Flashlights

*This article is an overview of all Flashlights featured in Dead by Daylight.*
**Flashlights** are a type of Item The Survivors can use in *Dead by Daylight*.

## Overview

The main use of **Flashlights** is to temporarily blind the Killer.

## Blindness Effect

When a Killer is blinded, a sound effect is played and their *Field of View* is completely filled with a unique texture that overlays anything else.
This allows the Survivor to sneak off or go into hiding during the brief moment the Killer is blinded.

If the Killer is carrying a Survivor at the moment of becoming blinded, they are briefly stunned and will drop the Survivor, allowing them to run away.
This action is referred to as a *Flashlight Rescue*.

A blinded Killer is unable to initiate a *Lunge Attack*, all attacks will instead be *Quick Attacks*.

Being blinded with a **Flashlight** does ***not*** affect the Killer's hearing, allowing skilled Killers to still track the Survivor blinding them by their environmental sounds, footsteps and breathing.

## Blinding Action

In order to blind a Killer, the **Flashlight** must be aimed at the general area of the Killer's head, usually slightly below, as that is where their camera is located.
As soon as the aim is correct, the Blinding process starts and increasingly fills the Killer's *Field of View* with the aforementioned Blindness overlay.

From the Survivor's Point of View, an on-going, as well as a successful Blinding attempt is telegraphed with auditory and visual cues:

* On-going attempt:
	+ The **Flashlight** Beam's outer cone gradually narrows down to the size of the inner cone.
	+ A fizzling burning sound can be heard.
* Successful attempt:
	+ The **Flashlight** Beam's outer cone, having reached the size of the inner cone, rapidly widens, creating a blinking effect.
	+ The ***Killer Blind*** Score Event triggers.

### Evading

The Killer can counter a Blinding attempt by turning their camera away from the **Flashlight** Beam.
This can be done by looking up at the sky, down at the floor, or to the side.
This action will regress the Blinding process at the same rate it would apply at, meaning that looking away does ***not*** immediately reset the process and the Survivor can attempt to counteract themselves by adjusting their aim.

## Special Interactions

Some Killers and their Powers show special interactions with **Flashlights** shining on them:

### The Shape & The Ghost Face

* Blinding either Killer suppresses their ability to *stalk* Survivors and gain additional *Stalk* progress.

### The Legion

* Blinding **The Legion** while they are in *Feral Frenzy* will cancel the Power without applying the usual *Fatigue*, allowing **The Legion** to perform a *Quick Attack* immediately.

### The Nemesis

* Blinding **The Nemesis'** Zombies will stun them in place for several seconds, preventing them from attacking Survivors, as well as shrinking their collision hitbox, allowing Survivors to slip past them easily.

### The Mastermind

* Blinding **The Mastermind** while he is in a *Virulent Bound* will cancel the Power without applying the usual cool-down, allowing **The Mastermind** to perform a *Quick Attack* immediately.

## Default Statistics

The following stats apply to all **Flashlights** unless mentioned otherwise in their descriptions:

* Default Beam range: **10 metres**
* Default Blinding time: **1 second**
* Default Blindness duration: **2 seconds**
* Default Beam angle: **20 °**
* Default Beam accuracy (very technical):
	+ Persistence: **0.5**
		- Represents the degradation of amplitude at each octave (amplitude@octaveIndex = persistence ^ octaveIndex).
	+ Octave count: **3**
		- The number of noise layers.
	+ Amplitude: **1 metre**
		- Represents the peak amplitude.
	+ Frequency: **0.6**
		- Represents the noise frequency (oscillations per time).
		The higher this number, the more chaotic the effect.

## Flashlight Modifiers

### Aim Accuracy

The *Aim Accuracy* refers to the random shakey-hand movements a Survivor makes while aiming the *Flashlight* at something or someone:

* An **increase** in accuracy will **reduce** those random movements.
* A **decrease** in accuracy will **increase** those random movements.

### Battery Depletion

The *Battery Depletion* refers to how quickly the *Flashlight* will run out of its Battery charge and be rendered unusable when in use.
The Battery comes with a given Charge (mentioned in seconds) and will, by default, deplete that Charge at a rate of **-1 c/s**.

### Battery Life

The *Battery Life* refers to how many Charges (mentioned in seconds) the *Flashlight* has at the start of the Trial.

### Beam Brightness

The *Beam Brightness* refers to the visual brightness of the *Flashlight's* Beam from the Killer's POV (see the Gallery).
Before the change that capped the Blinding speed of *Flashlights* (Patch 1.8.3), in order to remove insta-blinds from the gameplay, this metric (then sometimes referred to as *"Beam Effects"*) would influence that modifier.

### Beam Reach

The *Beam Reach* refers to the maximum reach of the Beam's cone:

* An **increase** in reach will **extend** the throw, **increasing** the range of the cone.
* A **decrease** in reach will **reduce** the throw, **decreasing** the range of the cone.

### Beam Width

The *Beam Width* refers to the angle of the Beam cone:

* An **increase** in width will **increase** this angle, **increasing** the width of the cone.
* A **decrease** in width will **decrease** this angle, **decreasing** the width of the cone.

### Blindness Duration

The *Blindness Duration* refers to the duration the Killer will stay blinded for, unable to see the Survivor or the environment (but not unable to move or attack).

## Original Flashlight

The original and only Flashlight up to Patch 1.1.2.

* Press the *Use Item button* to light the *Flashlight* for up to **8 seconds**.

*"Most of the battery life was wastefully used by the previous owner."*

### New Flashlights

Patch 1.1.2 introduced **2** new **Flashlights** to the Game:

* Press the *Use Item button* to light the *Flashlight* for up to **8 seconds**.
* Has an **increased** Aim accuracy of **+20 %**.
* Has a **reduced** Depletion rate of **-11 %**.
* Press the *Use Item button* to light the *Flashlight* for up to **12 seconds**.
* Has an **increased** Beam brightness of **+30 %**.
* Has an **increased** Blindness duration of **+15 %**.
* Has a **reduced** Aim accuracy of **-20 %**.

### Halloween Flashlight

Patch 1.7.3 introduced the **Will O' Wisp**, a special Halloween-themed Flashlight that is annually made available during Halloween Events.
It uniquely features an **orange-tinted** Flashlight Beam.

* Press the *Use Item button* to light the *Flashlight* for up to **8 seconds**.
* Causes more friendly Ghosts in your life.

The *Will O' Wisp* is only available during Halloween Events.

*"Happy Trick or Treating!"*

### Anniversary Flashlights

Patch 4.0.0 introduced the **Fourth Year Flashlight**, a special Flashlight to celebrate the Game's Anniversaries.
It was renamed to **Anniversary Flashlight** in Patch 5.0.0.
Patch 6.0.0 introduced the **Masquerade Flashlight**.

* Press the *Use Item button* to light the *Flashlight* for up to **8 seconds**.
* Explodes with confetti upon blinding the Killer.Surprise!

The *Anniversary Flashlight* was only available during the *Fourth and Fifth Year Anniversary Events*.

* Press the *Use Item button* to light the *Flashlight* for up to **8 seconds**.

The *Masquerade Flashlight* is only available during Anniversary Events.

*""Happy Anniversary! The future looks bright!" — The Dead by Daylight Team"*

## Flashlight Add-ons

The following list features all available Add-ons for the **Flashlight**:

* **Increases** the Battery life by **+2 seconds**.

* **Increases** the Aim accuracy by **+20 %**.

* **Increases** the brightness of the Beam by **+20 %**.
* **Increases** the duration of a successful Blind by **+10 %**.

* **Increases** the width of the Beam by **+25 %**.
* **Reduces** the reach of the Beam by **-25 %**.
* **Increases** the reach of the Beam by **+25 %**.
* **Increases** the brightness by **+20 %**.
* **Increases** the duration of a successful Blind by **+10 %**.
* **Reduces** the width of the Beam by **-15 %**.
* **Increases** the Battery life by **+4 seconds**.

* **Reduces** the Battery Depletion rate by **-24 %**.
* **Increases** the Aim accuracy by **+40 %**.
* **Increases** the brightness of the Beam by **+30 %**.
* **Increases** the duration of a successful Blind by **+15 %**.

* **Increases** the brightness of the Beam by **+40 %**.
* **Increases** the duration of a successful Blind by **+20 %**.
* **Extends** the Battery life by **+6 seconds**.
* **Increases** the reach of the Beam by **+25 %**.
* **Increases** the brightness of the Beam by **+30 %**.
* **Increases** the duration of a successful Blind by **+15 %**.
* **Reduces** the width of the Beam by **-25 %**.
* **Increases** the brightness of the Beam by **+50 %**.
* **Increases** the duration of a successful Blind by **+25 %**.
* **Increases** the Battery Depletion rate by **+14 %**.
* Causes the *Flashlight* to flicker.
* **Increases** the brightness of the Beam by **+15 %**.
* **Increases** the duration of a successful Blind by **+30 %**.
* **Increases** the spookiness.

The *Broken Bulb* is only available during Halloween Events.

## History

### Lightburn Mechanic

The Lightburn mechanic was removed in Patch 6.7.0.

It was an ancient Game Mechanic from the earliest days of *Dead by Daylight* that allowed Survivors carrying a **Flashlight** to directly counteract the special abilities of all Killers, who interacted with the Spirit World, namely **The Wraith** and **The Nurse**:

#### The Wraith

* Shining at **The Wraith** while he was cloaked would light-burn him after a few seconds, stunning him and forcing him to uncloak.
	+ **The Wraith** could counter this by breaking line-of-sight with the light beam and hiding his body behind props or objects.

#### The Nurse

* Shining at **The Nurse** while she was charging a *Blink* would light-burn her after a few seconds, forcing her into *Fatigue*.
	+ **The Nurse** could counter this by releasing the *Blink* early, which would, however, cause her to teleport a shorter distance.
* Shining at **The Nurse** while she was not yet charging a *Blink* would suppress her ability to do so entirely for as long as the **Flashlight** continues to shine at her, completely removing the prompt from her HUD.

### Special Interactions

Up to Patch 6.7.0, some lightburn-like special interactions of **Flashlights** with the Powers of **The Hag**, **The Spirit**, and **The Artist** were removed alongside the Lightburn mechanic:

#### The Hag

* Shining a **Flashlight** near untriggered **Phantasm Traps** would reveal their Aura to the Survivor.
	+ Aiming the beam directly at those **Phantasm Traps** would dissolve them within seconds.
		- This was the only available tool to remove **Phantasm Traps** without triggering them at the time.

#### The Spirit

* Shining a **Flashlight** at the **Husk** left by **The Spirit** during *phase-walking* would cause it to dissolve.
This had no effect on **The Spirit** in any way, but would remove any potential effects from the Terror Radius emitted by the **Husk** itself.

#### The Artist

* Shining a **Flashlight** at her **Dire Crows** or at a *Swarm* would destroy them after a few seconds.

## Change Log

### Patch 1.1.2

* ***Buff:*** added the ability for **Flashlights** to burn The Nurse using the *Lightburn* mechanic.
* ***Change:*** rebalanced *Flashlight*-related Score Events.

### Patch 1.1.2a

* ***Change:*** reduced the Score Event Bloodpoints gained for burning The Wraith out of his cloaked state from **1,000** to **350**.
* ***Survivor Nerf:*** removed the ability to stun a Killer during the Hooking or Picking-up animations.

### Patch 1.3.1c

* ***Change:*** rebalanced the values related to blinding the Killer (*"Flashlight Beam Effects"*).

### Patch 1.4.0

* ***Buff:*** added the ability to reveal the Auras of nearby **Phantasm Traps**.
* ***Quality of Life:*** updated the light cone VFX to facilitate aiming the **Flashlight**.
* ***Survivor Nerf:*** removed the ability to interrupt The Hillbilly mid-Chainsaw-charge by blinding him.

### Patch 1.6.1

* ***Killer Quality of Life:*** adjusted the detection of the Beam against the Killer, making it so that the Killer can only be blinded when they are actually able to see the Beam on their screen.

### Patch 1.8.3

* ***Survivor Nerf:*** nerfed the speed and strength of the *Lightburn* mechanic against The Wraith.
* ***Survivor Nerf:*** removed the ability to accelerate the blinding process by using certain Add-ons or higher-tiered **Flashlights**.

### Patch 1.9.2

* ***Change:*** made it so that blinding the Killer at any time during the Picking-up animation would let the animation play out fully, then stun them.

### Patch 1.9.2b

* ***Reversal:*** reverted the changes from Patch 1.9.2.

### Patch 2.2.0

* ***Survivor Nerf:*** further nerfed the speed of the *Lightburn* mechanic against The Wraith.

### Patch 2.3.0

* ***Quality of Life:*** improved the consistency of the target zones, allowing to burn every Killer by aiming at their head, rather than where their camera would be located in their character model (chest area for tall Killers).
* ***Quality of Life:*** improved the feedback given when the blinding process is on-going and completed.
* ***Rework:*** reworked the VFX on the Killer's screen when blinding to no longer be a blinding white screen.
	+ This effect also applies to Survivors blinding by nearby **Firecrackers**.

### Patch 4.2.0

* ***Quality of Life:*** updated the aiming mechanic so that the Beam is now squarely in the centre on the Survivor's screen.

### Patch 4.4.1

* ***Technical Rework:*** updated the **Flashlight** VFX and animations added audio feedback when using the it against the Killer.

### Patch 4.5.0

* ***Survivor Quality of Life:*** added the ability to use the **Flashlight** even when crouched.

### Patch 6.3.0

* ***Rework:*** added a Cool-down between switching a Flashlight on-and-off repeatedly to reduce strobing and the associated dangers regarding flash-induced seizures.
* ***Rework:*** reduced the Clicking speed of the **Flashlight** and adjusted the sound effect to match its new speed.

### Patch 6.4.0

* ***Buff:*** added a 0.4s buffer to the end of the Picking-up animation where a flashlight blind will stun the killer.
* ***Survivor Nerf:*** added blind immunity whenever a Killer grabs a Survivor from a Locker.

### Patch 6.7.0

* ***Killer Buff:*** retired the *Lightburn* game mechanic (affected **The Wraith** and **The Nurse**), as well as some special interactions with certain Killer Powers (affected **The Hag**, **The Spirit**, and **The Artist**).

## Gallery

* Ace displaying the unique model of the Fourth Year Anniversary Flashlight.
* The default visual Brightness from a Survivor's POV.
* The highest visual Brightness from a Survivor's POV.
Note that there is no discernible difference for Survivors.
* The default visual Brightness from a Killer's POV.
* The highest visual Brightness from a Killer's POV.
Note that the beam looks considerably brighter for the Killer.