To counter Borrowed Time in Dead by Daylight, you can wait out the Borrowed Time timer after hitting a survivor who has been unhooked. Alternatively, you can use the strategy of downing the survivor with Borrowed Time and then focusing on the survivor who unhooked them.
Understanding Borrowed Time
In Dead by Daylight, Borrowed Time is a perk for survivors that activates when they unhook another survivor within a certain range of the killer. While the unhooked survivor is protected by Borrowed Time, taking a hit will not immediately down them. Instead, they will enter a bleedout timer that will down them unless they can find another survivor to heal them before it runs out.
Counterplay as a Killer
As a killer, there are several strategies you can employ to counter Borrowed Time. The most effective method is to focus on downing survivors before they can be unhooked in close proximity to you. This can be achieved by patrolling the hook after you have downed a survivor or by applying pressure to generators to force survivors to split up and make riskier unhook attempts.
Another way to counter Borrowed Time is to bait survivors into triggering the perk at unfavorable times. This can be done by pretending to leave the hooked survivor and then quickly re-engaging before the unhook animation is complete, catching both survivors off guard and potentially securing downs on both of them.
Perks and Offerings
When facing a survivor with Borrowed Time, it can be helpful to bring specific killer perks or offerings that can aid in countering the perk. Perks like "No One Escapes Death" or "Blood Warden" can punish survivors who rely on Borrowed Time by making it riskier for them to attempt rescues or escape once the exit gates are powered.
Additionally, certain map offerings can influence the gameplay in a way that makes it harder for survivors to use Borrowed Time effectively. Offerings that increase the darkness of the map or reduce visibility can make it more challenging for survivors to coordinate safe unhook attempts, giving the killer an advantage in countering Borrowed Time.
Anti-Healing Strategies
Since survivors with Borrowed Time rely on being quickly healed after taking a hit, another effective counterplay strategy is to disrupt or prevent healing altogether. Killer perks like "Thanatophobia" or "Sloppy Butcher" can slow down the healing process, giving you more time to pressure the injured survivor and potentially secure a down before they can be healed back to healthy status.
In addition to perks, killers with the ability to apply status effects like "Bleed," "Mangled," or "Hindered" can make it more challenging for survivors to heal themselves or each other efficiently, further weakening the effectiveness of Borrowed Time in prolonging a survivor's life during a chase.
Adaptation and Mind Games
Ultimately, countering Borrowed Time in Dead by Daylight requires a combination of strategic gameplay, perk selection, and adaptability to each unique game situation. By understanding the mechanics of Borrowed Time and anticipating survivor behavior, you can increase your chances of outplaying survivors who rely on the perk to make risky plays and save their teammates in dire situations.
Keep in mind that effective counterplay often involves thinking ahead, predicting survivor movements, and using mind games to create uncertainty and chaos among survivors who might otherwise feel confident in their ability to rescue their teammates with Borrowed Time.