Hillbilly Chainsaw Guide: One-Shot Every Survivor in Forsaken

Master Hillbilly's chainsaw in Forsaken. Learn curve techniques, map pressure strategies, and instant-down positioning for 4K every match.

Published October 16, 202510 min readBy Sukie

Hillbilly achieves 67% kill rate in skilled hands but only 41% for beginners making him the ultimate skill-based killer that rewards practice with devastating map pressure and instant downs. This comprehensive chainsaw guide reveals the exact techniques professional players use for curving around obstacles, the mathematical angles that guarantee hits at common loops, collision management that prevents embarrassing bumps into walls, and map-specific chainsaw paths that cross 100+ meters in seconds. Master these strategies and transform from bumping into trees to landing consecutive chainsaw downs that end matches in under 5 minutes.

Hillbilly Chainsaw Statistics

• Chainsaw Charge Time: 3 seconds from start to full sprint
• Sprint Duration: Up to 6 seconds maximum continuous sprint
• Sprint Speed: 230% movement speed during chainsaw sprint
• Cooldown After Hit: 3 seconds weapon wipe animation
• Overheat Threshold: 6 seconds of continuous use causes overhe

Broad killer fundamentals that apply directly to chainsaw play

Chainsaw Mechanics and Core Controls

Hillbilly's chainsaw operates on precise physics calculations governing charge time, sprint speed, turning radius, and collision detection. Understanding these fundamental mechanics provides the foundation for advanced techniques.

Charge and Sprint Mechanics

The chainsaw charge-and-release system determines all tactical possibilities:

•Three-Second Charge: Holding the chainsaw button for exactly 3 seconds fully charges the sprint, indicated by audio cue and visual smoke effects. Releasing before 3 seconds provides proportionally reduced sprint duration from 1 to 6 seconds maximum.
•Instant Down Power: Any survivor hit during chainsaw sprint goes from healthy to dying state instantly, bypassing injured status. This power makes Hillbilly exceptional at ending chases quickly and creating pressure through immediate hooks.
•Sprint Speed Mathematics: At 230% movement speed, Hillbilly covers 9.2 meters per second compared to survivor's 4 meters per second running. This 5.2 meter/second closing speed catches survivors in 15 seconds across 78-meter distances.
•Variable Release Timing: Experienced players vary charge duration based on distance to target - 1 second charge for close targets, 3 seconds for long-distance sprints. This timing flexibility prevents overextension into walls.
•Steering During Sprint: While sprinting, Hillbilly can turn at approximately 45 degrees per second, creating curved paths around obstacles. The steering becomes more responsive as sprint duration decreases, allowing tighter turns when slowing.
•Collision Consequences: Hitting any solid object during sprint causes instant stop with 3-second stun animation, leaving Hillbilly vulnerable and wasting positioning. The overheat system adds an additional second penalty to collisions through heat buildup.
•Sound Propagation: The chainsaw rev sound is audible map-wide to all survivors, providing constant information about Hillbilly's location and intentions. Experienced survivors use these sounds to predict approach angles and prepare counterplay.

Overheat System Management

The overheat mechanic limits continuous chainsaw usage requiring strategic management:

•Heat Accumulation: Each second of chainsaw revving or sprinting builds heat, with the meter filling completely after 6 seconds of continuous use. The meter is represented visually on the power icon with an orange progress indicator.
•Overheated Penalty: When completely overheated, Hillbilly cannot use chainsaw for 5 seconds while it cools, forcing M1 basic attacks. This penalty at critical moments often costs hooks or allows survivor escapes.
•Cooling Rate: Heat dissipates completely in 6 seconds of no chainsaw usage, creating 1:1 usage-to-recovery ratio. Strategic players alternate between 3-second sprints and 3-second recovery periods for infinite chainsaw access.
•Heat Management Priority: Never allow overheat during chase situations where chainsaw might secure immediate down. Better to use M1 hit and preserve chainsaw for second hit than overheat chasing first hit.
•Add-On Heat Reduction: Doom Engravings reduce maximum heat but increase charge time, while Primer Bulb increases cooling rate. These add-ons dramatically alter heat management strategies through modified ratios.
•Feathering Technique: Advanced players "feather" the chainsaw by repeatedly tapping the button for 0.5-second bursts, creating intimidation without heat buildup. This psychological pressure makes survivors pre-drop pallets.
•Recovery Timing: After chainsaw hits or collisions, heat continues building for 0.5 seconds after release, requiring buffer time before next charge. Immediate back-to-back chainsaws often cause unexpected overheat.

Basic Attack vs Chainsaw Decision Making

Choosing between M1 and chainsaw attacks determines efficiency:

•Close Range Default: Within 5 meters of survivor at unsafe loop, M1 attack guarantees hit in 2.7 seconds versus chainsaw's 3-second minimum charge. The basic attack is mathematically optimal at point-blank range.
•Medium Range Chainsaw: Between 5-15 meters on straightaway or simple curve, chainsaw catches up in 3-4 seconds for instant down. This range is the sweet spot where chainsaw provides massive value over M1 two-hit requirement.
•Long Range Traversal: Beyond 15 meters, chainsaw is purely for map mobility closing distance, not scoring hits. The time saved crossing map justifies overheat risk even without securing downs.
•Loop Respect Assessment: Against skilled survivors at strong loops, M1 to force pallet drop then chainsaw to break pallets quickly. This hybrid approach denies loops while conserving chainsaw for optimal moments.
•Pallet Stun Decisions: After pallet stun, chainsaw to break pallet in 3 seconds instead of 2.6 second kick animation seems slower, but the intimidation often makes survivors not wait, granting free downs.
•Injured Survivor Priority: Always use chainsaw against injured survivors regardless of range, as instant down ends chase versus M1 down requiring pickup. The 10-second time save multiplies across multiple chases.
•Perk Interaction: Save the Best for Last modifies M1 attack cooldown, making basic attacks more attractive against obsession. This perk creates strategic depth around which attack type to use against specific survivors.

Advanced Curve Techniques and Hitboxes

Curving the chainsaw around obstacles to land hits on survivors who think they're safe represents Hillbilly's highest skill expression. These techniques separate average players from masters who consistently land curves.

The Fundamental Curve Mechanics

Curving operates on precise angle and distance calculations:

•Steering Angle Formula: Hillbilly turns at 45 degrees per second during sprint, meaning a 2-second sprint allows 90-degree turn maximum. Understanding this geometry enables predicting exact curve paths before committing to charges.
•Wide Approach Theory: Approaching loops from wide angles provides more curving room than tight approaches. Beginning curves 3-4 meters away from obstacle allows 1-2 meters of turning space before collision.
•Camera Independent Steering: Hillbilly's sprint direction follows camera facing at charge initiation, but steering during sprint follows movement keys not camera. Mastering this disconnect enables backwards curves and mindgames.
•Hitbox Leniency: Survivor hitboxes extend approximately 0.5 meters beyond visual model, allowing hits that appear to miss. This leniency rewards aggressive curving that skilled players exploit for guaranteed downs.
•Curve Feathering: Tapping steering keys instead of holding creates subtle angle adjustments during curves, allowing micro-corrections mid-sprint. This feathering technique is mandatory for hitting moving targets who dodge.
•Late Steering Commitment: Delaying steering input until 0.5 seconds before obstacle allows reading survivor movement first. Early steering telegraphs intentions giving survivors time to dodge.
•Practice Requirements: Consistent curve execution requires 50+ hours dedicated practice in custom games. Most players abandon Hillbilly before reaching competency, explaining low pick rate despite high potential.

Map-Specific Curve Setups

Each map has specific objects perfect for practicing curves:

•Forsaken Farm Hay Bales: The scattered hay bales create ideal curve practice with forgiving collision hitboxes. Approach hay bales at 45-degree angles while charging, steering around for hits on opposite side.
•Crossroads Tire Piles: Small tire piles allow tight curves that experienced players execute consistently. These curves catch survivors who loop tires thinking they're safe from chainsaw.
•School Lockers: Indoor locker rows provide curve practice with precise hitboxes requiring perfect steering. Successfully curving school lockers demonstrates mastery applicable to all curves.
•Hospital Beds: The bed hitboxes are deceptively small allowing closer approaches than expected. Curves around hospital beds need only 20-degree steering versus standard 45-degree curves.
•Shack Loop: The killer shack window offers premium curve opportunity by approaching window from outside and curving around doorway for hits. This tech catches survivors vaulting window.
•T-Wall and L-Wall Curves: Standard wall junctions create predictable survivor paths perfect for curves. Approach from wide angle, sprint toward junction, curve 90 degrees for guaranteed hits.
•Main Building Curves: Each map's main building has specific curve setups that professionals memorize. Learning these setups per map provides massive advantage through consistent instant downs.

Counterplay to Curve Counters

Good survivors know curve counters requiring next-level mindgames:

•The Dodge Counter: Survivors dodge curves by running toward Hillbilly at the last second, making chainsaw miss. Counter this by feinting curve then adjusting path mid-sprint to follow dodge movement.
•Hug Tech Abuse: Survivors hug walls expecting curve collision, but experienced Hillbillys curve from distance maintaining safe collision buffer. Practice 2-meter gap curves that hit wall-huggers.
•Pallet Camp Counter: Survivors camp pallets forcing M1 hits or pallet stuns. Counter by charging chainsaw at pallet from multiple angles, forcing survivor to guess drop timing.
•Window Fake Mindgame: Survivors fake window vaults to bait chainsaws, then dodge. Counter by delaying sprint release until committed vault, or fake chainsaw charge to force vaults.
•Line of Sight Breaks: Survivors break line of sight during charges forcing blind curves. Counter by memorizing common routing after sight breaks, pre-aiming curves toward likely positions.
•360 Dodge Attempts: At close range, survivors spin in circles during charge hoping to dodge. Counter this by not turning during sprint, letting survivor dodge into your path.
•Pre-Drop Everything: Against survivors who pre-drop all pallets refusing mind games, accept the strategy and focus on fast pallet breaks with chainsaw maintaining pressure.

Pro Tip

The single most important Hillbilly tip: spend 10 minutes before each play session in custom games practicing curves around specific objects. Consistent practice builds muscle memory that transfers to real matches, improving curve success rate by 15-20% within one week. Focus on one curve setup per session - Monday practice hay bale curves, Tuesday practice tire curves, Wednesday practice shack curves - until each setup becomes automatic. Professional Hillbilly players practice curves daily like musicians practice scales, treating it as mandatory skill maintenance rather than optional training.

Map Pressure and Mobility Usage

Hillbilly's 230% sprint speed enables map pressure impossible for standard 115% killers. Strategic mobility usage transforms him from basic killer into oppressive force that patrols entire map in seconds.

Optimal Patrol Routes

Establishing efficient patrol routes maximizes generator pressure:

•Figure-8 Pattern: Chainsaw in figure-8 paths connecting four central generators, creating 20-second patrol loops that check all objectives. This pattern maintains constant pressure preventing prolonged generator progress.
•Straight-Line Priority: Maps with long sightlines like Farm and Crossroads allow straight-line sprints checking multiple generators per path. Plan routes maximizing these straight sections for overheat management.
•Main Building Integration: Include main building in patrol routes every second rotation, as central positions provide excellent next-destination options. The building also likely contains generators requiring attention.
•Collision-Free Paths: Memorize paths avoiding trees, rocks, and obstacles that cause collision stuns. Smooth routes with zero collisions maintain 100% sprint uptime versus 60% for collision-heavy routes.
•Sound Information: Survivors working generators during Hillbilly approach hear chainsaw and hide, creating wasted patrol time. Mix in walking patrols that arrive silently for more effective catches.
•Generator Clustering: Identify which 3-4 generators spawn closest together, establishing patrol route defending only those generators. This intentional 3-gen setup occurs 45 seconds into match.
•Adaptive Routing: Modify routes based on generator completion, focusing pressure on remaining objectives. Patrolling completed generators wastes mobility that should pressure active generators.

Map-Specific Sprint Paths

Each map has optimal chainsaw highways for maximum mobility:

•Forsaken Farm Long Paths: The corn field paths allow 6-second sprints covering 120+ meters corner to corner. Memorize these paths for instant cross-map responses to generator completions.
•Crossroads Main Street: The central road provides perfect straight sprint from one exit gate to opposite exit gate, 100+ meter distance. This path enables defending both gates during end game.
•School Hallways: Long hallways allow full sprint chaining between floors and wings. The stairs are navigable with practice, creating vertical mobility other killers lack.
•Hospital Floor Plans: First floor has ring pattern perfect for continuous sprinting, maintaining momentum without collision. Second floor requires walking due to tight corridors.
•Forest Map Trees: The forest requires weaving between trees using curves, but experienced players find paths through specific tree gaps. These paths are 40% faster than walking while avoiding collisions.
•Basement Approaches: Most maps have specific angles allowing basement sprints from main building or shack. Learning these approaches enables aggressive basement usage.
•Obstacle Shortcuts: Some maps have gaps between obstacles that allow sprint shortcuts cutting 15-20 meters from routes. These shortcuts require pixel-perfect angles but save enormous time.

Strategic Mobility Timing

Knowing when to sprint versus walk determines effectiveness:

•Post-Hook Sprints: After hooking survivor, immediately chainsaw to furthest generator for pressure before survivors reset. This 8-second response prevents free healing and generator progress.
•Generator Completion Response: When generator completes and you're distant, sprint to next objective immediately rather than checking completed generator. Reactive mobility maintains pressure.
•Chase Abandonment: When chase exceeds 45 seconds with 2+ generators remaining, abandon chase and sprint to defend generators. The mobility allows cutting losses and refocusing pressure.
•Scratch Mark Following: Sprint following scratch marks when certain of survivor direction, closing gaps faster than walking. The sound and speed intimidate survivors into mistakes.
•Basement Defense: When hooked in basement against hook bomber teams, sprint out to meet approaching survivors mid-map. The unexpected aggression often secures additional downs.
•Patrol Fake Outs: Begin sprinting toward one generator, then curve to a different generator mid-sprint. Survivors hear chainsaw and hide from expected generator, while you check different objective.
•End Game Mobility: During End Game Collapse, sprint between 99% gates preventing completions. The mobility allows active patrol of both gates simultaneously.

Perk Builds and Add-On Combinations

Optimal builds multiply Hillbilly's natural strengths while compensating for weaknesses through synergistic perk and add-on combinations that professional players refine through hundreds of matches.

Core Hillbilly Perk Builds

These builds leverage chainsaw strengths for maximum effectiveness:

•BBQ Mobility Build: Barbecue & Chili + Tinkerer + Infectious Fright + Discordance provides constant information for sprint targeting. Seeing auras after hooks tells you exactly where to sprint next for continued pressure.
•Endgame Build: No One Escapes Death + Blood Warden + Remember Me + No Way Out creates end-game dominance. Hillbilly's mobility combined with NOED one-shots turns end game into guaranteed 4k territory.
•Chase Supremacy: Enduring + Spirit Fury + Brutal Strength + Bamboozle removes all loop safety forcing instant downs. The chainsaw becomes unstoppable when survivors can't reach safe positions.
•Information Overload: Whispers + Monitor & Abuse + Nurse's Calling + Stridor provides perfect tracking for sprint targeting. Knowing exact survivor positions makes every sprint count.
•Generator Defense: Ruin + Undying + Pop Goes the Weasel + Corrupt Intervention creates oppressive slowdown. The mobility allows defending Ruin while still pressuring generators.
•Instadown Synergy: Make Your Choice + Devour Hope + NOED creates multiple instadown sources. Combined with chainsaw, survivors face constant instant-down threats.
•Basement Build: Agitation + Iron Grasp + Mad Grit + Monstrous Shrine forces basement hooks. Hillbilly's sprint carries survivors to basement from anywhere on map.

Essential Add-On Combinations

Add-ons modify chainsaw characteristics for different playstyles:

•Speed Demon: Doom Engravings + Death Engravings increases sprint speed to 250%+ but raises charge time. This build catches survivors in impossible timeframes but requires prediction over reaction.
•Curve Master: Begrimed Chains + Black Grease improves steering and reduces collision penalty. This combination helps learning curves through more forgiving mechanics.
•Heat Management: Thompson's Mix + The Thompson's Moonshine reduces overheat buildup allowing longer sprints. This build maintains pressure through continuous chainsaw availability.
•Stealth Approach: Mother's Helpers + Speed Limiter reduces sprint sound. While limiting to one health state, the stealth factor catches survivors completely off-guard.
•Charge Reduction: Primer Bulb + Dad's Boots reduces charge time to 2 seconds allowing reactive chainsaws. This build succeeds at loops requiring split-second decisions.
•Budget Build: No add-ons creates baseline experience perfect for learning. Once comfortable with base kit, add-ons feel like massive upgrades.
•Meme Build: Speed Limiter + Engravings creates fastest sprint without instant down. Purely for memes, this build amuses through impressive speed despite terrible practical value.

Never become overly reliant on chainsaw usage at the expense of basic M1 skill development, as some maps like Lerys or Game have too many collision obstacles for consistent chainsaw hits. Hillbillys who only know chainsaw struggle on indoor maps, whereas players with strong M1 fundamentals maintain performance everywhere. Always practice basic killer skills alongside chainsaw techniques, spending 30% of playtime focusing purely on M1 mind games and 70% on chainsaw development. This balanced approach prevents map-dependent performance drops.

Final Thoughts

Hillbilly represents Forsaken's ultimate skill-based killer, rewarding mechanical practice and strategic thinking with devastating performance that terrifies coordinated teams. The journey from novice to master requires dedication through inevitable failed curves and embarrassing collisions, but the payoff transforms you into a killer who ends chases in seconds while maintaining pressure across the entire map.

• Master the 3-second charge timing and 230% sprint speed to close gaps survivors think are safe
• Practice curves in custom games for 10 minutes daily focusing on one specific setup per session
• Manage overheat through strategic 3-second sprint plus 3-second recovery cycles during continuous usage
• Use chainsaw for mobility between generators even when not scoring hits, leveraging map pressure
• Learn map-specific sprint paths and curve setups for consistent performance across all maps
• Balance M1 basic attack skill with chainsaw techniques to maintain indoor map effectiveness
• Run BBQ Mobility Build for maximum sprint targeting through constant aura information
• Accept 150+ hour investment required for consistent curve mastery and advanced techniques

Begin your Hillbilly journey today with realistic expectations and dedicated practice! Start with mobility usage and basic straight-line sprints, then gradually introduce curves as comfort grows. Remember that every professional Hillbilly bumped into countless trees before mastering curves - persistence through failure creates expertise!

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