Navigating the Fog: What Gets You Banned in Dead by Daylight (and What’s Just Salty)?
Welcome to the world of Dead by Daylight (DBD). It’s full of jump scares and tense moments. Teammates sometimes lead Killers straight to you. There is a line you must not cross. Nobody wants an unscheduled vacation from the Entity. Let’s explore what actions can get you banned and what is just part of the game.
I. The Naughty List: Bannable Offenses in DBD
A. Botting: Don’t Be a Robot, Be Ruthless (Humanly)
Botting? Seriously? In a game about strategy and sacrifice? Yes, even here. Automating gameplay is frowned upon and often illegal. Think of it as bringing a chainsaw to a knife fight – not fair. Killer bots? Not really. Tutorials have AI, but true Killer bots need to be smarter. And bot lobbies? DBD isn’t designed for them. Trying to exploit this is risky.
B. AFK (Away From Keyboard): Don’t Go Ghost When Your Team Needs You
Ever see a teammate just standing there? Doing nothing? That’s AFK. Is it bannable? Not directly. But repeated inactivity reports might lead to a ban. Players get mad when you ghost. Finish matches before stepping away. Let teammates know if you must leave.
C. Disconnecting: Rage Quitting is for Quitters (and Gets You Penalized)
The urge to DC when pressure is high can be strong. But can you get banned for disconnecting? Yes. It’s called a DC penalty. Repeated disconnects lead to matchmaking bans. Quitting mid-game ruins the experience for teammates and shows you cannot handle the pressure.
D. Camping/Face Camping: The Stale Marshmallow Strategy
Camping has been debated for years. Is it bannable? Technically, no, unless it’s face camping. A Killer stands right before a hooked Survivor until they die. That behavior can draw reports. Excessive camping to ruin the game for someone could lead to scrutiny. Patrolling hooks is allowed, but keep it fair.
E. Griefing: Don’t Be a Professional Pest
Griefing means annoying or disrupting others intentionally. Can you get banned for it? Yes, in DBD. This can appear as sandbagging teammates or blocking them. If you’re deliberately creating misery for others, expect consequences.
F. Hacking/Cheating: The Express Lane to Banville
Hacking and cheating are the ultimate sins in gaming. Are you banned for playing with a hacker? Potentially yes. Being matched with one by accident is different. Queuing with hackers or benefiting from cheats raises red flags. Using hacks on your own? Don’t risk it. Fair play is always more satisfying.
G. Body Blocking: Sometimes a Wall, Sometimes a Wall… of Ban
Body blocking helps protect teammates from Killers. But extreme cases can be bannable. A player faced a permanent ban for blocking Survivors until the server timed out. Preventing someone from playing by trapping them indefinitely is not allowed. Strategically blocking the Killer is fine; preventing Survivors from playing is not.
H. Teamkilling (in other games): DBD is (Mostly) Safe From Friendly Fire
Teamkilling is common in multiplayer games. Can you get banned for it in games like COD? Yes, they have strict penalties. In DBD, survivors can’t directly kill each other, so teamkilling isn’t an issue here, at least not directly…
I. Ban Evasion: Trying to Sneak Back In? Think Again.
Got banned? Creating a new account to sneak back in is ban evasion. It can lead to permanent bans. Take ban evasion seriously. Game developers do not appreciate when rules are disrespected. If banned, treat it as a time-out, not a challenge.
J. Using VPN: Virtually Private, Virtually Permitted
VPNs can be good news! Yes, DBD allows VPN usage generally. They can help lower ping or bypass geographical restrictions. Just ensure that using a VPN doesn’t hide other bannable activities or behaviors.
K. Changing Icons: Cosmetic Tweaks, Potential Risks
Want custom icons in DBD? Changing them could be risky. Behaviour Interactive won’t manually ban you for modifying .png files according to their rules. But anti-cheat could still detect it and lead to a ban. Messing with game files always comes with some risk.
L. Playing with a Cheater: Guilt by Association? Maybe.
Can you get banned for playing with a cheater in DBD? This depends on the situation. A single accidental match might not lead to a ban, but repeated queuing with known hackers can raise suspicion.
Hackers can trigger bans on players. It’s scary. Avoid anyone you suspect of cheating. Staying safe is better than taking risks.
II. DBD Jargon: Matchmaking and Gameplay Mechanics
A. SBMM: Playing With Your Peers
SBMM stands for Skill-Based Matchmaking. DBD uses SBMM to match players with similar skill levels. This aims to create fair matches. It’s not perfect, but it does exist.
B. MMR: Your Hidden Score
MMR is Matchmaking Rating. This number is used for SBMM. Survivors share MMR, but Killers have different MMRs. It’s designed to create balanced matches, showing your gameplay level. The system judges without revealing scores.
C. Undetectable Status Effect: Killer’s Cloak
Undetectable sounds scary. This status effect is for Killers only. Killers gain stealth advantages: no heartbeat, no red light, and no visible auras for Survivors. It makes Killers sneakier, raising tension in matches.
D. DC Penalty: Punishing Quitters
DC Penalty exists for a reason. Killers and Survivors quit mid-match, wasting time. The penalty discourages abandoning matches. It also promotes fairness within games. Nobody likes quitter players.
E. Grades: Climbing Ranks
Grades indicate your ranking in DBD. They range from Ash to Iridescent and have four levels each. A total of 20 tiers exist. Grades also reset each month, reflecting your performance in trials.
F. Tunneling: Focused Killer Strategy
Tunneling is a controversial tactic. It means Killers target one Survivor until they are out of the match. This strategy ignores others and is not reportable. It’s simply a method some Killers use to win.
G. Wiggling: The Freedom Struggle
Wiggling is how Survivors try to escape. It takes 16 seconds and requires filling the Wiggle Meter. Skill Checks become crucial to wiggle free. Time matters when you hang from the Killer’s shoulder.
H. Bleeding Out: Painful Countdown
Bleeding Out is a slow demise for Survivors. They may die in four minutes if in Dying state. Survivors can use team locations to decide actions during this time. Don’t give up too soon; hope can linger.
I. 99-ing: Art of Almost There
99-ing is a strategic technique. In DBD, 99 means completing something to 99% instead of 100%. Delaying helps during End Game Collapse. Timing is key for maximizing escape chances or making altruistic plays.
III. Bots and Bot Behavior
A. Botting: Not Always Illegal
Botting isn’t inherently illegal. Many bots serve legitimate purposes online. Yet, using bots to cheat or manipulate systems crosses legal lines and violates terms of service.
B. Viewbotting: Inflated View Counts
Viewbotting means faking stream numbers with false viewers. It isn’t always illegal but breaks terms of major platforms like Twitch or YouTube. Fake indicators can harm your reputation and lead to bans.
C. Bot Lobbies: Computer-Controlled Players
Bot lobbies contain computer-controlled players. They exist in games like Fortnite, while in DBD, they aren’t a designed feature. Seeking them in DBD may seem exploitative for players.
IV. Toxicity in the DBD Community
A. Toxicity: Is the Fog Poisonous?
Toxicity remains a concern in online gaming. Is DBD toxic? The community isn’t usually viewed as toxic overall but does have moments of negativity. Most players experience relatively less toxicity compared to other games.
V. Anti-Cheat: Combatting Cheating
A. VAC: Not on Duty Here
VAC stands for Valve Anti-Cheat. It’s common in many Steam games but not used in DBD. DBD relies on other methods for anti-cheat measures.
B. Easy Anti-Cheat: Shield Against Cheating
EAC stands for Easy Anti-Cheat. DBD uses EAC for detecting cheating. It operates in the background during matches, though it’s not completely foolproof and may affect legitimate players.
C. Anti-Cheat Showdown: The Best System
Anti-cheat systems differ in strength across games. Valorant and Fortnite are praised for their aggressive measures against cheating. DBD’s EAC performs decently, but the battle against cheaters continues.
VI. Beyond the Trial: Game Mechanics
A. Offline Mode: No Offline Practice
Offline Mode doesn’t exist in DBD. It requires an internet connection for gameplay and practice. Players can’t enjoy a single-player experience with bots, as it remains purely online.
B. 2v8 Mode: Double the Killers, Double the Challenge
the Chaos
2v8 Mode sounds wild. Two killers hunt eight survivors. Is this even possible in DBD? Yes! Dead by Daylight has a new, limited-time 2v8 game mode. It adds chaos and fear. This game mode changes the standard DBD rules. Expect madness and a new challenge.
C. Item Charges: Fueling Your Survival Tools
All items have charges. Your flashlights, med-kits, and toolboxes use them. One charge equals one second of use. Perks and add-ons can alter this. “All Items have a set amount of Charges that are depleted at 1 Charge per second.” Use your charges wisely. Running out mid-chase is not fun.
VII. Random Bits and Pieces: Miscellaneous DBD Facts
A. Ban Duration: The Punishment Timeline
Ban Duration questions arise. How long are DBD bans? They usually get longer: “48 Hours -> 1 Week -> 1 Month -> PERMANENT.” Minor offenses lead to brief bans. Serious violations increase the length. Repeat offenders may face permanent account loss. Play fair, folks.
B. Highest Survivor Grade: Iridescent I – The Apex Predator (of Survival)
The peak of Survivor skill? It’s Iridescent I. Reaching it shows you have skill. Climbing this ranked ladder takes work. It proves your looping ability and generator rushing skills. You must not be sacrificed to the Entity too often.
C. Killer Removed: Farewell, Pinhead… For Now?
Killers come and go in DBD. Pinhead is set to leave. Players have limited time to unlock him. This is temporary, not permanent. “The Cenobite will no longer be available to unlock” after a set date due to license issues. Existing owners keep him, but new players miss out. It’s a reminder about licensing’s power.
So there you have it. This is your guide to avoid the Entity’s wrath and the ban hammer in Dead by Daylight. Play fair and smart. Perhaps, just perhaps, you will survive the night and dodge a ban.
