
• [CHANGE] The Teleport cooldown has been decreased from 45 to 30 seconds, and the Teleport can no longer be cancelled.
• [NEW] In the Dream World, Healing Survivors will be revealed by Killer Instinct for as long as they’re healing (lingering for 3 seconds once they stop), allowing The Nightmare to teleport to them.
• [CHANGE] Sleeping Survivors can use any Alarm Clock to wake up.
• [NEW] After using an Alarm Clock, it goes on cooldown for 45 seconds, during which it cannot be used.

These changes are part of the January 2025 Developer Update for *Dead by Daylight*, and while the exact release date for the patch remains undisclosed, the current Public Test Build (PTB) has already implemented these new mechanics. The rework aims to not only make The Nightmare more competitive but also to stay true to the essence of Freddy Krueger, enhancing the horror experience for all players.