Decoding Dead by Daylight’s Hex: Ruin – Why Some Killers Just Can’t Get Enough of It
Ah, Hex: Ruin. Just hearing it can unsettle Survivors. Some players groan with “again?” after hours of totem cleansing.
Hex: Ruin is a Killer perk in Dead by Daylight. It applies a penalty to generators when Survivors are not working on them. Think of it as a gremlin that pushes your progress back each time you look away. Clever, right?
But why do some Killers love this perk? Why do they use it in so many builds? Let’s dive in and see why certain Killers can’t quit Hex: Ruin.
The Allure of Ruin: Buying Time in a Hurry-Up World
In Dead by Daylight, time matters. For Killers, it’s a key resource. Survivors repair generators quickly. Without pressure, they can finish objectives faster than you can say “skill check”.
This is where Hex: Ruin enters the scene, whispering delay and frustration to the Killer. It slows down the game. It gives Killers space to apply pressure and chase Survivors, making their lives miserable (in a game way, of course).
Ruin’s strength is its passive nature. Once the Hex totem is active, it punishes idle generators. This matters early in the game, before Survivors get organized and slam through gens. It grants the Killer time to control the map and start snowballing.
Ruin Regulars: Which Killers are the Biggest Fans?
Now, let’s explore which Killers frequently use Hex: Ruin. Thanks to data analysts, we peek into the Killer meta. Some familiar faces lead the “Ruin Fan Club”.
Here’s a list of Killers and their Hex: Ruin pick rates. You may feel surprised or not at all, based on your DBD experience:
| Killer Name | Hex: Ruin Pick Rate |
|---|---|
| Mastermind | 4.08 |
| Hag | 4.08 |
| Executioner (Pyramid Head) | 4.08 |
| Clown | 4.06 |
| … (and 15 more rows) | … |
This shows us that Hex: Ruin remains relevant, even if it’s not the overwhelming force it once was. It also suggests the types of Killers drawn to Ruin.
Why These Killers? Decoding the Ruin Affinity
- Mastermind (Albert Wesker): Wesker focuses on map control and pressuring Survivors with his Uroboros dash. Ruin grants him time to patrol generators and catch Survivors off guard. Slowing gens forces Survivors into riskier plays that Wesker can exploit.
- Hag: The Hag excels at trapping and ambushing Survivors. Ruin fits her playstyle well. By slowing generator progress, it encourages Survivors to roam more, often stumbling into her traps. More traps triggered = more Hag success (likely).
- Executioner (Pyramid Head): Pyramid Head punishes Survivors straying into his torment areas. Ruin allows him time to establish control zones and force Survivors into tricky situations. It maximizes pressure during matches.
- Clown: The Clown disrupts chases with his bottles. At first glance, he seems an odd choice for Ruin. But consider this: Ruin provides time for strategic bottle use to cut off loops and secure downs.
The “15 more rows” likely feature more Killers seeing value in Ruin, albeit less frequently than the top picks. They rely on map pressure or need time to set up plays and gravitate towards Hex: Ruin.
Is Ruin Still “Meta”? And Should *You* Run It?
The Dead by Daylight meta shifts constantly, like sand in the wind. Hex: Ruin has seen highs and lows. At one point, it felt like every Killer used Ruin. Then came nerfs, shifts in meta, and other gen-regression perks.
Now, Ruin is still viable but not a must-pick like before. Its effectiveness depends on totem placement RNG and how fast Survivors cleanse the Hex totem. A Ruin totem in plain sight destroyed in the first minute is less useful than a chocolate teapot.
So, should *you* run Ruin? That depends on your Killer and playstyle. If you play one of the mentioned Killers or others who benefit from early-game slowdown and map pressure, then consider it. Just be ready for your Hex totem to disappear quickly, and maybe have a backup perk.
Ultimately, Dead by Daylight requires experimenting to find what works for *you*. Hex: Ruin is a strong tool for Killers but just one tool among many. Now go forth, explore, and hope your Hex totems spawn in great spots!
