The clown is an inferior version of the new Freddy
People like to make comparisons of huntress and clown (why throw a slowing agent when you could just chuck a hatchet in the same time frame), but I think that comparing clown to the new Freddy makes much more sense when pointing out just how underwhelming the clown's kit is.
Both Freddy and Clown rely on their powers to slow survivors against bad loops. Mid-chase a Freddy can drop dream snares and the clown can throw down bottles to create gas clouds. But there are some additional things Freddy can do:
1). Freddy can prepare the worst loops ahead of time
2). Freddy can use his snares as a scouting tool next to generators. (Clown can very awkwardly do this but only at limited range and it obviously telegraphs his location letting survivors plan their escape route or hiding spot)
3). Freddy can teleport to generators!! eliminating a big problem with split map pressure
4). Freddy can bait survivors off of generators and cancel his power as he approaches
5). Freddy is invisible to survivors at a long distance away which means that he starts chases closer on open visibility maps.
While its true that many of Freddy's effects don't apply to survivors outside of the dream world, in practice survivors don't bother to try and keep themselves awake anymore unlike the old Freddy who couldn't hit awake survivors. The only unique edge that I'd give to clown is being able to throw bottles ahead of a survivor in a narrow corridor; however, most maps that have these places also have doorways or indoor ceilings where the clown's high arc bottle is interrupted.
In summary, Clown seems like 1/3rd or 1/2 of a killer. Most killers in DBD have multiple effects or different powers that they can use--not just one. Clown just needs something that can make him fill a more unique role other than just being a "slow the loop the killer" which the very successful new Freddy fills in a much better capacity.
What kind of powers should he receive to make him more interesting?
Comments
I think Clown should be able to buff himself with his own bottles. Lets say....you can spend one or two bottles, which plays a short animation of the Clown inhaling or drinking the contents of a bottle, and then afterwards, he recieves a speed boost.
While a buff is active, you cannot throw bottles.
Clown is inferior version of everyone lul .. his Kit is so mundane + limitations like manual recharge (clouds scatter too much when you throw the bottle at higher spots on a tree).
You pretty much play a M1 Killer when you play Clown.
I wish they would improve him a bit like:
-Intoxicated Surv do not see Redstain
-Direct Bottle Hits apply Intoxicate Survivors way longer
-Bottle spawn more Clouds so you can throw em at higher Spots so they cover a bigger area (atm a bottle spawn x clouds and for every sec of not touching the ground they drift further away this creates huge gaps and survivor can run straight through)(they fact that a bottle thrown at a higher spot takes longer to reach the ground should make up for the fact that it would cover a bigger area).
kinda, freddy punishes looping the same pallet after the fact and clown punishes before and during, you can play around freddy snares easily if you just loop to different structures, clown you don't get much of a choice because some placed where the bottles are thrown cover way too much area
Clown is only good with his pinky finger add on in my opinion as that fixes his lethality as a killer needs either strong mobility or lethality to be viable and the clown has either. That's not to say he cannot end chases quickly and get 4ks but other killers can do it with less effort and its near impossible to do on a large map against red rank SWF 😬
Freddy is better because of his teleport and ability to sneak up on sleeping survivors If it was just a choice between bottles or snares I'd take bottles every time. They serve a similar purpose, most of the time just making a surv drop a pallet earlier than they would like, but clown can actually use bottles to catch up after kicking a pallet before they get to the next loop. Freddy cant do that. Also awake survivors are immune.