How to Kill the Demented and Unlock Freed

Quick Answer

To kill the Demented, place a damage trap before the Hunt, look directly at it to freeze it, then stand on the opposite side of the trap and break eye contact. The Demented will move toward you and cross the trigger area. Do not shoot while watching it because it is completely invulnerable in that state. Killing it unlocks Freed.

I used this method in Story Mode in both solo play and a three-player co-op session. The exact spawn night and co-op achievement rules still need broader testing, but the observation-and-trap mechanic worked consistently in both runs.

How the Demented Mechanic Works

The Demented has two states:

• Watched: it stops moving and becomes completely invulnerable.
• Unwatched: it moves toward a player and can be guided through a prepared trap.

A red eye icon confirms that the game has registered direct observation.

I use this frozen window to move behind the trap and straighten the chase lane, not to attack. Shooting while the icon is active only wastes ammunition.

What I Prepare Before the Hunt

My first solo attempt failed because I entered the encounter without a trap.

I could freeze the Demented, but I could not safely open the shop, carry a trap and place it while maintaining observation.

Before the Hunt, I prepare:

• one damage trap already placed;
• a clear route through its trigger area;
• enough room to back away;
• a weapon for smaller Entities;
• a backup lane when playing co-op.

The positioning rule is:

Demented → prepared trap → player

If I stand beside the trap instead of behind it, the Demented may approach at an angle and miss the trigger.

How to Kill the Demented

1. Locate It Early

As soon as the Demented appears, I stop all nonessential store tasks, call out its location and keep it visible before it reaches the center of the store.

I do not assume one entrance is guaranteed, so I check both the front and rear routes when the Hunt begins.

2. Freeze It by Looking Directly at It

I face the Demented until the red eye icon appears.

Once it stops, I check whether the planned lane is still usable. Meat chunks, boxes, shelves, dropped equipment, smaller Entities and other players can all interfere with its path.

3. Move Behind the Trap

I move to the opposite side of the prepared trap so the Demented’s shortest route toward me crosses the trigger area.

Before looking away, I confirm that:

• the trap is armed;
• the route is clear;
• no teammate is standing in the lane;
• I have room to continue backing away;
• no smaller Entity is about to force me to turn.

I do not stand beside the trigger and hope the creature turns onto it.

4. Break Eye Contact

Once the lane is ready, I turn away.

In co-op, every player must stop watching at the same time. If one teammate continues staring, the Demented may remain frozen even though everyone else has moved.

The callout I use is:

Trap ready. Three, two, one, look away.

The Demented should then advance toward the player and cross the trap.

5. Confirm the Kill

I turn back after the trap activates.

I check that the Demented is gone and look for another active Entity before resuming store tasks.

Which Trap Should You Use?

I use the Shock Trap when it is available because it worked in my successful route and reusable traps can be recovered after an encounter.

A landmine or explosive can serve as a backup when the Shock Trap is unavailable or another route also needs coverage.

I have not compared every trap’s exact damage, trigger range or required number of hits. The reliable rule is to place a damage trap directly in the Demented’s chase path before breaking eye contact.

Solo and Co-op Differences

Solo

I place the trap before the Hunt.

A solo player cannot safely maintain observation while opening the shop, carrying a trap and building a new lane. If the Demented is already active, I use an existing nearby trap when one is available.

Without an existing trap, the encounter is likely to end in a shift reset.

I also keep a normal weapon ready for smaller Entities. An attack from the side can force me to break eye contact before the Demented is lined up correctly.

Co-op

I assign simple roles:

• Watcher: keeps the Demented frozen.
• Trap player: checks the trap and clears the lane.
• Support: handles smaller Entities.
• Caller: gives the final countdown.

One player can cover multiple roles. The team only needs three things: the location, trap status and final countdown.

The important part is that every player breaks eye contact together:

Trap ready. Three, two, one, look away.

Demented Not Moving or Trap Not Working

How to Unlock Freed

Killing the Demented unlocks Freed, and I confirmed it through the normal trap-kill method described above.

I have not isolated whether every co-op player receives the achievement or whether host or final-hit credit matters. I check each player’s achievement list after the Hunt rather than assuming the unlock is shared.

When Does the Demented Spawn?

Confirmed

• The N.E.T. warning appears before the encounter.
• It describes a tall black creature that freezes while watched.
• The warning tells the player to prepare traps.

Observed

• I encountered it around Night 8 in one Story Mode route.
• It approached from the rear side of the store in one successful run.

Not Confirmed

• Night 8 as a fixed spawn;
• a guaranteed entrance;
• a required Doppelganger choice;
• different solo and co-op triggers;
• whether it can appear more than once.

I use the warning email as the real preparation signal instead of relying on a specific night number.

What to Read Next

• Read the Entities Guide for Blood Moon preparation, delayed weapon access and other Assault threats.
• Read the Solo Guide for the full one-player priority route before and during a Hunt.
• Read the Achievements Guide for Freed and the other nine achievement conditions.