Dead by Daylight: Looping - windows and palettes Dead by Daylight guide, tips
On this page of the DBD guide you will find information about looping, a basic tactic used by survivors. From our guide you will learn how to use windows and palettes.
Last update: 10 October 2022
On this page of our DBD guide you can learn more about Looping - one of the survivor tactics. Thanks to our guide, you'll learn how to do it and understand the role of windows and palettes during looping.
Looping is the most basic and common escape tactic. With it, the survivors can stay away from killers for prolonged periods of time while giving the rest of the team time needed to repair generators. The idea behind looping is simple - run around an object for as long as possible, using windows and palettes as barriers.
This may seem trivial and obvious, but it is not always so - everything depends on how smart is your enemy. The fact that some members of the killer team have skills that make looping difficult also plays a role. Therefore, you must study all skills of the enemy and practice how to counter them.
The basic looping area has an object with an adjacent palette. Your task is to run in circles around the object, changing the direction when the killer does so. Keep running until the distance between you is dangerously close. In that moment, lower the palette and change your position.
T-L layout
Another loopable elements are various buildings found across the map. The first of these involve the T-L wall system. As the name suggests, it is an arrangement of two walls - one in a T shape and the other in an L shape. The loop scheme in this case involves the following:
In the above scheme, windows are marked in green. The suggested path is the one shown on the left side of the picture - It is long and guarantees the possibility to do a quick vault. However, the pursuing killer can cut it by passing diagonally through the center of the structure (as shown below). In that case, you need to turn to the opposite way and continue looping only around one of the walls.
Here are optimum paths for killers. Of course, each player behaves differently, so you need to keep a constant watch on him. Pay attention to the places marked with Xs. In these places, killers often turn around or walk backward to confuse survivors.
Jungle Gym
Another building that you can use to loop is the so-called Jungle Gym. There are 3 walls here. We marked the window (green) and the palette (yellow). In the case of Jungle Gyms, the possible ways of looping are as follows:
When it comes to killers, they can use the following:
Long Wall Jungle Gym
Jungle Gym also has a second version, known as the Long Wall Jungle Gym. This is a relatively uncomfortable design for a killer and requires a lot more planning from them. Don't get careless nevertheless, as one mistake can have huge consequences - especially if you're caught on the outside of the long wall.
The looping scheme presents itself as follows:
In the case of the killers, the response is as following:
Shack
The final structure, which is also the best place to loop a killer is the shack. It appears on all available maps. The looping scheme is as follows:
The path on the right is definitely safer. On the other hand, it is rather short, so the window will get blocked quickly. Therefore, if you are at a reasonable distance from the killer, it is better to take the route shown on the right.
However, you cannot carelessly vault through windows. Because if the killer isn't at one of the entrances, he can easily retreat back outside and close the distance quickly.
The killer will attempt to cut you off and make vaulting inside the shack impossible. This is due to the fact that the angle for a quick vault through the window is hard to make and requires you to cover extra distance.
Window vaults
An important element that often decides whether you manage to escape is the speed of vaulting. A total of three speeds have been implemented in the game:
- Slow - occurs when you vault through a window while walking. This speed makes the vault silent and won't alarm the killer. However, it takes up to 1,5 seconds.
- Medium - it takes place when you run up to the window but at a wrong angle. This vault is audible, so the killer will be notified. Medium vault takes 0,9 seconds.
- Fast - occurs when before the vault you'll run in a straight line for at least 2,5 metre. This vault is audible, so the killer will be notified. However, it is lightning fast - only 0,5 seconds.
To avoid being struck, you need to do it as fast as possible. Always check whether you can perform a quick vault.
Moreover, you need to keep in mind that you can make only 3 vaults when pursued. Once you make your 3 vaults, the window will be locked for 30 seconds.
Remember that you can fake a vault. All you have to do is run up to the window, as if you want to go through it, but do not press the button responsible for the action. This may induce a killer to launch an attack. It will miss and increase the distance between you at the same time.
Pallets
There are numerous pallets on each map that you can utilize (not necessarily for looping) Their placements are not always favorable. Therefore, the community groups them based on their safety. The division is relatively simple.
The term weak/dangerous is used to describe pallets that are only viable for very short loops. It is impossible to make a successful loop there, and the risk of receiving damage is very high. Their only viable use is stunning. Many of these pallets are found in the corridors of the Raccoon City Police Station.
Moreover, this term is used to describe shorter loops where the wall is so high that you can't see the killer. Having no vision over the loop makes making mistakes easier.
Strong pallets, on the other hand, can support longer loops. A killer on the other side of such obstacle has either to destroy it, or close a large distance to reach you. This gives you plenty of time to change positions.
The strongest of the pallets (so-called. God Pallet) completely cut off the killer's path and force him to destroy the obstacle. There are very few of them on the maps. When it comes to outside maps, there is always one God Pallet in the shack. Moreover, more god pallets are found in main buildings.
The only map that contains that many strongest pallets, is the Gideon Meat Plant. However, god pallets can sometimes fool you. As some may lock the survivor in a dead end.
Regardless of how safe a pallet is, conserve. If you use them all up in early game, endgame may become difficult. This is because you won't have anything to loop with.
It is also worth bearing in mind that if you play with random people, you have no control over how they consume pallets. Therefore, you must have an idea about the current state of the map. Windows of Opportunity comes into play here. It is an incredibly useful perk. It shows pallets and vault sites within a 24/28/32 meter radius of you. Thanks to that, you can determine where to go to find a safe location.