When is DBD 2v8 mode back?

Dead by Daylight's 2v8 mode does pretty much what you'd expect - it pits two deadly killers against a team of eight resourceful survivors in a chaotic deathmatch. Naturally, this means some things have to change, like the size of the map for example. There are also no standard perks in this mode, with pre-built classes for each side instead.

Since this is a limited-time mode, it's not always playable, and it also changes with each iteration. Here, I've detailed the release date of the next DBD 2v8 mode and what's new.

When is DBD 2v8 coming back?

DBD 2v8 mode returns on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 8AM PT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT and lasts a week, ending on Tuesday, August 18.

This comes as part of a three-week Summer Screams event, which features the three main DBD LTMs: 2v8, Chaos Shuffle, and Lights Out, each taking the spotlight for one week only.

2v8 then returns for its usual longer stint in September, as revealed during the anniversary stream on June 14, and confirmed as part of the DBD roadmap.

While we wait for the return of the popular mode, I recommend taking a look at this interesting dev livestream, which discusses how killers are added to the mode and why it takes so long. Plus, there's still plenty more to keep us busy, including the new Black Banquet DBD event and other limited time modes.

How DBD 2v8 works

To keep things balanced, some things have to change when double the players are participating in a Dead by Daylight trial. Here's a brief rundown of what you need to know:

2v8 mode generators

Since there are more survivors, naturally there need to be more generators. Instead of the usual seven, there are now 13 generators, of which eight must be repaired to power the exit gates.

2v8 mode maps

Since the maps have to be much bigger to accommodate these additional generators and ten players, not all are available in the mode yet, and the maps Behaviour has modified so far are:

• Coal Tower
• Groaning Storehouse
• Shelter Woods
• Suffocation Pit
• Ironworks of Misery NEW!
• Azarov's Resting Place
• Gas Heaven
• Wreckers' Yard
• Wretched Shop
• Rancid Abattoir
• Rotten Fields
• The Thompson House
• Torment Creek
• Disturbed Ward
• Father Campbell's Chapel
• Treatment Theatre
• Mother's Dwelling
• Family Residence
• Temple of Purgation NEW!
• Sanctum of Wrath
• Mount Ormond Resort
• Dead Dawg Saloon
• Raccoon City Police Station
• The Shattered Square

2v8 mode classes

The final important thing to note is that killers and survivors can no longer take in their usual loadouts. Instead, you can choose between four classes. For killers, these classes have a unique effect depending on the killer you're playing as, while they determine the item and skills each survivor player takes into the trial. For example, the Guide skill shows other survivors when you are working on a nearby generator and gives you a trap with which to stun killers.

While all killers can reveal survivors auras when damaging generators, classes also offer both a unique killer skill and a team skill. The killer classes and their team skills are:

• Brute - gives additional bonuses when damaging generators and makes breaking pallets faster.
• Enforcer - reveals a hit survivor to your teammate and increases their lunge attack if you down the first survivor.
• Fearmonger - grants haste when you are undetectable and reveals nearby survivors to your teammate whenever you injure a survivor.
• Shadow - become undetectable whenever you cage a survivor and haste when near your teammate.

Since they differ for each killer, though, you'll need to check in-game what each class means for your favorite killer pick.

They are:

• Escapist - reveals auras and pallets, gives you and nearby teammates haste when you use your special ability. You gain the ability to heal yourself once you've been caged once.
• Guide - reveals the four nearest generators to you and your generator to nearby survivors. You can also trap generators to stun killers when damaged.
• Medic - grants the ability to immediately heal nearby survivors by 50%, you can also fully recover from dying.
• Scout - reveals killer auras with the Scouts line of sight, and has the ability to pick up and rebuild pallets.
• Torchbearer - allows you to see nearby survivors in chase and passively charges a flashbang that can save a teammate from being caged. Can also recover fully from the dying state.

2v8 mode killers

Given that killers have their own unique powers, each one has to be carefully considered before being added to the mode, meaning you might not be able to take your favorite killer into 2v8. The killers currently available are:

• The Trapper
• The Wraith
• The Hillbilly
• The Nurse
• The Huntress
• The Spirit
• The Deathslinger
• The Blight
• The Legion
• The Nemesis
• The Mastermind
• The Ghost Face
• The Oni
• The Dark Lord
• The Executioner
• The Good Guy

2v8 mode hatches

With the other changes also comes a change to how hatches work as the game comes to a close. In 2v8 mode, there are three hatches spread across the larger maps, and they spawn when two survivors remain. Both survivors also cannot leave through the same hatch - it's every man for himself at this point.

Since there's a lot to learn with 2v8 in Dead By Daylight, the good news is that your MMR won't be affected by matches in any LTM, so you can just jump in the chaos and give it a try. You will earn Bloodpoints as usual, and there are often some great rewards to pick up while you're at it. Speaking of Bloodpoints, make sure you've redeemed the latest DBD codes for Bloodpoints and cosmetic items.

While you're here, take a look at what we know about the next DBD update and when it might arrive.

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