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What the player needs to know
Use the four-setting performance preset first
The most useful independent launch benchmark tested a repeatable route through Briar Sloughs on an RTX 4060 and Ryzen 7 7700X at 2560×1440 with DLSS Balanced. The ordinary High preset averaged 50 FPS with a 35 FPS 1% low. Lowering four expensive options produced 62 FPS average and a 46 FPS 1% low in the same route, a larger gain than switching DLSS from Balanced to Performance on the unchanged High preset.
Use that result as an adjustment order. Lower Shadows first because the forest creates many moving shadow sources. Move Lighting, Foliage and Detail to Medium, then repeat the same route or fight before touching texture quality or dropping the upscaler further. A repeatable scene makes it possible to see whether a change improves both the average and the slowest frames instead of only making a counter spike.
| Setting | Recommended starting value | Why change it |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow Quality | Low | Largest first cut in dense forest scenes |
| Light Quality | Medium | Recovers GPU time with a modest visual tradeoff |
| Foliage Quality | Medium | Reduces forest density and rendering load |
| Detail Quality | Medium | Completes the tested four-setting mix |
Fix stutter before lowering every visual setting
A high average does not rule out traversal or combat stutter. Rebel Wolves’ running known-issues post names Windowed and Borderless presentation as one current trigger and recommends launching in Full Screen. Apply that workaround before reducing every quality option, because a presentation-mode problem can remain visible even when the GPU has spare capacity.
Test in a forest and in a multi-enemy night fight rather than an empty interior. The independent benchmark still dropped below its average in a heavier night encounter, so a stable cap below the benchmark average can feel better than chasing a headline 60 while the frame time repeatedly jumps. Change one option at a time and record the same route, resolution, upscaler and patch.
- Switch Window Mode to Full Screen and restart the test.
- Use the same forest route or multi-enemy fight for each comparison.
- Watch 1% lows or frame-time consistency, not only average FPS.
- Cap the frame rate if a steadier lower target feels better in combat.
Use frame generation only after the base frame rate is playable
Frame generation can make motion look smoother, but it does not repair a weak base frame rate or remove every stutter. In the same RTX 4060 test, High with DLSS Balanced and 2× frame generation increased the displayed average from about 50 to 73 FPS while adding a small measured latency cost. The tester preferred leaving it off once native rendered performance already exceeded 60 because rapid camera movement can reveal extra artifacts.
The launch patch also sets an important safety boundary: FSR frame generation can crash at aspect ratios other than 16:9. On an ultrawide display, use a 16:9 mode or switch to DLSS frame generation on supported Nvidia hardware until the developer ships a fix. Restart the game after changing frame-generation technology so the new mode actually takes effect.
The settings recommendation is tied to PC Gamer’s repeatable Briar Sloughs test on an RTX 4060 and Ryzen 7 7700X at 1440p, not presented as a universal preset. The Full Screen workaround comes from Rebel Wolves’ running known-issues post, while frame-generation warnings follow the reported day-one patch notes. Hardware, resolution, patch and upscaler differences can change the result, so readers are told which setting to adjust first rather than promised a fixed frame rate.
| Situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| Base frame rate already above 60 | Leave it off for the clearest image |
| Base frame rate near 50 and stable | Try 2× and compare latency and artifacts |
| FSR on a non-16:9 display | Disable it or switch to a supported DLSS path |
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Dawnwalker settings for more FPS?
From the High preset, use Balanced upscaling, set Shadows to Low and set Lighting, Foliage and Detail to Medium. Test the same demanding route before lowering anything else.
How do I fix stuttering in The Blood of Dawnwalker?
Rebel Wolves recommends Full Screen mode when Windowed or Borderless presentation stutters. Restart the test in the same area before reducing more visual settings.
Should I use DLSS Performance instead of Balanced?
Not as the first change. In the cited 1440p test, switching High from DLSS Balanced to Performance gained only about 6 FPS, while the four-setting custom mix gained about 12 and improved the 1% low more clearly.
Should I enable frame generation?
Try it when the base frame rate is already near 50 and stable. Leave it off when rendered performance is already above 60, and avoid FSR frame generation at non-16:9 aspect ratios until the confirmed crash is fixed.
REFERENCE RECORD
Sources used for this page
Fix The Blood of Dawnwalker PC crashes tied to FSR frame generation on ultrawide displays and monitoring overlays, with day-one patch context.