Dead by Daylight is filled to the brim with unique characters. Each Survivor and Killer alike has a unique backstory that explains where their special skills come from, forming an intricate web of lore that fleshes out the world. Although players can encounter a huge number of characters in a single sitting of play, some fans might not realize that one character appears in every round of Dead by Daylight. In the rush of fixing Generators or hunting down Survivors, it's easy to forget that a mysterious but powerful being called the Entity is always watching everything that goes on, orchestrating the events of the game.
The Entity is everywhere in Dead by Daylight, but it's pretty hard to define. This overarching antagonist of Dead by Daylight is a very Lovecraftian being, difficult for mortals to comprehend and wield vast cosmic power. Thankfully, the game contains a journal written by a character named Benedict Baker who intentionally sought out the Entity and tried to understand it, rather than falling into its grasp by change like other Dead by Daylight characters. Thanks to Baker's research and other hints within the game, it's clear that the Entity is a daunting, primordial force of evil, but it may not be unstoppable.
Dead by Daylight's Looming Entity
It may be impossible to describe the Entity's physical form due to its scale. The Entity isn't just a being in itself; it contains a web of connected dimensions and worlds within itself, all of which the Entity has either created or corrupted to its liking. Each of Dead by Daylight's maps is a world under the Entity's control. Although this vast cosmic scale makes the Entity hard to fathom, some parts of it can be seen in physical form. Any Dead by Daylight Survivor caught on a hook can recall the spider-like limbs that descend from the sky, trying to skewer the Survivor and drag them into the dark fog above. Those limbs are extensions of the Entity.
Aside from these hints at the Entity's physical form, Benedict Baker sheds some light on the Entity's intentions. Baker describes the Entity as not just a malicious creature, but a pure distillation of evil. Its only thought is to consume the entire multiverse. Even so, the Entity needs sustenance to survive; that's where Dead By Daylight's gameplay comes in. The Entity's desire to conquer all worlds forms a feedback loop with its need for sustenance. The Entity subsists on strong emotions like fear, which is why it captures Survivors and subjugates Killers, setting them in an endless series of hunts in order to feed on the Survivors' terror.
The Entity's Future Role
Although the Entity is powerful and terrifying, there's compelling evidence that it isn't unstoppable. Some people have actually managed to elude the Entity's control. A second scholar of the Entity called Vigo managed to escape the Dead by Daylight loop and supposedly created the Hatch. Another character called the Observer lives in a protected realm within the Entity, trapped within the Entity but not tormented by it. What's more, once a year, the Entity suffers from a strange blight that manifests flower-like pustules. The blight suggests that the Entity isn't invulnerable, which means if Dead by Daylight ever closes its doors, the game could conclude with a climactic battle to defeat and escape the Entity.
Of course, Dead by Daylight doesn't look like it's going anywhere, considering recent collaborations with huge horror IPs like Resident Evil and Hellraiser. That means the Entity will probably just keep pulling the strings from the background for now. Still, it's possible that a future Dead by Daylight event could focus majorly on exploring the Entity's origins or the limits of its power. Maybe Vigo will return to the Entity's worlds and try to help both the fearful Survivors and certain unwilling Killers escape their cosmic jailer. For now, though, the Entity remains a central but cryptic figure in the Dead by Daylight mythos.
Dead by Daylight is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.