Exhaustion Perks

Exhaustion Perks are Perks that interact with the Exhaustion Mechanic, which was first introduced with Patch 1.5.0.

The mechanic intends to prevent Survivors from chaining multiple sprint-inducing Perks together in quick succession, which was a major balancing issue before the introduction of the Exhaustion Mechanic.

Nowadays, the mechanic can also affect Perks that have a very strong effect that should receive a substantial cool-down and does not necessarily induce a sprint burst.

There are currently 16 Exhaustion Perks available in Dead by Daylight.

Overview

Exhaustion Perks are unique to Survivors and generally provide their user with a temporary speed boost upon activating them.
Some Exhaustion Perks, however, may only just stun the Killer or interact with the mechanic while not necessarily benefitting from it.

Exhaustion Perks

	Adrenaline	You are fuelled by unexpecting energy when on the verge of escape. Once the Exit Gates are powered, Adrenaline activates: Instantly heal the equivalent of 1 Health State. Grants a +50 % Haste Status Effect for 3 seconds. Adrenaline ignores an existing Exhausted Status Effect , but causes it for 60/50/40 seconds.
	Background Player	You are not usually the centre of attention and in some cases, this can be a good thing. Whenever another Survivor is picked up, Background Player activates for 10 seconds. Starting to run while it is active causes the following effect: Grants a +50 % Haste Status Effect for 5 seconds. Background Player causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 30/25/20 seconds. Background Player cannot be used when Exhausted. "You forget about me?" — Renato Lyra
	Balanced Landing	Your agility and cat-like relexes are incomparable. After falling from a height, you benefit from the following effects: Reduces the duration of the Stagger upon landing by -75 %. Suppresses all noises related to falling from height. Grants a +50 % Haste Status Effect for 3 seconds upon landing. Balanced Landing causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds. Balanced Landing cannot be used when Exhausted. "I have jumped from higher places." — Nea Karlsson
	Blood Rush	Your mind and body are honed for great feats, allowing you to push through with extra effort when necessary. After unhooking yourself or being unhooked, Blood Rush activates for 40/50/60 seconds: Press the Active Ability button to instantly recover from the Exhausted Status Effect. Blood Rush is deactivated after use or performing a Conspicuous Action. Blood Rush is disabled for the remainder of the Trial once the Exit Gates are powered. "Just gotta... push through!" — Renato Lyra
	Buckle Up	"Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability." When healing a Survivor in the Dying State, Buckle Up activates: The Aura of the Killer is revealed to the both of you. Completing a Healing Action on the dying Survivor suppresses their Scratch Marks and grants them a +50 % Haste Status Effect for 3/4/5 seconds. Buckle Up does not cause the Exhausted Status Effect. "Ghost beaters never leave a man behind." — Ash Williams
	Dead Hard	You can take a beating. After being unhooked or unhooking yourself, Dead Hard activates whenever you are injured and running, and allows you to tap into your adrenaline bank to avoid taking further damage: Press the Active Ability button to trigger the Endurance Status Effect for 0.5 seconds. Dead Hard deactivates after use. Dead Hard causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds. Dead Hard cannot be used when Exhausted. "We were walkin' through t'ginnel one night when a beer bottle flew past me, then another, and another. I thought to myself "Gonna 'ave some fun 'ere lads, let's get stuck in!". It were a right dust up, I swear down!" — David King
	Dramaturgy	When people bring you on to their project, they do so because of the unexpected magic you bring to your performance. Whenever you are Healthy, Dramaturgy activates: While running, press the Active Ability button to run with knees high for 0.5 seconds to gain a +25 Haste Status Effect for 2 seconds, followed by one of the following effects: Suffer from the Exposed Status Effect for 12 seconds. Extend the duration of the Haste Status Effect by another 2 seconds. Scream, but without notifying the Killer. Receive a random Item of Rare Rarity, with a random selection of Add-ons attached to it, automatically dropping any previously held Item. The same effect cannot happen twice in a row. Dramaturgy causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds. Dramaturgy cannot be used when Exhausted. "Take the part. It's a good movie, he says. What's the worst that can happen?" — Nicolas Cage
	Head On	"When your mind is set, there better be no one standing in your way." After hiding in a Locker for 3 seconds, Head On activates: Performing a Rush Exit out of the Locker stuns a nearby Killer for 3 seconds. Head On causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds. Head On cannot be used while Exhausted. "People are remembered for the challenges they overcome. You can run away and forget what you're capable of or you can face your fears and remind the world of who you are." — Jane Romero
	Iron Will	You are able to concentrate and enter a meditative-like state to numb some pain. Reduces the volume of Grunts of Pain while in the Injured State by 80/90/100 %. Iron Will cannot be used when suffering from Exhaustion, but does not cause the Exhausted Status Effect.
	Lithe	Whenever you perform a Rushed Vault action, Lithe triggers its effect: Grants a +50 % Haste Status Effect for 3 seconds. Lithe causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds. Lithe cannot be used when Exhausted. "U mad?" — Feng Min
	Made for This	"You were born to survive, and raised to adapt." Whenever you are in the Injured State, Made for This activates and you benefit from the following effects: Grants the Endurance Status Effect for 6/8/10 seconds, after completing a Healing action on another Survivor. Endurance is cancelled prematurely when performing a Conspicuous Action. Grants a 1/2/3 % Haste Status Effect while running and also suffering from the Deep Wound Status Effect. "I didn't come here to be robot food!" — Gabriel Soma
	Overcome	You have calculated how much energy you can risk to expend. Becoming injured by any means triggers Overcome: Extends the duration of the On-hit Speed Boost by +2 seconds. Overcome causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds. Overcome cannot be used when Exhausted. "After careful analysis, we are getting the hell out of here!" — Jonah Vasquez
	Rapid Response	"When the moment comes, you give it your all. Your survival depends on it." After performing a Rushed action to exit a Locker, Rapid Response triggers its effect: The Aura of the Killer is revealed to you for 2 seconds. Causes you to suffer from the Exhausted Status Effect for 30/25/20 seconds. Rapid Response cannot be used while Exhausted. "All right. You got this. 3... 2... 1... go!" — Orela Rose
	Smash Hit	When your rival makes a mistake, you seize the opportunity. Stunning the Killer with a Pallet triggers Smash Hit: Grants a +50 % Haste Status Effect for 4 seconds. Smash Hit causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 30/25/20 seconds. Smash Hit cannot be used when Exhausted. "I have dealt with psychopaths in suits. You're just uglier and worse dressed." — Yun-Jin Lee
	Sprint Burst	Starting to run triggers Sprint Burst: Grants a +50 % Haste Status Effect for 3 seconds. Sprint Burst causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/50/40 seconds. Sprint Burst cannot be used when Exhausted. "See you if you can catch up..." — Meg Thomas
	Vigil	You look over your friends even in dire situations. Increases the Recovery rate from the following Status Effects by 43/55/66 %: The Blindness, Broken, Exhausted, Exposed, Haemorrhage, Hindered, Mangled, and Oblivious Status Effects. Vigil extends its effect to all Survivors within 16 metres of your location and lingers for 15 seconds. "I am gonna be here when you wake up. You are gonna make it." — Quentin Smith

Trivia

• The first two Exhaustion Perks were categorised as such retroactively, because they already existed in the game before the mechanic was conceptualised and implemented.
  • Indeed, it was the chaining of Sprint Burst and Balanced Landing that prompted the Developers to come up with a mechanic that would prevent this.