Quick answer
New killer wants a practical patrol route after getting a hook or losing generator pressure.
Start patrols from information
A patrol route should start with what the match is telling you: generator sounds, recent hooks, injured survivor paths, crows, scratch marks, and completed objectives. New killers lose time when they walk every generator in the same order even after the map state has changed.
- Check the generators with progress, sound, or survivor history first.
- Ignore finished dead zones unless a survivor is clearly hiding there.
- Use perks like Jolt or tracking perks to confirm where pressure still exists.
After a hook, pick a route
After hooking a survivor, do not freeze at the hook by default. Look at the nearest active generators, likely rescuer paths, and injured survivors. A strong route checks one rescue lane and one useful objective, then starts the next chase before the team resets for free.
- If survivors are repairing far away, leave the hook and contest progress.
- If the rescue path is obvious, briefly check it without standing still forever.
- If no information appears, patrol the generator cluster that matters late.
When to drop a patrol chase
A chase that pulls you away from every useful generator can be a loss even if it feels close. Patrol routes work because they protect valuable space. If a survivor runs toward a completed edge or a strong area with no objective value, consider leaving and returning to the map section that still matters.
- Drop chases that move into completed corners with no hook or generator value.
- Stay when the chase is short, the survivor is injured, or the down protects a key area.
- After leaving, do not wander; immediately check the next active generator.
Recommended next pages
These next pages connect patrol decisions with first-hook pressure, generator control, and beginner killer loadouts.
Should killers patrol every generator?
No. Patrol the generators that still matter: active progress, close clusters, and objectives connected to hooks or survivor routes.
What should killer do after hooking someone?
Check likely rescuer paths briefly, then move toward active generators or injured survivor routes. Standing still at hook often gives survivors free repair time.