Doomed Course: A New Chapter of Darkness
Dead by Daylight's latest chapter, Doomed Course, introduces a chilling new killer duo: The Houndmaster, Portia Maye, and her loyal Cane Corso, Snug. This original chapter delves into the duality of a breed with a polarizing reputation, showcasing both the gentle and fierce sides of these powerful dogs.
The Houndmaster: A Groundbreaking Character
Portia Maye, the Houndmaster, is a groundbreaking character in several ways. She is the eighth female killer and the fifth Black killer in Dead by Daylight. She is also the first Black killer to be visibly recognizable as such. Previous Black killers, like The Wraith and Joey from The Legion, were masked, while The Hag and The Doctor were so monstrously deformed that their race was obscured.
A seasoned sailor with a hardened spirit, Portia's past is marked by adventure, loss, and survival, including the heartbreak of losing her father in a mutiny or ambush. Her faithful Cane Corso, Snug, has been her loyal friend since childhood, always ready to obey her every command.
A Survivor Turned Killer
Unlike many killers in Dead by Daylight, Portia wasn't a born predator. The lore suggests she may have once been a survivor herself. In the game's universe, survivors are forced into an endless cycle, revived after each trial. But for Portia, the trauma of repeatedly losing trials took a toll on her sanity, transforming her into a killer. Now, she and Snug prowl together, their loyalty turned lethal in the Entity's realm.
The Houndmaster's Perks
Portia's perks reflect her seafaring, unyielding spirit, and her connection with Snug:
All-Shaking Thunder: When Portia jumps from a height, her lunge attack gains an extra 75% reach for 16 seconds, allowing her to quickly close the distance to unsuspecting survivors below.
No Quarter: If a survivor is close to completing their healing (at 75%), the healer must face a barrage of difficult skill checks. Failing these checks can worsen the survivor's injury, making it harder for them to recover.
Scourge Hook: Jagged Compass: When a survivor is unhooked from a specific Scourge Hook, it turns into the Houndmaster's specialized hook. Any survivor hooked here becomes vulnerable, and Portia's hounds can track their movements.
The Survivor: Taurie Cain
Alongside The Houndmaster, a new survivor joins the fray:
Taurie Cain. A former cultist with a deep connection to the Entity, Taurie brings a morally gray perspective to the game. She is a sworn enemy of Haddie Kaur, a fellow survivor, due to her cult affiliation and desire to become a killer. Taurie Cain is a groundbreaking character as she is the first outright evil survivor in the game. Most survivors, even the killers, have tragic backstories or heroic qualities. Characters like Yun-Jin Lee from the All-Out chapter, while selfish, is not inherently evil. Similarly, characters like Jill Valentine from Resident Evil, She did Wesker's bidding during her brainwashing by Wesker in Resident Evil 5, is primarily a hero fighting against evil corporations. James Sunderland from Silent Hill 2, though a tragic figure who killed his wife Mary to end her suffering from cancer, is not inherently evil. Taurie, however, is actively evil and seeks to harm others for the sake of the Entity.
Her perks reflect her knowledge of the Entity's realm and her ability to manipulate the environment.
Invocation: Treacherous Crows: If you perform the invocation on the basement, Survivors can see your aura which is easier for them to heal you or find generators you are working with. But you will be broken or slightly injured the whole game. In return, every time the killer scares a crow while a survivor is in terror radius, the aura of the killer is revealed for 1/1.5 seconds, making everyone know where the killer is.
Clean Break: After healing a survivor while being healed by another, you will be broken for 80/70/60 seconds. After the time passes, you become fully healed. Great for stealth players.
Shoulder The Burden: You can use this perk once per trial. If you are not on death hook, you can press the ability button before a hooked Survivor to unhook them. Once unhooked, they lose one health state and you gain one, effectively trading hook states. You also scream and are Exposed for 30/25/20 seconds.
This chapter promises to deliver a haunting new experience for both killers and survivors. With Portia Maye and Snug's unique abilities and the game's ever-evolving lore. Doom Course the 34th chapter of Dead by Daylight will be released in November 28.