
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.
- 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.
Unlockables[]
Add-ons[]
Dried Cherry Blossom | A crumbling, dried cherry flower. Once the symbol of mortality.
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Mother-Daughter Ring | A silver ring engraved with "for my precious daughter".
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Perks[]
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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
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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 All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem's radius:
"Stick to the shadows and cover your tracks." — Mikaela Reid |
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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 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Dance With Me has a cool-down of 30/25/20 seconds. "Another show's off and runnin', |
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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
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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 does not activate when you are in the Dying State. |
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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 ![]() ![]() ![]() After charging for 30/25/20 seconds, it activates:
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 |
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Fixated | This description is based on the changes announced for or featured in the upcoming Patch 7.3.3 |
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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.
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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.
'live slow and die old'." — Dylan, The Lost Tapes |
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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:
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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
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 "That's not enough to beat me. |
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Parental Guidance | You have inherited the ability to hear the dead — and now the dead warn you of danger.
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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 "Ok, stay calm. Don't overthink it and just keep moving forward: you got this." — Jane Romero |
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Self-Preservation | Life is unforgiving. The more confirmation you get of that, the more prepared you become.
"Something I learnt in the industry: when the axe is swinging, keep your head down." — Yun-Jin Lee |
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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:
"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[]
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Showcase of the visibility improvements in Patch 8.2.0
Videos[]
General Spawn behaviour | Spawn behaviour in the distance |
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Spawn behaviour with Lightweight![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spawn behaviour with Predator![]() ![]() ![]() |
Default spawn behaviour | |