The Skull Merchant is Dead by Daylight’s tech-based killer who deploys drones to scan and track survivors, applying Claw Trap status and gaining stealth. She places drones that rotate and scan areas, building up Lock On stacks on survivors to injure them or gain Undetectable. The Skull Merchant excels at area control, tracking, and 3-gen defense.
Skull Merchant rewards strategic drone placement, scanning management, and understanding Lock On mechanics. Let’s break down how to master her.
The Skull Merchant’s Power: Eyes in the Sky
Ability: The Skull Merchant deploys drones that scan areas and apply Claw Trap status to survivors.
Drone Deployment (M2)
How drones work:
- Press M2 to deploy a drone at your current location
- Drones hover in place and rotate in a circle
- Rotating scan beams detect survivors
- You can deploy up to 4 drones maximum
- Deploying a 5th drone destroys the oldest drone
Drone scanning:
- Drones rotate continuously (full rotation ~12 seconds)
- Scan beams are visible to survivors (laser lines)
- When a scan beam passes over a survivor, they are detected
- Detection applies Claw Trap status and builds Lock On stacks
Drone details:
- Drones last indefinitely (don’t expire)
- Survivors can disable drones by hacking them (takes 6 seconds)
- Disabled drones must be manually reactivated by you
- You can see through drone cameras (press M2 near a deployed drone)
Key concept: Drones scan areas and apply Claw Trap to survivors who enter their zones.
Claw Trap Status
Survivors scanned by drones receive Claw Trap status.
Claw Trap effects:
- Survivors with Claw Trap are tracked (you see their aura intermittently)
- Claw Trap builds Lock On stacks (see below)
- Claw Trap lasts 45 seconds
- Multiple scans refresh the duration
Removing Claw Trap:
- Survivors can hack drones to remove Claw Trap (takes 6 seconds)
- Hacking disables the drone
- Claw Trap expires after 45 seconds if not refreshed
Key concept: Claw Trap tracks survivors and builds toward Lock On.
Lock On Stacks
Lock On stacks build when survivors with Claw Trap are scanned repeatedly.
How Lock On works:
- Each scan on a survivor with Claw Trap adds 1 Lock On stack
- At 3 Lock On stacks, survivor is LOCKED ON
- Locked On survivors:
- Take 1 health state of damage (injured or downed)
- You become Undetectable for 10 seconds (no Terror Radius, no red stain)
Lock On details:
- Lock On stacks reset after survivor is Locked On
- You must build 3 stacks again for next Lock On
- Lock On provides both damage AND stealth
Key concept: Build 3 Lock On stacks on survivors to damage them and gain Undetectable.
Undetectable Stealth
When you Lock On a survivor, you gain Undetectable for 10 seconds.
Undetectable effects:
- No Terror Radius
- No red stain
- Survivors can’t hear you coming
Strategy:
- Use Undetectable to sneak up on survivors
- Get surprise hits while stealthed
- Chain Lock Ons to stay Undetectable frequently
Key concept: Lock On gives you stealth. Use it to surprise survivors.
Playing Skull Merchant: The Strategy
Skull Merchant’s gameplay loop is:
- Deploy drones at key locations (gens, loops, hooks)
- Survivors get scanned and receive Claw Trap
- Build Lock On stacks by scanning them multiple times
- At 3 stacks, survivors are damaged and you gain Undetectable
- Use Undetectable to get surprise hits
- Repeat
Key concept: Drones scan survivors, build Lock On, and give you stealth.
Drone Placement Strategy
Drone placement is critical for Skull Merchant.
Where to Place Drones
1. At generators with progress:
- Place drones at gens survivors are working on
- Survivors get scanned while repairing
- Build Lock On and damage them
2. At loops:
- Place drones at jungle gyms, LT-walls, and pallets
- Survivors get scanned while looping
- Forces them out of strong loops
3. Between generators (3-gen setup):
- Place drones between 3 close gens
- Control the area with scanning
- Survivors can’t do gens without being scanned
4. At hooks:
- Place drones near hooked survivors
- Scan rescuers and build Lock On
5. In narrow pathways:
- Doorways, hallways, corridors
- Survivors MUST pass through scan beams
Where NOT to Place Drones
Open areas survivors can avoid:
- Don’t place drones in wide open spaces
- Survivors walk around scan beams
Dead zones with no objectives:
- Drones should control important areas
- Don’t waste drones in corners
Too close together:
- Spread drones out for better coverage
- Don’t cluster them
Lock On Strategy
Building Lock On stacks is Skull Merchant’s primary goal.
How to Build Lock On
Chase survivors through drone zones:
- Place drones at loops
- Chase survivors through scan beams
- Each scan adds 1 Lock On stack
- At 3 stacks, survivor is damaged
Force survivors into drones:
- Herd survivors toward drone zones
- They have to choose: run into scans OR get M1 hit
- Either way, you win
Defend gens with drones:
- Drones at gens scan survivors repeatedly
- Survivors working on gens get scanned
- Build Lock On while they repair
Capitalizing on Lock On
Damage:
- At 3 Lock On stacks, survivor takes damage
- Healthy survivors become injured
- Injured survivors go down
Undetectable:
- You gain 10 seconds of Undetectable
- No Terror Radius, no red stain
- Sneak up on other survivors for surprise hits
Chain Lock Ons:
- Lock On multiple survivors in quick succession
- Stay Undetectable constantly
- Maximum pressure
3-Gen Strategy
Skull Merchant excels at 3-gen defense.
What is 3-genning:
- Identify 3 generators close together
- Place drones between all 3 gens
- Force survivors to complete these 3 gens last
- Defend them with drones and scanning
How to 3-gen with Skull Merchant:
- Early game, identify 3 close gens
- Place all 4 drones between them
- Don’t chase survivors far from your 3-gen
- Survivors get scanned while repairing gens
- Lock On damages them repeatedly
- Nearly impossible for survivors to complete gens
Why it’s strong:
- Survivors MUST enter drone zones to do gens
- They get scanned and damaged
- You’re Undetectable frequently
- Very oppressive
Key concept: Skull Merchant is one of the BEST 3-gen killers in the game.
Early Game Strategy
Skull Merchant’s early game is about placing drones.
Opening sequence:
- Identify 3 close gens - Find your 3-gen setup
- Place 4 drones - Deploy drones between the 3 gens
- Chase survivors - Herd them into drone zones
- Build Lock On - Scan them repeatedly
- Damage with Lock On - At 3 stacks, damage them
Goal: Establish 3-gen setup within first 2-3 minutes. Control the area with drones.
Mid-Game Strategy
Mid-game is where Skull Merchant dominates with 3-gen control.
Drone network:
- All 4 drones should be active between your 3 gens
- Replace disabled drones immediately
Lock On pressure:
- Chase survivors through drone zones
- Build Lock On stacks on everyone
- Damage survivors at 3 stacks
Undetectable abuse:
- Lock On gives you Undetectable
- Sneak up on survivors constantly
- Surprise hits
3-gen lockdown:
- Survivors can’t do gens without being scanned
- Lock On damages them repeatedly
- Nearly unbeatable if done correctly
Endgame Strategy
Skull Merchant is VERY strong endgame with 3-gen setups.
3-gen dominance:
- If you have a 3-gen, survivors struggle to complete gens
- They’re scanned constantly
- Lock On damages them
- Very oppressive
Drones at exit gates:
- Place drones at exit gate switches
- Survivors get scanned while opening gates
- Lock On damages them
Undetectable at gates:
- Lock On gives you Undetectable
- Sneak up on survivors at gates
- Surprise hits
Best Perks for Skull Merchant
Skull Merchant wants perks that capitalize on 3-gen defense and drones.
Top Tier Perks
Hex: Ruin - Gens not being repaired regress at 200% speed. Skull Merchant defends a small 3-gen area, so Ruin forces survivors to stay on gens (where your drones are).
Corrupt Intervention - Blocks the 3 farthest gens for 120 seconds. Gives you time to set up your 3-gen and place drones.
Deadlock - Blocks the gen with most progress for 30 seconds when a gen completes. Buys you time to reinforce your 3-gen.
Thrill of the Hunt - Increases totem cleansing time and notifies you. Pairs with Ruin to make totems harder to cleanse. This is Skull Merchant’s teachable perk.
Strong Perks
Pop Goes the Weasel - After hooking, kick a gen to regress it by 30%. Reliable slowdown for 3-gen defense.
Surveillance - Regressing gens are highlighted. Pairs well with 3-gen defense. You always know which gens are being worked on.
Overcharge - Kicking a gen causes a difficult skill check. Pairs with 3-gen defense.
Scourge Hook: Pain Resonance - Hooking on scourge hooks regresses the gen with most progress.
THWACK! - Damaging a generator blocks it for 30 seconds. Strong for 3-gen defense. This is Skull Merchant’s teachable perk.
Game Afoot - After hooking your obsession, gain Haste for 10 seconds. Helps catch up to survivors. This is Skull Merchant’s teachable perk.
Sample Builds
3-Gen Build (Best for Skull Merchant):
- Hex: Ruin
- Corrupt Intervention
- Deadlock
- Surveillance
Slowdown Build:
- Hex: Ruin
- Thrill of the Hunt
- Pop Goes the Weasel
- Surveillance
Beginner Build:
- Corrupt Intervention
- Pop Goes the Weasel
- Surveillance
- NOED
Best Add-Ons
Skull Merchant’s add-ons modify drone scanning, Claw Trap duration, and Lock On.
Top Tier Add-Ons
Iridescent Stylus (Pink - Ultra Rare) - Survivors who disable drones are Exposed for 45 seconds. Punishes drone hacking HARD. Very strong.
Shotgun Speakers (Purple - Very Rare) - Considerably increases Claw Trap duration (from 45 seconds to ~70 seconds). Survivors stay tracked much longer.
Loose Screw (Purple - Very Rare) - Considerably reduces drone reactivation time. Reactivate disabled drones much faster.
Strong Add-Ons
Powder Glass (Green - Rare) - Moderately increases Claw Trap duration. Budget version of Shotgun Speakers.
Geographical Readout (Green - Rare) - Moderately increases drone scan speed. Drones rotate faster.
Expired Battery (Yellow - Uncommon) - Slightly increases Claw Trap duration.
Infrared Trigger (Yellow - Uncommon) - Slightly increases drone scan speed.
Avoid These Add-Ons
Brown Noise Generator - Slightly increases drone deployment time. You WANT to deploy faster, not slower. Avoid.
Sample Add-On Combos
Anti-Hack Build: Iridescent Stylus + Loose Screw (Exposed on hack + fast reactivation)
Duration Build: Shotgun Speakers + Powder Glass (very long Claw Trap duration)
Speed Build: Geographical Readout + Infrared Trigger (fast drone rotation)
Budget Build: Powder Glass + Geographical Readout (decent duration + decent scan speed)
Playing Against Good Survivors
Good survivors make Skull Merchant work harder.
They disable drones: Survivors hack drones to disable them. Counter with Iridescent Stylus (Exposed on hack) or by replacing drones.
They avoid drone zones: Smart survivors stay away from drones. Counter by placing drones they MUST visit (gens, loops).
They 99% gens: Survivors bring gens to 99% to avoid Lock On while repairing. Counter by forcing them to finish gens or kicking gens with Pop.
They split on gens outside your 3-gen: Counter by identifying your 3-gen early and defending it aggressively.
They’re in a SWF: Comms let them coordinate drone hacking. Counter by placing drones strategically and using Iridescent Stylus.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not setting up a 3-gen: Skull Merchant’s strongest strategy is 3-genning. Always identify your 3-gen early.
Placing drones randomly: Drones should control gens, loops, or pathways. Don’t place them randomly.
Not replacing disabled drones: If survivors hack drones, replace them immediately or reactivate them.
Chasing far from your 3-gen: Don’t chase survivors across the map. Defend your 3-gen area.
Not capitalizing on Undetectable: Lock On gives you 10 seconds of stealth. Use it to get surprise hits.
Ignoring Lock On stacks: Build Lock On on multiple survivors. Don’t focus on one person.
Not running slowdown perks: Skull Merchant needs slowdown (Ruin, Deadlock, Pop). Always run them.
Map-Specific Tips
Indoor Maps (The Game, Lery’s, Midwich, RPD) - VERY strong for Skull Merchant. Tight corridors force survivors through drone zones. 3-gen setups are deadly indoors.
Open Maps (Coldwind, MacMillan, Autohaven) - Decent for Skull Merchant. Drones work at loops and gens. 3-gen setups still effective.
Large Maps (Mother’s Dwelling, Red Forest) - Rough for Skull Merchant. Huge maps make 3-gen harder. Focus on tight 3-gen setups in one area.
Small Maps - ANY small map is strong for Skull Merchant. Less space = easier 3-gen control.
Why Play Skull Merchant?
Pros:
- Best 3-gen killer in the game
- Drones provide passive tracking
- Lock On gives stealth (Undetectable)
- Strong area control
- Nearly unbeatable with good 3-gen setup
- Unique tech-based aesthetic
Cons:
- Requires 3-gen setup (takes time)
- Drones can be disabled
- Some survivors find 3-gen playstyle boring
- Weak if survivors split on gens early
- Controversial killer (many survivors dislike facing her)
Advanced Tips
3-gen from the start: Identify your 3-gen in the first minute. Set up around it immediately.
Place drones at loops: Drones force survivors out of strong loops or build Lock On on them.
Iridescent Stylus dominance: With Iridescent Stylus, hacking drones is suicide. Survivors forced to stay in scan zones.
Undetectable chains: Lock On multiple survivors quickly. Stay Undetectable constantly.
Shotgun Speakers tracking: With Shotgun Speakers, Claw Trap lasts 70 seconds. Track survivors for much longer.
Defend 3-gen aggressively: Don’t chase far from your 3-gen. Let survivors come to you.
Reactivate drones: Don’t let disabled drones sit inactive. Reactivate them immediately.
Ruin + 3-gen: With Ruin, survivors MUST stay on gens (where your drones are). Very oppressive.
Lock On at 2 stacks: If a survivor has 2 Lock On stacks, chase them. One more scan = damage.
Learning Curve and Practice
Skull Merchant has a moderate learning curve.
Hours 0-10: Learning drone placement. Understanding Lock On. Setting up 3-gen.
Hours 10-30: Drone placement improving. 3-gen setups working. Winning matches.
Hours 30-60: Comfortable with Skull Merchant. 3-gen lockdowns consistent. Dominating matches.
Hours 60+: Skull Merchant main. Perfect 3-gen defense. Nearly unbeatable in setup.
Practice tips:
- Focus on 3-gen setups (this is Skull Merchant’s strongest strategy)
- Place drones at gens, loops, and pathways
- Build Lock On on multiple survivors
- Defend your 3-gen aggressively
- Watch Skull Merchant streamers
Final Thoughts
The Skull Merchant is one of Dead by Daylight’s most unique and controversial killers. She rewards strategic drone placement, 3-gen defense, and Lock On management.
Skull Merchant dominates with 3-gen setups and area control. Master drone placement, defend your 3-gen, and capitalize on Lock On stealth.
Practice your 3-gen setups, place drones strategically, and dominate with technological superiority.
Good luck, and may your drones always find their targets.
Last Updated: Patch 9.3.0 - November 2025