How To Counter The Cenobite In Dead By Daylight

Pinhead entered Dead by Daylight's Fog with a number of abilities under his belt; for one, he can attack survivors directly with his Chains, but he can also apply passive pressure with his Lament Configuration, sometimes known as "the box." The Cenobite's complexity makes it confusing for some new survivors to successfully fight back against him, but thankfully, it's easier to manage the pressure once you understand the best tips, tricks, and strategies to counter Hellraiser's most iconic villain.

We're here to help you do just that in this guide. Here is how to counter The Cenobite, also known as Pinhead, from Hellraiser in Dead by Daylight.

Update 27 March 2023 - This article has been updated to reflect all of the changes to Dead by Daylight that affect the best counters to The Cenobite.

Keep Up With The Lament Configuration

If Survivors do not solve the Lament Configuration in time, they will be subject to a Chain Hunt unless it is solved. If Pinhead finds it before they do, they will also scream, notifying The Cenobite of their location. This can be highly detrimental to the team, so it is important that Survivors complete the Lament Configuration, sometimes called "the box," before time runs out each time. Survivors can find the Lament Configuration by looking for a cube illuminated by a yellow aura, and can see the time until a Chain Hunt begins by looking at the left HUD. Survivors can also identify whether another survivor is already solving the Lament Configuration by noticing a revolving spiked yellow circle around their icon.

Solve The Lament Configuration At Wise Times

While you always want to keep up with the Lament Configuration, there are some times that are better to solve it than others. Pinhead can teleport to you while you're solving it, so if he hasn't found anyone yet, it might not be the best idea to pick it up immediately and tip him off to where you are. Instead, it's a better idea to solve the Lament Configuration while Pinhead is in a chase with someone else, or while he is picking up or carrying a survivor. It doesn't make a lot of sense for him to teleport in either of these situations; in the first, he would be losing chase, and in the second, it's simply possible for him to interact with the teleport prompt.

Keep Moving Against The Cenobite

Even when you're being Chain Hunted, Pinhead's chains don't have the best accuracy. To avoid getting hit by Pinhead's chains or the chains spawned from a Chain Hunt, keep moving and don't stay in one place for too long. If a Chain Hunt begins while you're on a generator and the killer isn't nearby, try moving around each side of the generator to avoid the killer's chains more efficiently while still consistently working on the generator.

That's all you need to do to counter The Cenobite; do your best to avoid his chains when they're headed your way, and never overlook the Lament Configuration, as forgetting to solve it can be deadly for the whole team!