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Forbidden magic keeps Vecna from crumbling into dust, and soon the Lich will walk The Entity’s Realm. Dungeons & Dragons is bringing one of its greatest villains to Dead by Daylight, but he’s far from the only addition to the game. A new map and survivor round out this collaboration. Behaviour rolled a Critical Success getting the Lich, and now it’s up to players to see what he and his horrific artifacts can do. Let’s just hope Feng has some Chaotic Good in her. Here’s what you need to know about Vecna and the Dungeons & Dragons x Dead by Daylight collaboration.
Vecna’s Villainy in Dead by Daylight
Liches are some of the most powerful spellcasters in Dungeons & Dragons, and Vecna brings a powerful, flexible kit to the Fog. With four swappable spells, Vecna should be a treat for fans of the Unknown, Pinhead, and other multi-power killers. Fly is a traversal ability, enabling quick movement and vault passage. Mage Hand holds pallets for the killer, either blocking them or lifting them back up. Flight of the Damned shoots a ghostly projectile akin to The Artist’s crows. Last, Dispeling Sphere detects survivors and dispels the effects of any magical items they carry.
When Vecna’s in play, a special treasure chest will appear on the map. Survivors opening it will roll a D20 to determine its contents. 2-3 results in a regular item, while 4-19 results in magical boots or bracers. 20 (Critical Success) grants either the Hand or Eye of Vecna. The former causes the survivor to temporarily vanish when exiting a locker, while the latter lets the survivor teleport between lockers. The survivor can even use both, though at a price. 1 (Critical Failure) is bad, but Behaviour is leaving the specifics a nasty surprise.
With such a complicated power, it’s hard to predict how Vecna will compare to other killers. Other than Jigsaw Boxes, few killer props invoke pure RNG the way that Vecna’s treasure chest does. It’ll be interesting to see whether a Critical Success or Critical Failure can turn the tide of a match by itself. Although some players may object to such a (literal) die roll, that kind of dynamic tension is a huge part of what makes D&D so interesting. If Behaviour manages to incorporate treasure RNG in a balanced way, Vecna could be one of the game’s most interesting killers.
Though giving a killer movement, anti-loop, a projectile, and survivor detection sounds OP, the Hand and Eye of Vecna should balance things. D&D veterans will appreciate how dangerous these cursed items are, but letting survivors hide and warp between lockers like the Dredge is an incredible trade. Far from an exit gate? Teleport. Need to sneak into 3-gen territory? Teleport. The strategic implications are huge, but it’s too early to say how fair and fun these mechanics will be.
Dungeons & Dragons’s Survivor and Map
Every proper villain needs a hero to give their evil meaning. The Dungeons & Dragons chapter brings one survivor (but two new characters) to Dead by Daylight. Similar to Legion, multiple characters will inhabit a single slot, allowing you to play as a male human or female elf. The new survivor is a Bard, so whichever version you play, you’ll be getting a character colorful and crafty enough to challenge the Lich. Character customization is a huge part of D&D, so Behaviour’s Choose Your Own Bard approach is perfect.
The Decimated Borgo is also growing with the addition of a new map: the Forgotten Ruins. With an exterior space, massive tower, and large underground dungeon, Forgotten Ruins should make survivors work together to escape. Other than rare exceptions such as The Temple of Purgation, Behaviour hasn’t given much attention to underground maps before, so the Ruins are a pleasant change. There are reportedly several D&D easter eggs inside, too, as a surprise for attentive fans.
With settings as diverse as Dragonlance, Eberron, and the Forgotten Realms to draw from, D&D offers a ton of variety. Dead by Daylight‘s present collaboration is excellent, but just as exciting are the possibilities of what may come next now that the door is open. Though Orcus, Lolth, and Tiamat might be a bit much for the Fog, a character like Strahd would fit perfectly. Whether or not we get more D&D content, Vecna’s magic is sure to transform the Trials in all new ways.
Dead by Daylight is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
