Quick answer
New survivor wants to know when an unhook is safe and when they should keep repairing instead.
The simple rescue rule
Good rescue timing means helping before a teammate reaches the next hook stage without gifting the killer a second down. If the killer is chasing far away, rescue quickly. If the killer is staring at the hook, make progress somewhere else until a real opening appears.
- Rescue early when the killer has clearly left the area.
- Wait or reposition when the killer is patrolling the hook closely.
- Do not run three survivors to the same hook unless the timer is urgent.
When to stay on generators
A survivor on hook has time. If a teammate is already nearby and healthy, the best play is often to stay on your generator. Leaving every objective for one rescue slows the team, gives the killer free pressure, and can create a messy hook pile.
- Keep repairing if someone closer is moving in safely.
- Leave your generator if nobody else is going and the timer is getting low.
- Use Kindred or team information to avoid duplicate rescue attempts.
When a trade is worth it
A trade means you take a hit or hook so the hooked survivor can leave. New players should not trade automatically, but it can be correct before a survivor reaches death hook, during endgame, or when the rescued survivor is more valuable to keep alive than your current health state.
- Take one protection hit if it lets the rescued survivor reach safety.
- Avoid unhooking directly into the killer unless the timer demands it.
- After rescuing, split away instead of healing under the hook by default.
Recommended next pages
These pages connect hook decisions with information perks, solo queue routing, and common pressure terms.
Should I always rescue before the hook timer reaches half?
Try to rescue before the next hook stage, but do not panic at the first second. A calm rescue after the killer leaves is better than an instant rescue into another down.
Is it bad to repair while someone is hooked?
No. If another teammate is safely handling the rescue, staying on a generator is usually the correct team play.