Dying Light combines first-person parkour traversal with zombie survival in an open world that transforms dramatically when the sun goes down. The game's defining feature is its day-night cycle — daytime is for scavenging and questing while outrunning standard zombies, while nighttime unleashes Volatiles, terrifying fast zombies that hunt by sound and chase relentlessly. Parkour traversal over rooftops makes movement feel exhilarating rather than tedious. Techland's continued support added The Following DLC (a massive countryside expansion with driveable buggies), numerous content updates, and one of the longest post-launch support periods in gaming. The game remains the benchmark for first-person melee zombie combat.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness — factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survivor Tree | A | Focus on questing and supply drops for Survivor XP, unlock blueprints that transform basic weapons into elemental powerhouses. | Crafted weapons, lockpicks, medkits |
| Agility Tree | S | Traverse rooftops constantly, use nighttime for 2x XP bonus, unlock grappling hook as fast as possible. | Grappling Hook, Camouflage skill, UV Flares |
| Power Tree | A | Engage zombies with powerful melee combos, use the dropkick for crowd control, craft the strongest elemental weapons. | Best available melee weapon, elemental upgrades, weapon repairs |
| Legend Levels | S | Grind Legend Levels through repeated high-XP activities, invest points into your preferred weapon type for maximum damage scaling. | Gold-tier weapons, Legend Level stat investments |
| Driver Tree | B | Use the buggy for countryside traversal, run over zombie hordes, upgrade parts through exploration and quests. | Upgraded Buggy, performance parts, UV headlights, electric cage |
A-Tier: Survivor Tree
The utility/crafting skill tree that improves inventory management, crafting efficiency, and lockpicking. Higher Survivor rank unlocks better blueprints and merchant access. Leveled through quest completion and supply drops.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | EXPCalibur | An Easter egg weapon found by locating a specific rock on an island. |
| Core Gear | Crafted weapons, lockpicks, medkits | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Crafting Blueprints, Merchant Access, Inventory Space | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | parkour traversal | A full parkour system — mantling, wall running, sliding, climbing, zip lines, and leaping between buildings. |
How to Play Survivor Tree
Focus on questing and supply drops for Survivor XP, unlock blueprints that transform basic weapons into elemental powerhouses.
The utility/crafting skill tree that improves inventory management, crafting efficiency, and lockpicking. Higher Survivor rank unlocks better blueprints and merchant access. Leveled through quest completion and supply drops.
What makes this role work: The synergy between EXPCalibur and parkour traversal creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. Core gear like Crafted weapons, lockpicks, medkits amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Clear stat priority (Crafting Blueprints, Merchant Access, Inventory Space) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Agility Tree
The parkour skill tree unlocking movement abilities — dodge, dropkick, vault-over, tic-tac, and the game-changing grappling hook. Leveled through parkour actions and nighttime traversal. The most impactful tree because mobility is survival.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Korek Machete | A craftable weapon using the Korek blueprint found on a rooftop near the Tower. |
| Core Gear | Grappling Hook, Camouflage skill, UV Flares | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Grappling Hook unlock, Dodge, Vault-Over | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | day-night cycle | During the day, standard Biters (slow zombies) and Virals (fast runners) populate the world. |
How to Play Agility Tree
Traverse rooftops constantly, use nighttime for 2x XP bonus, unlock grappling hook as fast as possible.
The parkour skill tree unlocking movement abilities — dodge, dropkick, vault-over, tic-tac, and the game-changing grappling hook. Leveled through parkour actions and nighttime traversal. The most impactful tree because mobility is survival.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Korek Machete and day-night cycle creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Grappling Hook, Camouflage skill, UV Flares amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Clear stat priority (Grappling Hook unlock, Dodge, Vault-Over) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Power Tree
The combat skill tree increasing melee damage, adding combat moves (ground pound, dropkick, charge), and improving weapon handling. Leveled through killing zombies. The dropkick is arguably the best move in the game for its knockback and instakill potential.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Last Hope | The highest base damage melee weapon in the base game, a gold-tier machete dropped by demolishers and in police vans. |
| Core Gear | Best available melee weapon, elemental upgrades, weapon repairs | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Dropkick, Stomp, Ground Pound | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | weapon crafting | Melee weapons degrade with use and can be repaired a limited number of times. |
How to Play Power Tree
Engage zombies with powerful melee combos, use the dropkick for crowd control, craft the strongest elemental weapons.
The combat skill tree increasing melee damage, adding combat moves (ground pound, dropkick, charge), and improving weapon handling. Leveled through killing zombies. The dropkick is arguably the best move in the game for its knockback and instakill potential.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Last Hope and weapon crafting creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. Core gear like Best available melee weapon, elemental upgrades, weapon repairs amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Clear stat priority (Dropkick, Stomp, Ground Pound) makes gearing straightforward
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
S-Tier: Legend Levels
Post-max-level progression that adds stat points to specific categories (One-Handed Damage, Health, Stamina, etc.). Legend Levels are the true endgame grind where you specialize your character beyond the skill trees. Farmable through BTZS volatile farming.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Rune Hammer | A legendary blueprint hammer that deals massive impact damage with built-in electrical effect. |
| Core Gear | Gold-tier weapons, Legend Level stat investments | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Weapon type damage (match your weapon), Health, Stamina | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | co-op gameplay | Up to 4 players share the same world with scaled zombie density. |
How to Play Legend Levels
Grind Legend Levels through repeated high-XP activities, invest points into your preferred weapon type for maximum damage scaling.
Post-max-level progression that adds stat points to specific categories (One-Handed Damage, Health, Stamina, etc.). Legend Levels are the true endgame grind where you specialize your character beyond the skill trees. Farmable through BTZS volatile farming.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Rune Hammer and co-op gameplay creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Gold-tier weapons, Legend Level stat investments amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Clear stat priority (Weapon type damage (match your weapon), Health, Stamina) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
B-Tier: Driver Tree
The Following DLC adds the Driver tree for buggy vehicle skills. The buggy has its own stats (engine, suspension, brakes, armor) upgraded through parts found in the countryside. The buggy's UV headlights are the best Volatile defense in the game.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Gonunaba | A unique katana found in The Following DLC inside a cave with a specific quest. |
| Core Gear | Upgraded Buggy, performance parts, UV headlights, electric cage | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Engine Speed, Suspension, UV Light Range | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | volatile encounters | Volatiles are the endgame enemies with high speed, massive damage, and the ability to call hordes. |
How to Play Driver Tree
Use the buggy for countryside traversal, run over zombie hordes, upgrade parts through exploration and quests.
The Following DLC adds the Driver tree for buggy vehicle skills. The buggy has its own stats (engine, suspension, brakes, armor) upgraded through parts found in the countryside. The buggy's UV headlights are the best Volatile defense in the game.
What makes this role work: The synergy between Gonunaba and volatile encounters creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. Core gear like Upgraded Buggy, performance parts, UV headlights, electric cage amplifies this further.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Clear stat priority (Engine Speed, Suspension, UV Light Range) makes gearing straightforward
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Agility Tree — the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Survivor Tree once you understand core mechanics and have access to EXPCalibur
- Keep a Power Tree setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Driver Tree for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first — it gives the biggest power spike
- Night time gives 2x Agility and Power XP. Running from Volatiles at night is the fastest way to level these trees. Pop a UV flare if caught, sprint, and get to a safe house.
- The dropkick (Power tree) is the single best combat move in the game. It one-shots most standard zombies, knocks Virals off buildings, and creates distance against groups. Use it constantly.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
See our tier list for current meta rankings, or the beginner's guide if you're just getting started.
