Dungeons and Dragons' archlich-turned-deity supervillain Vecna recently made his way intoDead by Daylight, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with icons like Freddy Krueger and the Xenomorph. For veteran fans of the dark god, this guest appearance has many fun references to his andDungeons and Dragons' shared history.
Vecna’s cameo inDead by Daylightis coming at the zenith of the TTRPG’s popularity, with 2024 beingD&D’s 50th anniversary. This occasion coincides with a massive rules update to the game’s current ruleset ofD&D 5e—undoubtedly the biggest edition of the game in terms of reach and notoriety. Interestingly, the show that helpedD&Dreach this peak,Stranger Things, is also featured inDead by Daylight. Not only that, but the form its inclusion takes is with the Demogorgon killer, itself one of that show’sD&Dreferences.
The Whispering One has been no slouch in terms of popularity, with the lich god also getting a namedrop inStranger Things. Moreover, he also featured in the live-play showCritical Role, which also accelerated the mainstream appeal ofD&D. Vecna’s proliferation was further proven with the star role he was given inthe moduleVecna: Eve of Ruin, the epic-level finale to the last ten years ofD&D. As such, it’s no wonder that his appearance inDead by Daylightbends over backwards to pay tribute to Vecna’s legacy.
Vecna’s Voice Actor Is A D&D Legend
The VA forVecna’sDead by Daylightappearanceis very fitting. Here Vecna is played by prolific voice actor Matthew Mercer, known for his roles in series likeFinal Fantasy,Resident Evil,Overwatchand many more. He’s also the dungeon master for the aforementionedCritical Role, where he naturally played Vecna back when the lich was the first campaign’s main villain. His reprise inDead by Daylightis as deliciously malevolent as ever.
The Book Of Vile Darkness
The Book of Vile Darkness gives Vecna a variety ofspell abilities inDead by Daylight, sitting proudly in his chest cavity as he hunts down Survivors. The tome itself is also a magical item withinD&D, one that dates back to 1979. In its currentD&D 5eform, it retains the customizable list of properties—with examples available on random tables in theDungeon Master’s Guide. This foul almanac is said to be a record of incredible evil, from formulae on becoming a lich to descriptions of horrific acts and ideas.
What may not be known by newer fans is that The Book of Vile Darkness is a real handbook, albeit not in the form of a magical item.The Book of Vile Darknessisa supplement forD&D 3.5e, one that contains rules on playing evil characters, running evil creatures, the mechanics of desecration and torture devices, and much more. That book stands as one of the most controversial to ever come out of the IP’s 50-year history, going into incredibly gruesome subject matter to an extent that many find distasteful. In that sense, it certainly reflects the maddening evil of the arcane tome that shares its name.
Cues From 5e Vecna
TheVecna ofDead by Daylightis very much the one found throughoutD&D 5e, sharing the design that was released back in 2022 withThe Vecna Dossierand used partially throughoutEve of Ruin. Both that dossier and the 2024 module use the same statblock for Vecna, one referenced inDead by Daylight. The biggest references are the Afterthought dagger, a magical weapon put front-and-center byD&D5e’s Vecna, and the Flight of the Damned ability.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
