Dead by Daylight: Beginner’s Guide to Blocked Generators

This guide is for players new to the game, or who have low information about the game’s mechanics (such as not having DLCs, not having other friends into the game, etc.) and want to learn a little bit more.

That said, in this guide I will talk a little bit in depth about the different sources and uses for the perks/add-ons that can block generators, nothing mind-blowing but hopefully enough to teach someone already familiar with the mechanic something new.

Credit: EIP Games

Through your time in the Trials, you’ve probably seen a generator like this. The Entity’s claws grasp the generator, twitching. What causes this to happen? Is it good or bad?

Survivors AND Killers can block a generator.
Whenever a generator is blocked, Survivors cannot interact with it. This means they cannot repair, install traps, install wiretaps, so on. Killers also cannot interact with it, because they cannot damage it.

Blocked Generators CANNOT lose progress.
There are many different ways to damage a Generator without actually kicking it.

• Hex: Ruin
• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance
• Surge (formerly known as Jolt)

However, none of these are able to deal damage to a generator. While the generator is blocked, it cannot lose progress for any reason. Pain Resonance will choose a different generator to damage (or in bugged cases, attempt and fail to damage a blocked generator), while the other perks will do nothing.

Generators are never permanently blocked by The Entity unless The Killer closes the Hatch before all generators are repaired.

Repressed Alliance is currently the only way that a Survivor can block a generator, without relying on the Killer and intentionally triggering one of their perks that can do so.

Originally posted by DBD:

After repairing Generators for a total of 55/50/45 seconds, Repressed Alliance activates:

Press the Active Ability button to call upon The Entity to block the Generator you are currently repairing for 30 seconds, after which Repressed Alliance deactivates.

The Aura of the blocked Generator is revealed to all Survivors in white.

Repressed Alliance can only be triggered when no other Survivors are repairing your Generator.

While this perk is a curiosity, as it offers Survivors an interaction normally given to Killers, it is not considered very powerful. It can also be hard to tell when a Survivor is activating it.

PROS

• Protects the generator from effects that would potentially destroy your hard work
• Can be used with Wiretap to make the Wiretap unbreakable
• Can “save” a generator
• Can reveal it to random teammates as a point of interest

CONS

• You must be alone on the Generator to block it, so randoms may stop you from using it.
• You CANNOT undo the action. A generator remains blocked for 30 seconds no matter what.
• 30s of no repair time can often be longer than the time it takes to undo damage.

Corrupt Intervention is probably the most prolific generator blocking perk in the game. It is extremely easy to tell when it is the perk blocking generators, as you will find them immediately after starting the game.

Originally posted by DBD:

At the start of the trial, the 3 generators located farthest from you are blocked by the Entity for 80/100/120 seconds.

Corrupt Intervention deactivates prematurely when the first Survivor is put into the Dying State.

Corrupt is a straightforward and extremely useful early-game perk, as survivors that spawn far from the Killer must get closer in order to make any progress. The Killer can either patrol the unblocked generators, or the blocked ones, and find survivors easier.

While 120 seconds is a long time, the first time *any* survivor is put into the Dying State, the perk deactivates, making it more of a safeguard to get a first chase and hook started. The moment a survivor is chased, others are likely to be repairing anyways.

PROS

• Extremely reliable, consistent Generator slow-down
• Slows down early-game generators instead of late-game
• Good on every map, awesome on some
• Helps establish early pressure, getting a hit, maybe even a hook before a generator finishes

CONS

• Often causes survivors to split up, which some killers dislike
• May cause Survivors to wander into a Hex or your Traps/Ability before you’re ready

Deadlock is a perk that comes from The Cenobite, and is another fairly common choice for Killers as it is good at slowing down. Deadlock occurs when you are on a generator that becomes blocked after another generator is complete, and is fairly easy to identify in action once you know how it works.

Originally posted by DBD:

Whenever a Generator is completed, The Entity blocks the Generator with the most progression for 20/25/30 seconds. The aura of the blocked generator is revealed to you in white.

Deadlock is a very straightforward, effective perk, but it is not without its weaknesses. As the perk suggests, when a Generator is done, the one closest to being done will also be disabled for a while.

What it does not do is block the second most complete generator, meaning that as a Survivor team, you can coordinate to beat it. If a generator is 98% complete, and gets blocked, you can then complete a generator that is 97% complete. Then, after 30 seconds, complete the 98% complete generator.

PROS

• Consistently slows down progress of generators
• The strategy to avoid Deadlock may require Survivors to go longer without finishing a gen
• Against un-coordinated randoms, and at least the first time it can completely catch the survivors off guard

CONS

• Survivors can quickly be made aware of it through its activation
• The previously mentioned strategy means it’s possible to stack generators and still get quick completions
• Prevents the Killer from being able to damage their top priority generator

Thrilling Tremors is a perk that is based more on information gathering than actual Generator blocking. It has its uses, but remains a bit more limited in application.

Originally posted by DBD:

After picking up a Survivor, all Generators not currently being repaired are blocked by the Entity for the next 16 seconds. The aura of blocked generators is highlighted to you in white.

Thrilling Tremors has a cool-down of 100/80/60 seconds.

Thrilling Tremors is extremely obvious from the get-go, and offers a situation to Survivors. They can commit to the generator to attempt to get a little more progress, or they can leave it alone to avoid being detected, but also be unable to repair it. This is especially effective if a Survivor is working a Generator near a hook or Dying Survivor.

PROS

• Directly transmits information to you regarding every Generator at once
• Slows down generator progress
• Acts as a general searchlight

CONS

• Does not block generators for very long
• Survivors very far away are not in danger unless you are a mobility killer
• Cool-down is prohibitively long, and it’s common to pick up survivors while it’s still on timer
• Inherently makes perks like Pain Resonance or Pop Goes the Weasel worse due to blocking before hooking.

Dead Man’s Switch is a perk that, while obvious, has some tricky applications and requires a little bit of know-how for the Killer to make effective.

Originally posted by DBD:

After hooking a Survivor, Dead Man’s Switch activates for the next 20/25/30 seconds.

• While activated, any Survivor that stops repairing a Generator before it is fully repaired causes The Entity to block the Generator until the Dead Man’s Switch effect ends.
• Affected generators are highlighted by a white aura.

NOTE: To clarify how the timer works, it is 30 seconds after hooking a Survivor, but the effects always end after that timer does. If you repair a generator for 20 seconds after a Survivor is hooked, then it will only be blocked for 10 seconds.

Dead Man’s Switch is primarily combo fodder, as it’s not as likely that Survivors farther away will stop repairing for any reason. In addition, they are likely to stop repairing generators before someone is hooked, in order to avoid DMS.

PROS

• With proper combos, Dead Man’s Switch can halt generators across the map for a healthy period of time
• Can consistently add pressure after every hook to high value Generators (such as when multiple survivors keep tapping it to add progress or stop regression)
• In some situations, can give you information that you may not get otherwise

CONS

• Requires support from your other perks or add-ons to be effective
• Because of the timer mechanic, some gens may not be blocked long
• Requires follow-through to pressure Survivors off of generators
• Can be avoided in some cases

Some combos: Pain Resonance, Doctor, Surge, Friends ‘Till the End, Ultimate Weapon…

Grim Embrace is a relatively lackluster perk most of the time, but it can nevertheless come at you unexpected, and even cripple the Survivors. In a worst case scenario, it can activate early, enable multiple hooks, and overall set the tone for a Killer victory.

Originally posted by DBD:

Upon hooking a survivor for the first time, Grim Embrace gains +1 Token.
Upon reaching 4 tokens, Grim Embrace activates:

• Blocks all Generators for 30/35/40 seconds.
• The aura of the Obsession is revealed to you for 6 seconds.

NOTE: As of writing, this perk is currently on the Public Test Beta with a reworked functionality. This guide will maintain this description until its functionality is changed, but once it is, it will not comment on its overall strengths and weaknesses until the community has had time to examine it.

Grim Embrace’s fatal flaw, alongside similar perks, is that it requires every survivor to be hooked once. This can be very difficult to do in a timely fashion, and a lot of the time may just never happen. The effects are strong once performed, but it requires a condition that is often too difficult.

PROS

• Offers a very long period in which no generators can be done
• Survivors that are repairing are stopped
• Gives some pressure afterwards by revealing the Obsession (if alive)

CONS

• Deliberately going after all 4 Survivors can take too long and go nowhere
• Not deliberately going after all 4 Survivors can make the perk a dud which may not trigger
• Inconsistent usefulness after activation, as you must still chase and hook afterwards
• If the Obsession is dead, that’s one less thing it does when it triggers.

The Driver’s License is a purple add-on for Ghost Face. It is considered to be one of his most potentially devastating add-ons and is commonly picked among Ghost Face players.

Originally posted by DBD:

• Causes Generators to explode and lose -20 % of its maximum possible Progression, when marking a Survivor repairing it, and blocks it for 15 seconds.
• This penalty is only once if multiple repairing Survivors are marked.

NOTE: The “20% of maximum possible progression” refers to the overall repair progress bar. If a Generator is at 15% progression, it will reach 0 when Driver’s License activates.

Overall a very powerful tool as it allows potentially infinite blockage of generators and high value damage.

PROS:

• Massive damage on par with some of the strongest killer perks.
• Blocks survivors from tampering with the Generator immediately, including unmarked friends

CONS

• Emphasizes harder, stealthier gameplay in order to adequately mark Survivors while they are repairing.
• Can be relatively easy to tell when the Driver’s License is being used, causing Survivors to be unwilling to commit to Generators near completion when they are being stalked.

As an extra, I will note some common or uncommon combinations that can get more mileage out the perks listed in this guide.

Repressed Alliance

• Wiretap: This perk reveals the aura of any killer near the generator it is placed on, but the effect ends if the Generator takes damage. By using Repressed Alliance to prevent this fact, you can create a way to monitor the killer remotely for 30 seconds.

Corrupt Intervention

• Lethal Pursuer: On killers with high mobility, it’s not uncommon to see Lethal Pursuer paired with Corrupt Intervention. This allows Killers to pursue a chase immediately while preventing most progress from being made. If the Survivors spawn close together, and scatter when you approach, the chances that they get anything done is reduced even more.

Dead Man’s Switch

• Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance: Causes the Survivor repairing the most progressed Generator to scream, which immediately triggers Dead Man’s for the full length.
• Ultimate Weapon: Causes any Survivor in your terror radius to scream, making them let go of a Generator
• Friends ’til the End: If you hook the Obsession, a Survivor will scream and become the new one. Can cause a repairing Survivor to block their own Generator.
• Infectious Fright: If a Survivor goes down during the timer, any survivor in your Terror Radius will scream and let go of their generator.
• Oppression: A perk that causes multiple generators to take damage at a time. If a survivor is repairing one of the other generators, they must succeed a hard skillcheck.
• Overcharge: A perk that further penalizes and prevents gen-tapping.
• Surge: If a survivor goes down during the timer, Surge will damage nearby generators and make Survivors scream.
• Hex: Face the Darkness: Survivors outside your Terror Radius will scream periodically.
• Dragon’s Grip: After damaging a Generator, the first Survivor to touch it in the next 30 seconds will scream and become Exposed.
• Distorted Photo (Onryo): Survivors that see you Manifest within 16 meters will scream and release their Generator.
• Incensed Ointment (Plague): Ingesting corruption makes Survivors in your terror radius scream and release their Generator.
• Anxious Gasp (Nurse): Blinking within 1 meter of a survivor makes them scream.
• Soul Chemical (Blight): If the Blight is farther than 16m away when starting a Rush, then when he enters 16m of a Survivor, they will get a difficult skillcheck. Trying to avoid the Blight can trigger Dead Man’s.
• The Doctor: A killer that specializes in forcing players in a wide radius to scream.

Note: Dead Man’s Switch is volatile and versatile. There are many things that have a chance or guarantee someone will screw up while working on a generator. This is a long but very incomplete list of things that can stack the odds in your favor while using the perk.

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If you noticed any errors, or have any suggestions toward the comments made in the guide, be sure to comment them below.

This is only one of multiple guides that I plan to release and maintain as long as I can. If you have any intention to adapt the guide to a different location (Reddit, DBD Forums, YouTube), please leave a comment and let me get back to you.