Summary
Dead by Daylighthas remained a staple of the horror videogame landscape since its release in 2016. Much of this is due to the frequent updates that developer Behaviour Interactive has added to the game over the years, constantly raising the bar and adding new Killers and Survivors. InDead by Daylight’s firstResident Evilchapter,Nemesis from theResident Evil 3remakearrives in the Fog and this guide will help players build him for success.
As with any killer,Nemesiscan be a threat to Survivors with multiple different builds if a player knows how to use him efficiently. While he isn’t particularly capable of challengingtop-tierDead by DaylightKillersin the current meta like Nurse and Spirit, he isn’t especially weak. With that said, he’s a fairly straightforward killer and one that doesn’t require high skill to use effectively.
Updated June 12, 2025, by Mark Sammut:The Nemesis has not received all that much attention in Dead by Daylight’s 2025 updates, but he is still a decent Killer who can be fun to try out and master. If you want to try out someNemesis builds, you will first need to unlock the Tyrant.
The Nemesis: Best Beginner Build
The Nemesis has pretty fantastic personal perksin his Bloodweb, includingEruptionandLethal Pursuer,which allow formap-wide generator regressionand the ability to see Survivors at the start of a trial. This build utilizes these perks along withBitter Murmurto track Survivors throughout the game andHex: No One Escapes Deathto pressure them during the Endgame Collapse.
The Nemesis: Best Build
Perhaps the most effective build to run with The Nemesis inDead by DaylightincludesDeadlock’spassive generator slowdown to compensate for his weak early game, building up Mutation Rate and making the most out ofZombies that push Survivors offgenerators. Furthermore,Corrupt InterventionandGrim Embracemassively slow down progress throughout the game.The Trickster’s No Way Outis a reliable endgame perk that can always provide good value.
The Nemesis: Best Add-Ons
The Nemesis’ best add-ons are somewhat hard to make use of. Since so much of his power revolves around zombies and Survivors making early-game mistakes, it can be difficult to know what works best for the Killer. This guide highlights hisstrongest add-ons, ordered by their rarity on the Bloodweb.
Damaged Syringe
While none of The Nemesis’ Common Add-Ons are particularly noteworthy, the Damaged Syringe can provide some decent slowdown and make Contaminated Survivors more vulnerable,unable to Vaccinate themselves mid-chase.
Brian’s Intestines
Though The Nemesis’ zombies don’t always work as intended, it never hurts tospeed them upto increase theirmap-wide pressure.
Mikhail’s Eye
An upgraded version of Brian’s Intestines, Mikhail’s Eye, can catch Survivors off guard when zombies approach them mid-chase, potentiallydowning or Contaminating them.
Marvin’s Blood
Marvin’s Blood continues to be the Nemesis' best add-on despite being nerfed in recent updates. It allows the Nemesis to reach Tier II of his Tentacle Strike much earlier and makes his snowballing potential that much stronger. In most games, it is almost mandatory to bring this add-on to have a strong start to the early game, which is arguably the Nemesis' weakest point in the trial.
Serotonin Injector
While The Nemesis’ footsteps are rather loud in comparison to other Killers, becoming Undetectable can nonetheless scare some Survivors into mistakes. With the Serotonin Injector, destroying a zombie will grant Undetectable for15 seconds.
Licker Tongue
From being one of the worst add-ons for the Nemesis, Licker Tongue has seen a monumental rise in recent times as a reliable add-on to bring, thanks to the changes made to Nemesis' kit. Granting an additional second of Hindered, for a total of three seconds, is pretty huge in closing the gap and getting another Tentacle Strike or a regular attack.
It synergizes extremely well with Marvin’s Blood to increase the Mutation Rate while keeping up pressure by injuring or downing Survivors.
Depleted Ink Ribbon
Like the other zombie speed add-ons, when a zombie is doing its job well it can prove incredibly inconvenient for Survivors. When paired with endgame perks likeThe Nightmare’s Remember Me,moving zombies to exit gatescan prove very beneficial.
Broken Recovery Coin
A simple yet impactful add-on, the Broken Recovery Coinremoves one Supply Case from the trial, effectively reducing the amount of body blocks and free hits that Survivors can take. This is another invaluable add-on for The Nemesis.
Iridescent Umbrella Badge
For Nemesis players who prioritize focusing down certain Survivors, the Iridescent Umbrella Badge is an important add-on. ByExposing recently Vaccinated Survivors, you can tunnel those most vulnerable and closer to death by tracking their Killer Instinct and forcing them down.
Introduced midway through 2021 as the Killer in “Chapter 20: Resident Evil,“Nemesis T-Typeis one of the most recognizable gaming villains inDead by Daylight, and his pre-debut popularity likely motivated a lot of people to pick up this DLC or just the Tyrant himself. As time has passed andDBDhas expanded to 36 and counting chapters, Nemesis has too much competition to be an easy purchase for most people, especially if they are not die-hardResident Evilfans. That’s not to say he is terrible, as with the rightNemesis build, he can be a fairly intimidating Killer; however, there are better and more popular options out there.
Still, if you are interested in maybe trying out a new main and would like to give this Killer a try, you will first need to unlock him. Due to being a licensed character, Nemesis can only be unlocked by purchasing and spending Auric Cells (or just straight-up cash). Individually,Nemesis costs 500 Auric Cells(which are $4.99), although I would recommend waiting for a sale if you are really on the fence.
Alternatively, and most temptingly, is the option to pick up Chapter 20, which is arguably one of the most stacked DLCs inDead by Daylighthistory. Along with Nemesis, the package includesLeon Kennedy and Jill Valentine, two legendary video game horror heroes. The DLC is $11.99, the standard price for three characters.
