Scratch Marks

Scratch Marks are an essential Game Mechanic in Dead by Daylight and the main tracking tool for Killers.

Behaviour[]

Scratch Marks are created whenever a Survivor is running across the Trial Grounds (or when reaching at least 60 % of their default Movement speed while the sprint button is pressed).

Scratch Marks trail after Survivors and spawn in chunks. They betray the general location of a Survivor and the direction they are headed in to the Killer, who can see the Scratch Marks at all times.
Survivors cannot see their own Scratch Marks unless they use the Perk Fixated.

Scratch Marks are the main mechanic by which a Killer can track a Survivor's movement. There are few means to prevent Scratch Marks from spawning, only to alter their behaviour.

Scratch Marks start to fade in their brightness after a few moments and disappear completely after a few seconds, meaning that if the Killer sees Scratch Marks around, there will definitely be a Survivor close-by.

Spawning[]

Scratch Marks can spawn on all surfaces as long as they are within the spawn radius. If a Survivor runs close enough to a wall, a tall rock, a structure or even just the trees spawning throughout the Map, the Scratch Marks will spawn on their surface, which makes them visible from a considerable distance away for the Killer, allowing an attentive Killer to spot a Survivor's general location from across the Map.

Statistics[]

Scratch Marks last for 10 seconds by default.
- Full brightness is reached after 1 second.
- Full brightness is maintained for 8 seconds.
- Fade-out takes 1 second to complete.
  - However, on lighter surfaces, Scratch Marks appear to start the fading process up to ~4 seconds sooner, due to the fact that the initial fading is more noticeable in effect on light textures.
    The fading time remains the same.

Unlockables[]

Add-ons[]

	Dried Cherry Blossom	A crumbling, dried cherry flower. Once the symbol of mortality. Coming within 3 metres of a Survivor during a Phase-Walk triggers Killer Instinct. Scratch Marks are no longer visible to you during a Phase-Walk.
	Mother-Daughter Ring	A silver ring engraved with "for my precious daughter". Increases your Movement speed during a Phase-Walk by +25 %. Scratch Marks are no longer visible to you during a Phase-Walk.

Perks[]

	Babysitter	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.1.0 While you have a reputation for being self-centred, you risk it all to help those in need. Whenever you unhook a Survivor, the Aura of the Killer is revealed to you for 8 seconds, while the unhooked Survivor benefits from the following effects for 20/25/30 seconds instead: Suppresses the creation of their Scratch Marks and Pools of Blood. Increases the strength of their Haste Status Effect by +10 %. "I promised to keep you shitheads safe, and that's exactly what I plan on doing." — Steve Harrington
	Boon: Shadow Step	A Boon that conceals the truth. Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem's radius: Scratch Marks are suppressed. Auras are hidden from The Killer. Both effects linger for 2/3/4 seconds after leaving the Boon Totem's range. Only one Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem. "Stick to the shadows and cover your tracks." — Mikaela Reid
	Dance With Me	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.2.0 When performing a Rushed Action to vault a Window or exit a Locker, Dance With Me triggers its effect: Suppresses the creation of Scratch Marks for 3 seconds. Dance With Me has a cool-down of 30/25/20 seconds. "Another show's off and runnin', Dance with me, cuz there's a storm a commin' Follow my boots, try to keep up, Dance with me, until sun up." — Kate Denson's "Dance with Me"
	Deception	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.2.0 Your adventurous lifestyle requires moments of crafty misdirection. Interacting with a Locker while holding the Sprint button has the following effects: Prevents you from entering the Locker, allowing you to run past it. Causes the doors of the Locker to swiftly open and close, feining a Survivor entering it. Triggers a Loud Noise Notification at the location of the Locker. Suppresses the creation of Scratch Marks and Pools of Blood for 3 seconds. Deception has a cool-down of 30/25/20 seconds.
	Distortion	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.3.2 Start the Trial with 1 Token. Whenever the Killer attempts to read your Aura, Distortion activates and consumes -1 Token, applying the following effects for 8/10/12 seconds: Blocks your Aura from being read. Suppresses the creation of your Scratch Marks. For every 30 seconds spent in a Chase, Distortion recharges +1 Token, up to a maximum of 2 Tokens. Distortion does not activate when you are in the Dying State.
	Diversion	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.2.0 Diversion charges while inside the Terror Radius without being chased by the Killer. After charging for 30/25/20 seconds, it activates: Press the Active Ability button while crouched and motionless to throw a pebble in the direction you are facing, creating a distraction for the Killer 20 metres away from your location: Triggers a Loud Noise Notification. Creates fake Scratch Marks. Diversion deactivates after use and resets its timer. "There's what is easy and then there's what is right. If you confuse the two, there's no telling what you become." — Adam Francis
	Fixated	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 7.3.3 When you have a goal in mind, there is no turning back; better to ask forgiveness than permission. Increases your Walking speed by 10/15/20 %. Unlocks the ability to see your own Scratch Marks. "I wanna finish what we started. I want to kill it." — Nancy Wheeler
	Inner Focus	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.3.2 You have honed your ability to see through the haze of the Ravage. Grants the ability to see the Scratch Marks of other Survivors. Whenever another Survivor loses a Health State due to the Killer, the Aura of the latter is revealed to your for 6/8/10 seconds. "The death, the trauma, the fear... it all leads here. The Overlap." — Haddie Kaur, Ravages of the Abyss Episode 11
	Lightweight	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 6.1.0 Your running is light and soft, making your tracks harder to follow. Reduces the Lifetime of your Scratch Marks by 3/4/5 seconds. Reduces the Spawn chance of patches of Scratch Marks by -60 %, making their spacing inconsistent. "Take it slow, he knows where you have been... just like I have always said: 'live slow and die old'." — Dylan, The Lost Tapes
	Low Profile	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 6.2.0 You work best alone. When it is just you and your pursuer, you know how to disappear. Whenever you are the only Survivor not currently incapacitated by either being downed, carried, or hooked, Low Profile activates: Suppresses your Grunts of Pain and the creation of Pools of Blood and Scratch Marks for 70/80/90 seconds. Low Profile deactivates after use and only accounts for Survivors still participating in the Trial.
	Lucky Break	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 6.1.0 You have had your share of scrapes and bruises, but luck is always on your side. Whenever you are in the Injured State, Lucky Break activates: Suppresses your Pools of Blood and Scratch Marks for a maximum of 40/50/60 seconds, after which Lucky Break deactivates. Each 1 second spent healing another Survivor recharges Lucky Break by 1 second up to its maximum Effect duration. Lucky Break also deactivates whenever you are Healthy or in the Dying State. "That's not enough to beat me. Not even close." — Yui Kimura
	Parental Guidance	You have inherited the ability to hear the dead — and now the dead warn you of danger. After stunning the Killer by any means, Parental Guidance suppresses your Scratch Marks, Pools of Blood, and Grunts of Pain for the next 5/6/7 seconds.
	Poised	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.3.0 Achieving goals boosts your confidence. Whenever a Generator is completed, you benefit from the following effect for 10/12/14 seconds: Suppresses the creation of your Scratch Marks. First starting to repair a given Generator reveals the Aura of the Killer to you for 6 seconds. "Ok, stay calm. Don't overthink it and just keep moving forward: you got this." — Jane Romero
	Self-Preservation	Life is unforgiving. The more confirmation you get of that, the more prepared you become. Whenever another Survivor is hit with a Basic Attack or Special Attack within 16 metres of you, Self-Preservation activates: Scratch Marks, Grunts of Pain when injured, and Bleeding are suppressed for the next 6/8/10 seconds. "Something I learnt in the industry: when the axe is swinging, keep your head down." — Yun-Jin Lee
	Teamwork: Collective Stealth	This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 8.3.0 When someone helps you out, you respond in kind. Whenever another Survivor finishes healing you, Teamwork: Collective Stealth activates, and both you and the Survivor who healed you benefit from the following effect: Suppresses your Scratch Marks for as long as you stay within 8/12/16 metres of one another. This effect lingers for 4 seconds once out of range and resumes upon re-entering it before that timer elapses. Survivors can only be affected by one instance of Teamwork: Collective Stealth at a time. "I'm good, I'm good... but keep it down." — Renato Lyra

Change Log[]

Patch 1.9.0[]

Survivor QoL: improved the spawn behaviour of Scratch Marks, causing them to no longer appear on floors above a Survivor or on walls that are opposite to them.

Patch 8.2.0[]

Killer QoL: improved the general visibility of Scratch Marks.
- This was motivated by Scratch Marks being hard to see on some surfaces, especially red ones see Gallery.

Trivia[]

While it is possible to reach walking Movement speeds]] above 60 % when using Perks, Scratch Marks will not be created due to the additional sprint-button requirement.

Gallery[]

Showcase of the visibility improvements in Patch 8.2.0

Videos[]

General Spawn behaviour	Spawn behaviour in the distance

Spawn behaviour with Lightweight III	Spawn behaviour with Predator III

Default spawn behaviour