Dead Hard Rework = Failure
New dead hard is becoming increasingly meta again. It's not unusual at top MMR to see 3-4 dead hards every game. As usual, the community overreacted and declared a perk "dead" only for it to become a meta again a few weeks later. To get the most value out of dead hard, the proper usage is to use it near the pallet making the killer choose between swinging (and proccing dead hard) or eating a pallet stun. In other words, 0 counterplay scenario.
The Dead Hard rework has failed to achieve what it was supposed to do - to prevent uncounterable situations for most of the killers. In fact, it's reasonable to say that it has become even stronger than it was before.
But let's look into arguments that say that the new Dead Hard arguably has more counterplay/is weaker than the old Dead Hard:
1 "You can not use it for distance any more" - this is correct, however, you can use it near the pallet which guarantees a successful endurance hit. Now instead of using it to get to the pallet, you use it when you are near the pallet. And some could say that it's a nerf, right?? Well no, using it in a new way is arguably even stronger compared to before: 1 You gain sprint burst 2 You save a pallet. You literally gain more benefits with the new dead hard.
2 "Just wait it out" - no, you cannot "just wait it out" in some of the scenarios. A good survivor using DH properly is uncounterable by most of the killers. In other words, we're back to the same situation as with old DH where killers either have to choose between taking L or taking L.
3 "It doesn't do anything when not near a pallet" - so did old dead hard? In fact, the new dead hard is even stronger when used in the open as you can gain massive sprint burst if used successfully. Old dead hard, even if used in the open, bought you only a couple of seconds until the killer caught up to you.
4 "You can not use it anymore to gain distance to the window" - the only solid argument that could be said that new DH can be weaker than old DH. With that being said, while this particular point is nerfed, the nerfs are offset by buffs in other scenarios.
5 "It takes skill to use new dead hard" - one of the most oblivious statements to be made. It doesn't take much skill to use new dead hard in an uncounterable way. If a killer is close to you, and you are very near a pallet, press E. Few practice games and you can do it with relative ease and it doesn't even require you to time the killer attack. Congratulations, you just learned an uncounterable mechanic. Most of the community will know how to do this a few months from now.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the Dead Hard rework has changed nothing in terms of preventing uncounterable and unfair scenarios. It has become increasingly meta again and is not hard to utilize it to its most potential. Some could say that new dead hard is even stronger than old dead hard, and that's an insane realization considering old dead hard wasn't nerfed for 5+ years.
Solution
Remove the uncounterable mechanic of using dead hard at a pallet. After using Dead Hard, prevent a survivor from dropping a pallet for X seconds. This way, the perk is actually skilful and rewards the survivor for properly baiting an attack from the killer. There is nothing skilful or fair about using it at a pallet to guarantee a 2nd chance (why does this sound so much like old dead hard hmm)
Comments
It is indeed now a fair and skillful perk. Yes, it's very strong when used right at a pallet, but that's about it. Let's not act like the odds of timing a perfect Dead Hard in the open against a killer that is ready for Dead Hard aren't extremely low. Because they are. Take away the potential it has at pallets, and maybe sometimes windows, and you've got a dead perk that is completely useless.
Dead Hard for distance was the big problem. Because you could use it to get to a window you couldn't get to otherwise, and because it allowed you to iron out mistakes you made at loops. This is no longer possible. The main thing about Dead Hard is that it's effectiveness is now guaranteed in much fewer situations than it used to be. You have to be pretty much at a pallet, in which case you often also could just drop the pallet to avoid a hit, for the perk to work guaranteed.
Old Dead Hard was much stronger in far more situations. You could use it at far more places, you just had to make sure you could reach the pallet with the Dead Hard speed boost. The one upside that new Dead Hard has is that it gains survivors more distance if timed correctly, but that's a fair compensation to the nerf it got.
Personally I think new Dead Hard is much easier to counter than before.
Pallet loop - When DH is the strongest. Just M1 before survivor reach pallet. If the pallet is down and survivor is just waiting for lunge attack, just grab when they are vaulting.
Window - Hit after seeing vault animation.
If you are getting baited by DH at deadzone, I'm sorry but that's your problem.
Also bloodlust tier 2, 3 is much faster now, so I don't think new DH is either unfair or game-breaking like old one.