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The Houndmaster
K38 · portrait
Killer
Portia Maye

The Houndmaster

A relentless sea captain who hunts alongside her faithful hound Snug, sending him out to knock down and drag back her prey.

Builds

Builds updated on .

How to use these builds

Builds 1, 4 and 5 are for public matches: more relaxed games to have fun, practise and learn.

Build 2 is for tournaments: a general competitive recommendation. Check each tournament’s bans before using it.

Build 3 is for new players: it uses the killer’s own perks, perks from the five free killers or general perks, without needing every killer at prestige 3.

Perks in each build

These are the four perks shown in each screenshot. Select a variant to compare the loadouts. The screenshots do not specify a patch; balance changes may affect their effects.

Public matches
Rapid BrutalityVrutalidad veloz
You move with a speed and fury that makes blood run cold.
  • You can no longer gain the Bloodlust Status Effect.
  • Successfully hitting a Survivor with a Basic Attack grants you a +5 % Haste Status Effect for 8/9/10 seconds.
"Catch it, put it in the airlock, get rid of it." — Dallas
Save the best for lastLo mejor para el final
Identical to Keep Them Waiting. "Death has come to your little town, Sheriff." — Dr Sam Loomis
Scourge Hook: Pain ResonanceGancho flagelante: Dolor retumbante
Overwhelming pain reverberates outwards. At the start of the Trial, 4 Hooks in the environment are changed into Scourge Hooks:
  • The Auras of these Scourge Hooks are highlighted in white.
Start the Trial with 4 Token. Whenever a Survivor is hooked onto a Scourge Hook for the first time, Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance consumes -1 Token and applies the following effects:
  • Causes the Generator with the most progression to explode, damaging it.
    • Instantly regresses the Damaged Generator by 10/15/20 % of its total Progression.
    • Causes the Damaged Generator to start regressing afterwards.
  • Causes all Survivors repairing the Damaged Generator to scream.
    • This does not trigger a Loud Noise Notification.
Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance is disabled for the remainder of the Trial once all Tokens are consumed. "The pain spills beyond flesh/darkness staining the horizon." — Girl in the Shadow by Carmina Mora
EruptionErupción
"The NE-α parasite provides you with the intelligence and awareness needed to set a trap." Performing the Damage Generator action on Generators highlights their Auras in yellow.
Whenever a Survivor enters the Dying State by any means, Eruption triggers the following effects on all highlighted Generators:
  • Causes them to explode, damaging them.
    • Instantly regresses them by -10 % of their total Progression.
    • Causes them to start regressing afterwards.
  • Causes all Survivors currently repairing them to suffer from the following effects:
    • Causes them to scream.
    • Their Auras are revealed to you for 8/10/12 seconds.
Eruption has a cool-down of 30 seconds after triggering its effects, which also resets the highlighted Auras. "It can use weapons?" — Jill Valentine
Tournaments
Corrupt InterventionIntervención corrupta
Your prayers invoke a dark power that meddles with the Survivors' chances of survival.
  • 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 once the first Survivor is put into the Dying State. "It shall be known across the land that the Gods curse the unfaithful." — (The Tablet of Adiris, 3.7)
Scourge Hook: Pain ResonanceGancho flagelante: Dolor retumbante
Overwhelming pain reverberates outwards. At the start of the Trial, 4 Hooks in the environment are changed into Scourge Hooks:
  • The Auras of these Scourge Hooks are highlighted in white.
Start the Trial with 4 Token. Whenever a Survivor is hooked onto a Scourge Hook for the first time, Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance consumes -1 Token and applies the following effects:
  • Causes the Generator with the most progression to explode, damaging it.
    • Instantly regresses the Damaged Generator by 10/15/20 % of its total Progression.
    • Causes the Damaged Generator to start regressing afterwards.
  • Causes all Survivors repairing the Damaged Generator to scream.
    • This does not trigger a Loud Noise Notification.
Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance is disabled for the remainder of the Trial once all Tokens are consumed. "The pain spills beyond flesh/darkness staining the horizon." — Girl in the Shadow by Carmina Mora
Pop Goes the WeaselPim pam pum
"A deep bond with The Entity unlocks great strength." After hooking a Survivor, Pop Goes the Weasel activates for 35/40/45 seconds.
While active, manually damaging a Generator triggers the following effect:
  • Increases the regression amount by +15 % resulting in 20 % regression.
Pop Goes the Weasel deactivates after use or once its timer elapses.
EruptionErupción
"The NE-α parasite provides you with the intelligence and awareness needed to set a trap." Performing the Damage Generator action on Generators highlights their Auras in yellow.
Whenever a Survivor enters the Dying State by any means, Eruption triggers the following effects on all highlighted Generators:
  • Causes them to explode, damaging them.
    • Instantly regresses them by -10 % of their total Progression.
    • Causes them to start regressing afterwards.
  • Causes all Survivors currently repairing them to suffer from the following effects:
    • Causes them to scream.
    • Their Auras are revealed to you for 8/10/12 seconds.
Eruption has a cool-down of 30 seconds after triggering its effects, which also resets the highlighted Auras. "It can use weapons?" — Jill Valentine
New players
Scourge Hook: Jagged CompassGancho flagelante: Brújula serrada
"Sometimes the compass points north. Other times it points somewhere else entirely." At the start of the Trial, 4 Hooks in the environment are changed into Scourge Hooks:
  • The Auras of these Scourge Hooks are highlighted in white.
Whenever a Survivor is unhooked from a normal Hook, the following effect applies:
  • The Hook is converted into a Scourge Hook.
Whenever you hook a Survivor onto a Scourge Hook, the following effect applies:
  • The Aura of the Generator with the most progression is highlighted in yellow for 6/8/10 seconds.
"Drop anchor! I will chart us a new course." — Portia Maye
Scourge Hook: Gift of PainGancho flagelante: Obsequio doloroso
Identical to Scourge Hook: Weeping Wounds. "We will tear your soul apart." — Pinhead
Scourge Hook: Monstrous ShrineGancho flagelante: Santuario mostruoso
"Your fervent care of the Hooks found in the Basement has aroused The Entity's interest." At the start of the Trial, the 4 Hooks located inside the Basement and an additional 4 Hooks located throughout the Trial Grounds are all changed into Scourge Hooks:
  • The Auras of Scourge Hooks are highlighted to you in white.
Whenever you are farther than 24 metres from a Survivor hooked onto a Scourge Hook, the following effect applies:
  • Accelerates their Sacrifice Process by 10/15/20 %.
"Then you will know that there is no escape. When hanging in the depths, you face the dark one."
UnrelentingImplacable
"You recuperate faster from missed attacks made with your main weapon." Basic Attacks benefit from the following effect:
  • Reduces the Cool-down time of missed attacks by 20/25/30 %.
Public matches · variant 1
Knock OutNoquéo
"The trauma caused by your brutal attacks makes crying for help painfully difficult." Whenever a Survivor moves farther than 6 metres from a Pallet within 6 seconds of dropping it, Knock Out triggers its effect:
  • Causes them to suffer from a -5 % Hindered Status Effect for 3/4/5 seconds.
"Oh, that gun's no good. The old way... with a sledge! You see, that way's better. They die better that way." — Nubbins Sawyer
Rapid BrutalityVrutalidad veloz
You move with a speed and fury that makes blood run cold.
  • You can no longer gain the Bloodlust Status Effect.
  • Successfully hitting a Survivor with a Basic Attack grants you a +5 % Haste Status Effect for 8/9/10 seconds.
"Catch it, put it in the airlock, get rid of it." — Dallas
Hex: Nothing But MiseryMaleficio: Solo hay miseria
After you damage Survivors with a basic-attack 8 times, a Dull Totem ignites.
Whenever you damage a Survivor with a basic-attack, they gain 5% Hindered for 10/12.5/15s.
Hex: RuinMaleficio: Ruina
"A Hex that affects the Generator Repair progress of all Survivors." All Generators not currently being repaired experience the following effect:
  • Causes them to automatically regress at 100/125/150 % of the default Regression rate.
The Hex Effects persist until the Hex Totem is either blessed or cleansed by a Survivor, disabling it for the remainder of the Trial. "A curse is upon you. It will cause your ruin."
Public matches · variant 2
Corrupt InterventionIntervención corrupta
Your prayers invoke a dark power that meddles with the Survivors' chances of survival.
  • 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 once the first Survivor is put into the Dying State. "It shall be known across the land that the Gods curse the unfaithful." — (The Tablet of Adiris, 3.7)
Dragon’s GripAgarre del dragon
After performing the Damage Generator action on a Generator, Dragon's Grip activates for 30 seconds.
While active, the first Survivor interacting with that Generator suffers from the following effects:
  • Causes them to scream and reveal their location for 4 seconds.
  • Inflicts the Exposed Status Effect for 60 seconds.
Dragon's Grip has a cool-down of 60/45/30 seconds. "Such potential in this compound... even the slightest trace causes unnatural effects." — Journal of Talbot Grimes
Scourge Hook: Pain ResonanceGancho flagelante: Dolor retumbante
Overwhelming pain reverberates outwards. At the start of the Trial, 4 Hooks in the environment are changed into Scourge Hooks:
  • The Auras of these Scourge Hooks are highlighted in white.
Start the Trial with 4 Token. Whenever a Survivor is hooked onto a Scourge Hook for the first time, Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance consumes -1 Token and applies the following effects:
  • Causes the Generator with the most progression to explode, damaging it.
    • Instantly regresses the Damaged Generator by 10/15/20 % of its total Progression.
    • Causes the Damaged Generator to start regressing afterwards.
  • Causes all Survivors repairing the Damaged Generator to scream.
    • This does not trigger a Loud Noise Notification.
Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance is disabled for the remainder of the Trial once all Tokens are consumed. "The pain spills beyond flesh/darkness staining the horizon." — Girl in the Shadow by Carmina Mora
Help WantedEmpleo disponible
"Try as they might, you know how to stay one step ahead of your guests." After performing the Damage Generator action, Help Wanted activates:
  • Causes that Generator to become a Compromised Generator.
Once the Compromised Generator is completed, you benefit from the following effect for 40/50/60 seconds:
  • Increases the Recovery speed of successful Basic Attacks by +25 %.
"You only think you are in control..." — Springtrap

The Houndmaster perks

The 3 perks The Houndmaster teaches, and that you can unlock for every other killer in the Bloodweb's Shrine of Secrets.

All-Shaking ThunderTrueno Sísmico
"Enemies on land and sea learned to tremble before your might." After falling from a height, All-Shaking Thunder activates for 15/20/25 seconds:
  • Increases the range of your Lunge Attack by +75 %.
All-Shaking Thunder has a cool-down of 5 seconds. "Go on. Run. Tell your friends I'm coming for them." — Portia Maye
No QuarterSin cuartel
"Every skirmish ended with a relentless volley of cannon fire, leaving no doubt who was superior." Whenever a Survivor healing themselves by any means reaches 75 % Healing Progress, No Quarter triggers its effect:
  • The Survivor is faced with a continuous stream of Skill Checks until the Self-Heal is completed.
  • If they fail a Skill Check or interrupt the action by any means, they suffer from the Broken Status Effect for 20/25/30 seconds.
"Fire another broadside! Don't stop until the sea takes them!" — Portia Maye
Scourge Hook: Jagged CompassGancho flagelante: Brújula serrada
"Sometimes the compass points north. Other times it points somewhere else entirely." At the start of the Trial, 4 Hooks in the environment are changed into Scourge Hooks:
  • The Auras of these Scourge Hooks are highlighted in white.
Whenever a Survivor is unhooked from a normal Hook, the following effect applies:
  • The Hook is converted into a Scourge Hook.
Whenever you hook a Survivor onto a Scourge Hook, the following effect applies:
  • The Aura of the Generator with the most progression is highlighted in yellow for 6/8/10 seconds.
"Drop anchor! I will chart us a new course." — Portia Maye

The Houndmaster add-ons

All 20 add-ons for The Houndmaster, sorted from rarest to most common. Add-ons change how the power works, so they are half of any build.

Ultra rare2

Iridescent Wheel HandleTimón Iridiscente
Once used to guide a greast vessel across the open seas, its remnants now serve as a memory of times past.
  • Increases the Linger duration of The Dog at the Target Location of the Search Command by +20 %.
  • Grants the Undetectable Status Effect while The Dog fulfils the Search Command.
    • Touching the Search Path as The Houndmaster immediately removes the Status Effect.
"I fear no obstacle, be it man or storm." — Portia Maye
Torn NovelNovela Desgarrada
A book given to her by her father.
All but destroyed after a raid. While possessing The Dog during the Chase Command to access the Redirect Chase ability, the following effect applies:
  • The Auras of Survivors within 10 metres of The Dog are revealed to you.
    • This effect lingers for 2 seconds after exiting the ability by any means.
"I'll find out who they are... and they'll pay. Every last one." — Portia Maye

Very rare4

Gunpowder TinLata de Pólvora
Useful for all manner of explosive schemes.
  • Increases the Action speeds for the following interactions by +30 % for 20 seconds after a Survivor becomes affected by Houndsense:
    • Breaking Breakable Walls.
    • Breaking Pallets.
    • Damaging Generators.
Leather HarnessArnés de Cuero
Allows greater control over a dog's every movement. Whenever a Generator is completed, Leather Harness triggers its effect for 30 seconds:
  • Increases the Chase speed of The Dog by +20 %.
Leather Harness applies its effect permanently after all Generators are completed.
MarlinspikePunzón para Cabos
As good for unsplicing rope as it is for causing grievous bodily harm.
  • Causes all Survivors within 20 metres of The Dog grabbing a Survivor to become affected by Houndsense.
Marlinspike does not affect the Grabbed Survivor.
Ship FigureheadMascarón del Barco
A trophy torn from the bow of another ship. The Terror Radius of The Houndmaster changes based on the proximity of The Dog:
  • Increases the Terror Radius by +8 metres while it is following.
  • Reduces the Terror Radius by -8 metres while it is away.

Rare5

Fatty MeatCarne Grasienta
A strange and irresistible treat for a canine friend.
  • Survivors affected by Houndsense periodically scream every 15 seconds, but without revealing their location to The Houndmaster.
Spiked CollarCollar de Púas
A dangerous accessory worn by dogs sent to battle.
  • Causes Survivors becoming injured while they were grabbed by The Dog to suffer from the Haemorrhage and Mangled Status Effects for 60 seconds.
Training BellCampana de Entrenamiento
Even over great distances, it will notify a dog exactly where their owner is.
  • The Aura of the Survivor responsible for stunning The Dog is revealed to you for 8 seconds.
Unfinished MapMapa Inacabado
Features details on the area that would come to be known as the Bermuda Triangle.
  • Causes Survivors affected by Houndsense to also suffer from the Exhausted Status Effect for 15 seconds.
WaterskinOdre
She gave him the last of her water, knowing he needed the strength to hunt.
  • Increases the distance of the Redirected Chase Path by +20 %.

Uncommon5

Barley MealHarina de Cebada
The key ingredient for a bland but reinvigorating porridge.
  • Increases the distance of the Initial Chase Path by +20 %.
Belaying PinsCabillas
Ideal for holding rope, securing knots, and rigging sails.
  • Causes Survivors affected by Houndsense to also suffer from the Oblivious Status Effect for 20 seconds.
Knotted RopeCuerda Anudada
The dog's jaws tightened around the makeshift toy, and he thrashed it back and forth.
  • Reduces the Attack cool-down of successful Basic Attacks on Survivors caught in the grasp of The Dog by -2 %.
Smoked SnapperHuachinango Ahumado
A protein-packed foodstuff, preserved to ensure its quality over long expeditions.
  • Reduces the Power Recharge time by -5 %.
SpyglassCatalejo
Used to spot what one is looking for, no matter how far away.
  • The Auras of Survivors affected by Houndsense are revealed for 3 seconds after it ends.

Common4

Creature's BoneHueso de Criatura
It was unlike anything she'd ever seen, and the marrow in its bones was delectable.
  • Reduces the Stun duration of The Dog by -50 %.
Sticky PitchAlquitrán Pegajoso
A vital commodity for keeping a ship in tip-top shape.
  • Increases the bonus Movement speed of The Houndmaster while walking along the Search Path by +2 %.
Trainer's BookLibro de Adiestramiento
Some of the advice contained within helped strengthen their bond.
  • Increases the duration of Houndsense by +35 %.
Young CoconutCoco Tierno
Her first meal as a castaway, she shared it with her loyal companion.
  • Increases the Chase speed of The Dog by +5 %.

Descriptions from the game itself and from deadbydaylight.wiki.gg, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 3.0.

Gameplay tips
Use Search mode in chase, not just Chase mode: in areas with lots of rocks, cut their distance after the first hit so they can't reach the next structure.
Zone with the dog's second dash: send it so they vault the pallet while you go round one side; either they get greedy and you keep going, or you hit the second dash and put them down.
Track with the dog in Chase mode: entering its camera shows you nearby survivors, ideal for finding them after a hook without walking around.
Video