Dead by Daylight continues to break boundaries when it comes to crossovers, and this time, it brings one of the most iconic zombie franchises into the Fog. Yes, The Walking Dead has officially joined the roster — at least partially. As of now, Rick Grimes is available on the PTB (Public Test Build), with Michonne set to follow soon.
While players are still waiting on answers about why Michonne was temporarily disabled, her perks are still live and ready for use. So, what do Rick and Michonne bring to the table? Let’s break down their perks, how they work, and how they shake up gameplay.
Rick Grimes Perks
1. Apocalyptic Ingenuity
After rummaging or searching two chests, you can construct a “Fragile Pallet” — a temporary wooden barrier similar to masquerade pallets. These pallets break after being thrown, but they can buy you valuable seconds. They can’t be placed anywhere, though; they must be built over already broken pallets.
2. Come and Get Me
Unhook a survivor, crouch, and press the ability button. This action triggers a scream, revealing your aura for 5 seconds. In return, all nearby survivors get 15 seconds of stealth — no scratch marks or pools of blood. It’s a bold distraction perk for high-risk rescue plays.
3. Toughen Up (Teamwork Perk)
If a survivor within 24 meters blinds or stuns the killer and you’re injured, you get 30 seconds of silence: no pain sounds, blood pools, or scratch marks. It’s a strong synergy perk for stealth plays after a teammate makes a key move.
Michonne’s Perks
1. Conviction
Heal another survivor fully to activate this perk. Once you’re downed, if you reach 25% recovery, you can pick yourself up by pressing the ability button. It grants 30 seconds of movement before you’re automatically downed again — great for escapes or forcing pressure.
2. Last Stand
After staying inside the killer’s terror radius for 60 seconds, your next fast vault into the killer will stun them. This is a one-time-use perk, and it only works with fast vaults into the killer — similar to a surprise dropkick.
3. Throwdown (Teamwork Perk)
If you blind or stun a killer, all injured survivors within 24 meters gain Endurance for 10 seconds. While the use-case might seem niche, it can create massive value in coordinated plays or chaotic situations.
Gameplay Experience & PTB NotesPlayers testing these perks noted some bugs — particularly with the Fragile Pallet system. In some matches, certain pallets (like the one at Shack) couldn’t be rebuilt even when the perk was ready. There were also unclear cooldown visuals and inconsistent activation zones. Some of this might be ironed out before the live release.
The Fog Vials (a new visual effect from the event) add a dense, cloudy layer to gameplay, making stealth builds with these perks even more effective. However, it also caused visibility issues — for both killers and survivors.
During gameplay, perks like Come and Get Me and Conviction proved useful in tense moments, especially with killers like Artist and Clown. The mix of distraction, stealth, and pallet generation created a dynamic playstyle that fits Rick and Michonne’s survival-driven personas.
The inclusion of The Walking Dead in Dead by Daylight feels like a natural fit — gritty survivors, oppressive killers, and a heavy focus on team dynamics. While fans are still hoping for more transparency around Michonne’s current status, her perks already hint at her future strength in the game.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of TWD or just excited for new gameplay mechanics, Rick’s arrival and the teased addition of Michonne offer a fresh layer of strategy and flavor in the Fog. More survivors, more perks, and possibly a killer down the line? Only time will tell. For now, enjoy experimenting with the new perks and let’s hope the bugs are cleared before the official patch drops.