Hey fellow Fog travelers! 💀 I’ve been grinding Dead by Daylight since before Mikaela even blessed her first totem, and nothing sparks more debate than Hex and Boon perks. As a hybrid player who swaps between killer and survivor daily, I’ve tested every single one extensively here in 2026. Today I’m spilling the tea on the worst to best perks from 17 down to 8. Spoiler: some of these are still sleepers even after all the balance patches. Let’s get into it! ⚔️

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The Ranking (Part 1: 17–8) 🕯️

17. Boon: Dark Theory – Survivor ☕💤

Y’all, Dark Theory is the definition of a dead perk in 2026. I honestly forgot it existed until I dug through my loadouts. That tiny 2% haste boost inside a 24-meter boon radius? Please. 😴 Most exhaustion perks like Sprint Burst or Lithe give you way more speed without having to spend precious seconds blessing a dull totem. Plus, if that totem gets snuffed (and it will), you wasted all that setup time. I haven’t seen anyone use Dark Theory unironically in years. It’s the boon you equip when you want to give the killer a pity offering. 💔

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16. Hex: Thrill of the Hunt – Killer 🐌🔮

Thrill of the Hunt is basically a mild inconvenience wrapped in a hex. Survivors needing an extra 10 seconds to cleanse or bless totems sounds annoying, sure. But against coordinated teams, it’s laughable. They’ll either power through it or just ignore totems entirely. If the killer isn’t actively defending the hex, Thrill does nothing. In 2026, with boons so common, I’ve seen survivors cleanse my Thrill totem before I even finish my first patrol. It’s a hex that only buys you time you never really had. 🥱

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15. Hex: Huntress Lullaby – Killer 🎵😵‍💫

Newbie stomper? Absolutely. Usable against experienced survivors? Not a chance. Huntress Lullaby relies on survivors missing those no-warning skill checks, but anyone who’s played more than 50 hours can hit great checks by sound alone. By the time you get 5 hooks for the full effect, half the gens are already popped. Sure, it can snowball against a team that chokes under pressure, but in 2026’s high MMR lobbies, this perk is collection dust. The only real value is pairing it with Impossible Skill Check Doctor – and even that’s a meme build. 🤡

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14. Hex: The Third Seal – Killer 👁️‍🗨️❌

The Hag has some terrifying hexes, but The Third Seal ain’t one of them. Inflicting Blindness on the last 4 survivors you whack can screw over aura-reading perks like Kindred or Bond, but that’s about it. Aura reading isn’t even meta in 2026 – most survivors rely on info perks like Windows of Opportunity or Alert. Worse, if you’re facing a SWF on comms, Blindness is irrelevant because they’re calling out your every move anyway. For a hex slot, it lacks the oomph you need to control the map. 💤

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13. Hex: No One Escapes Death (NOED) – Killer 💀😈

Ah, the classic crutch. NOED is that perk that makes survivors groan in endgame chat. Exposed status and 4% movement speed once the last gen pops can absolutely steal a win from a 0k match. But here’s the thing: in 2026, survivors know to do bones. Most teams cleanse all 5 dull totems before the gates are powered, making NOED a wasted perk slot. If you’re still relying on it, you’ll hit a wall once you climb out of low ranks. It’s a noob stomper, but not a consistent strategy anymore. 🧹

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12. Hex: Retribution – Killer 👻🔎

Now we’re getting to the actually spicy hexes! Retribution slaps two powerful effects onto one totem. First, any survivor who touches a totem gets the Oblivious status for 45 seconds – meaning they can’t hear your terror radius. Free sneaky hits, anyone? 🥷 Second, if any hex is cleansed (including Retribution itself), you get global aura reading on all survivors for 15 seconds. That’s wallhacks, baby! It’s an amazing info perk that punishes totem cleansing, and I still run it in 2026 on stealth killers like Ghostface for maximum jump scares.

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11. Boon: Circle of Healing (CoH) – Survivor 💚💫

Once upon a time, CoH was busted beyond belief. The 2022 rework toned it down, and by 2026 it’s in a comfortable spot – still strong, but fair. Within a 24-meter boon radius, injured survivors can self-heal without a med-kit at 50% speed. It’s a fantastic team-wide reset tool, especially in solo queue where healing is chaotic. The trick is finding a well-hidden totem so the killer doesn’t snuff it immediately. I pair it with Shadow Step (spoiler: it’s higher on this list) for a mini safe zone. CoH isn’t as oppressive as it was, but it’ll always be a solid pick. 🩹

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10. Boon: Shadow Step – Survivor 🦶🌑

Shadow Step is the hidden gem of boons and I will die on this hill. 🏔️ While active, all survivors within range leave zero scratch marks and hide their auras – and the effect lingers for 4 seconds after leaving the area. Against killers who rely on tracking (Spirit, Wraith, Nurse), this is a literal lifesaver. I can’t count how many times I’ve vanished mid-chase just by dipping into a Shadow Step zone. It’s even better when you coordinate with teammates to chain safe zones across the map. If you’re not running Shadow Step in 2026, you’re sleeping on one of the best counterplay tools in the game. 😴

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9. Hex: Ruin – Killer ⌛🔥

Ah, my beloved Ruin. After the iconic nerf in 2022 (regressing gen progress by up to 100%, deactivating after a kill), many killers dropped it. But I’m here to tell you Ruin still slaps early game in 2026. Those first few minutes are crucial, and if survivors waste time searching for the totem, you’re building pressure. Pair it with Undying or Pentimento and you’ve got a gen regression monster. It’s not the oppressive force it once was, but a well-guarded Ruin can turn a 3-gen nightmare into a 4k dream. 🌪️

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8. Hex: Undying – Killer 👀🔄

Undying is the ultimate wingman for your other hexes. Its primary power? Showing you the aura of any survivor near a dull totem – basically free wallhacks whenever someone even thinks about booning. But the real magic is the backup function: if another hex gets cleansed, that hex transfers to the Undying totem and stays alive. I can’t tell you how many times my Devour Hope or Crowd Control got a second lease on life thanks to Undying. In 2026, with boons everywhere, having that protection is priceless. It’s a staple in almost every hex build I run. ✨

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Final Thoughts for Now 💬

We’ve covered the middle of the pack, from the absolute stinkers to the surprisingly useful. Whether you’re a baby survivor or a seasoned killer, understanding these perks can level up your game. Which of these do you still use in 2026? Let me know in the comments! And stay tuned for Part 2 where I rank the top 7 Hex and Boon perks that absolutely dominate the fog. 🔮💋

See you in the trials, and remember – always do bones. 🦴✌️