Yo, what's up everyone! 😎 It's your friendly neighborhood entity enthusiast back at it again. Let's talk about one of the most iconic, yet notoriously difficult killers to master in Dead by Daylight as of 2026: Max Thompson Jr., The Hillbilly. Man, this guy has been on a rollercoaster! Once considered top-tier, he got hit with some nerfs and map changes that made players drop him faster than a pallet on a Survivor's head. But then, the legendary Overdrive mechanic rework dropped, and Billy boy clawed his way back into the meta! Even with some slight tweaks to Overdrive and his add-ons recently, he's still an absolute powerhouse—a lethal, high-speed threat that's incredibly fun to play. The key? Understanding that his entire identity revolves around that terrifying Chainsaw. This isn't just about running in a straight line; it's about map pressure, mind games, and insta-downs that make Survivors panic. So, buckle up, because we're diving deep into how to make The Hillbilly your main menace in the Fog.

🛠️ Starting Out: The Base Kit & Essential Perk Philosophy

First things first, if you're new to Billy or just don't have all the DLCs unlocked, you can still build something scary. His base kit teaches you the fundamentals of his pressure game.

• Tinkerer (His Own Perk): This is your early warning system. A gen hits 70%? Boom, you get a loud noise notification and become Undetectable (no terror radius!) for 16 seconds. This is your cue to rev that Chainsaw and come screaming in for a surprise attack. Perfect for stopping those last-gen pushes.

• Enduring (His Own Perk): You're gonna eat pallets. It's a fact of life. This reduces pallet stun duration by 50%, so you recover blazing fast and can often get a Chainsaw sprint or M1 follow-up before the Survivor can gain distance. A must-have for aggressive play.

• Bitter Murmur (General Perk): Intel is king. Every completed gen shows you Survivor auras nearby for 5 seconds. When the last gen pops, you see everyone for 10 seconds. This tells you exactly where to point your Chainsaw for those crucial endgame downs.

• Hex: No One Escapes Death (General Perk): The classic endgame panic button. Final gen done? All Survivors become Exposed (one-hit down) and you get a speed boost. It can single-handedly turn a lost game into a 4K if your Hex totem stays hidden.

This build focuses on information, recovery, and endgame reversal. It's consistent and teaches you how to leverage his speed with map awareness.

⚡ The Meta Menace: Top-Tier Teachable Perk Build

Now, for the juicy stuff. Once you have access to teachable perks, you can transform The Hillbilly into an absolute map-control monster. This is the build that high-level players fear.

Let's break down why each perk is a perfect fit:

Perk	From	Why It's S-Tier for Billy
Discordance	The Legion	Billy's greatest strength is mobility. This perk highlights any gen being repaired by 2+ Survivors from 128 meters away. See that yellow glow? Rev the Chainsaw and be there in seconds to break up that gen rush party. Incredible for early pressure.
Bamboozle	The Clown	THIS IS MANDATORY. Windows are Billy's biggest counter. This perk increases your vault speed by 15% and, crucially, blocks the window for 16 seconds after you vault it. No more infinite window loops. It shuts down safe zones instantly.
Pop Goes the Weasel	The Clown	Synergy alert! You hook someone, you get 45 seconds of Pop. You have insane mobility. You can zoom across the map to the most progressed gen and kick it for a 30% regression. This is the best gen slowdown for mobile killers, hands down.
No Way Out	The Trickster	Your endgame insurance policy. Each unique hook gives a token (max 4). When exits are powered, the first time a Survivor touches a gate, both gates are blocked for up to 60 seconds based on your tokens. This gives you so much time to secure those final downs with your Chainsaw.

This build creates a vicious cycle: Discordance finds groups, you use your Chainsaw mobility to get there, Bamboozle shuts down loops, you get a hook, then use Pop to regress gens across the map, and No Way Out seals the deal. It's oppressive, fun, and highly effective.

🔧 Gear Up: The Add-On Deep Dive

Perks are half the battle. Your add-ons define your Chainsaw's behavior. Let's talk about the best in slot and some fun combos for 2026.

The Recovery Kings:

• Greased Throttle: A simple, no-downside green add-on. It reduces Chainsaw recovery time by 5%. Not flashy, but reliable. It's great when paired with...

• The Thompsons’ Mix: This purple add-on reduces recovery time by 10% when not in Overdrive. Stacking it with Greased Throttle for 15% is okay, but often overkill. I'd rather use the slot for something that changes my game more dramatically.

The Curve Masters:

• Dad's Boots / Spiked Boots: THESE ARE GAME-CHANGERS. They increase your Chainsaw's turn rate. Spiked Boots (the purple version) gives a bigger bonus. This allows you to curve around tight loops, trees, and corners that Survivors think are safe. Catching someone with a curve they didn't expect is the most satisfying feeling. Pair one of these with a speed or break add-on for maximum terror.

The S-Tier Staples:

1. Lo-Pro Chains (Despite Nerfs): 🏆 This is still arguably his best add-on. Why? Versatility. It lets you continue your Chainsaw Sprint after breaking a pallet or wall. This is HUGE for zoning. You break a pallet at a loop and just keep charging forward, often forcing the Survivor into a dead zone or into your waiting arms for a basic attack. The consistency it provides is unmatched.

2. Iridescent Engravings: The high-risk, high-reward option. It increases your Chainsaw Sprint speed by a whopping 20%, but makes you charge it 12% slower. You become a ballistic missile. The map feels tiny. Survivors have almost no time to react if you line up a shot from afar. It's brutal on open maps, but the charge time penalty means you need to be predictive with your revs.

🧠 Putting It All Together: Playstyle Tips for 2026

So you've got the perks and add-ons. How do you actually play this beast?

• Early Game: Use Discordance or Tinkerer to find your first target. Don't be afraid to use the Chainsaw for mobility even if you don't get a hit. Covering the map quickly applies immense pressure.

• Chase: Your goal is to force Survivors into zones where your Chainsaw excels. Use Bamboozle to block a window at a main building, then immediately rev your saw. If they drop a pallet early, you can often curve around it with Spiked Boots or break through and continue with Lo-Pro Chains.

• Generator Defense: You are the ultimate Pop Goes the Weasel user. After a hook, immediately check your gen auras. Zoom to the juiciest one, kick it, and leave. Your presence alone, thanks to your speed, is a deterrent.

• Endgame: This is where No Way Out, Bitter Murmur, and NOED shine. The gates are blocked, you can see everyone, and they're all exposed or one-hit away from a Chainsaw. Patrol between gates with your saw revved. It's pure chaos for them.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Mastering The Hillbilly in 2026 isn't about being easy; it's about being rewarding. He has a high skill ceiling, demanding good spatial awareness, prediction, and mastery of his unique movement. The Overdrive mechanic added that extra layer of resource management that keeps him engaging. Sure, he's had ups and downs, but right now, with the right build focusing on mobility (Discordance/Pop), anti-loop (Bamboozle/Spiked Boots), and endgame (No Way Out), he is a force to be reckoned with. He punishes gen-rush strategies hard and delivers some of the most thrilling moments in the game, both for you and the Survivors screaming as a chainsaw-wielding maniac curves around a corner at mach speed. Get out there, practice those curves, and show the Survivors why the hills have eyes... and a very loud engine! 🔥🪚