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How to Play The First (Vecna) in Dead by Daylight

The First builds Worldbreaker tokens with Vine Attack and Undergate, travels quickly through the Upside Down, and deals damage once Worldbreaker activates.
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To play The First in Dead by Daylight, use Vine Attack and Undergate to build Worldbreaker tokens, travel quickly through the Upside Down to reposition, then pressure Survivors while Worldbreaker is active. During that damage phase, Survivors can interact with Grandfather Clocks to speed up its timer. Behaviour Interactive lists The First as a Medium-difficulty Killer.

Which Vecna is The First?

The First is the Killer also known as Henry Creel or Vecna, introduced in Dead by Daylight: Stranger Things Chapter 2. He is not The Lich, the separate Vecna from the Dungeons & Dragons chapter. Behaviour Interactive released Stranger Things Chapter 2 on January 27, 2026. Read the chapter announcement.

How The First’s power works

The First’s power has a build-up phase and a damage phase. Vine Attack and Undergate apply Worldbreaker tokens; once Worldbreaker activates, those attacks damage Survivors rather than adding tokens. The steps below follow Behaviour Interactive’s 9.4.0 live release notes, dated January 27, 2026. See the 9.4.0 release notes.

1. Charge Vine Attack to build tokens

Hold the Power button to charge Vine Attack, then press the Attack button to send out a small ground-area attack. Survivors caught in the area receive Worldbreaker tokens. Use it to apply pressure and build toward Worldbreaker.

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2. Enter the Upside Down to reposition

Tap the Ability button to enter the Upside Down and travel quickly across the map. This is the mobility part of the power: use the route to change position, then activate an Undergate attack to return to the map. The Undergate’s ground area is larger than Vine Attack’s and gives Survivors caught in it two Worldbreaker tokens.

3. Use the Worldbreaker damage phase

When a Survivor has enough tokens, Worldbreaker activates and its timer begins. During this phase, Vine Attack and Undergate deal damage instead of adding tokens. Four Grandfather Clocks activate, and Survivors can interact with them to speed up the timer. The clocks therefore give Survivors a way to shorten the dangerous phase; account for that pressure as you choose where to move and attack.

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Dead by Daylight - Xbox One
  • Survive together…or not. Survivors can either cooperate with the others, or be selfish. Chances for survival depend on your decisions.
  • Where am I? Each level is procedurally generated, so you'll never know what to expect. Random spawn points mean you'll never feel safe!
  • A feast for killers - Dead by Daylight draws deom all corners of the horror world. Play anything from a powerful Slasher to a terrifying paranormal entity. Master each Killer's unique power to be able to hunt, catch, and sacrifice your victims.
  • Deeper and deeper - Each Killer and Survivor has their own deep progression system and plenty of unlockables that can be customized to fit your own personal strategy.
  • Real people, real fear - You'll never know how things will turn out. Ambience, music, and chilling environments combine into a terrifying experience. With enough time, you might even discover what's hiding in the fog.

A practical way to approach a match

  1. Build pressure: use Vine Attack and Undergate to apply Worldbreaker tokens when Survivors are in their ground areas.
  2. Cover distance: enter the Upside Down when you need to travel quickly and reposition across the map.
  3. Capitalize on activation: once Worldbreaker begins, use the attacks for damage rather than token building.
  4. Factor in the clocks: Survivors can shorten the timer by interacting with the four activated Grandfather Clocks, so the damage phase is not simply a fixed window in which to attack.

This is a mechanics-based starting point, not a guaranteed optimal sequence. The official sources cited here do not establish an exact token threshold, cooldown values, a best perk or add-on build, or a tested competitive strategy. Those details can also change with balance updates, so consult the latest live patch notes before relying on numeric timing or build advice.

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Where to find The First

The First was added as the Killer in Stranger Things Chapter 2. Behaviour Interactive’s chapter announcement identifies the content; check the relevant in-game or platform storefront for current availability and pricing in your region.

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Quick Recap

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Official references

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