stomping survivor as killer in dead by daylight 2v8
Image via Behaviour Interactive

Dead by Daylight: All Killer skills in 2v8 Mode

Know your Killers inside and out.

Dead by Daylight 2v8 Mode doubles the number of players in a Trial and completely changes how some of them work. Survivors, for example, no longer get to use Perks and must instead rely on classes and the skills associated with them. Killers, on the other hand, remain the same with some slight buffs.

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Each Trial of Dead by Daylight 2v8 Mode pits eight Survivors against two Killers, and it’s always chaos. Killers retain their base abilities in this mode, but their skills have been split out into four distinct areas, as is the case with all Survivor classes. You can’t use Perks or Add-Ons with Killers, so you’ve got to make the most of these skills by playing to their strengths in each Trial, which isn’t what most players will be used to.

All Killer skills in Dead by Daylight 2v8 Mode

Below, I’ve listed every Killer in Dead by Daylight 2v8 Mode and their associated skills. I’ve tried to include a few details about how these skills work with each Killer’s ability and how they should be played as well. Note that at the time of writing, only five Killers are available in this game mode, though developer Behaviour Interactive plans to expand this roster in future iterations.

The Trapper

the trapper dead by daylight 2v8 mode
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Power – Bear Trap: The Trapper starts the Trial with 4 Bear Traps and can set them anywhere on the map. The Killer can also set the unset Traps scattered around the map or pick them up to replenish their stores. When a Survivor is caught by a Bear Trap, The Trapper can grab them, provided they don’t successfully escape first. Any Survivors caught by a Bear Trap will be injured.
  • Team Skill: When a Bear Trap is placed or reset, both Killers gain 150% Haste for 3 seconds within 16 meters of the Bear Trap.
  • Innate Skill: The Trapper cannot be caught by his Bear Traps. Increases Bear Trap setting speed by 50% and increases the time required to escape a Bear Trap by 25%. Increases the maximum number of carried Traps to 4. 8 Traps spawn on the map.
  • Killer Skill: Upon entering a chase, the targeted Survivors are Revealed for 5 seconds, or until the other Killer is within 16 meters of the Survivor.
  • Killer Skill: After kicking a generator, all Survivors within 20 meters are Revealed for 5 seconds. Increases the regression speed of generators by 200%.

The Trapper is an absolute menace. When playing as this Killer, you must kick every generator you can because you’ll cause them to regress completely pretty quickly. Seeing a Survivor will help your fellow Killer hunt them down, and laying a Bear Trap when you’re near that Killer will boost their speed.

The whole gimmick of this Killer is to lay Bear Traps and hunt down the Survivors caught in them. Survivors can unset Traps, but they usually end up getting caught in them during chases. Keep up the pressure by rushing around the map and laying as many Traps as possible, and you’ll quickly kill every Survivor in the Trial.

The Wraith

the wraith killer dead by daylight 2v8 mode
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Power – Wailing Bell: The Wraith clangs their bell to move between a cloaked and uncloaked form. In its uncloaked form, it can hit Survivors and gains a 1 second burst of speed after appearing. While cloaked, the Killer is undetectable and can sneak up on Survivors, ready to pounce.
  • Team Skill: While cloaked within 16 meters of your teammate, they gain the Undetectable status effect.
  • Innate Skill: Increases cloaking and unloading speed by 22%. Increases movement speed while cloaked by 9%.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.

The Wraith is a master of sneaking up on Survivors. Smashing generators reveals all Survivors, so it’s a must when you encounter one you can damage. You’ll also reveal Survivors when you begin a chase, which makes this Killer a bit of a scout for the other one, provided they’re helping you hunt them all down.

If you’re forced to go solo while the other Killer hunts Survivors elsewhere, this is still a viable Killer because of its increased speed. You should really be working with your teammates to make the most of every skill, though, so if they move away, follow them and try to stay cloaked.

The Hillbilly

the hillbilly killer dead by daylight 2v8 mode
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Power – Chainsaw: The Hillbilly has a powerful Chainsaw ability that will literally cut down Survivors in a single hit if they use his Chainsaw Sprint attack. This attack has almost no turning circle, though, so you’ve got to line it up perfectly.
  • Team Skill: While in a Chainsaw Sprint, Survivors within 10 meters suffer from the Exposed status effect until the Chainsaw Sprint ends.
  • Innate Skill: Increases Chainsaw Sprint turn speed by 44%. Decreases cooldown after hitting obstacles by 12%. Chainsaw does not automatically trigger dying state.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.

The Hillbilly is an interesting Killer in Dead by Daylight 2v8 Mode. In the base game, it’s Chainsaw Sprint will put a Survivor into the dying state, but not in 2v8 Mode. Here, it just injures them. This means that you should be charging up your chainsaw so that you can rush around a group of Survivors you’ve caught at a generator, leaving them open to a final blow from your teammate.

The act of starting a Chainsaw Sprint will cause Survivors to be Exposed to the other Killer, so it’s worth charging it up and rushing anyone you can see because it should help your team get one step closer to victory.

The Nurse

the nurse killer dead by daylight 2v8 mode
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Power – Spencer’s Last Breath: The Nurse is maybe the hardest Killer to play as in Dead by Daylight. Her ability allows her to Blink, effectively teleporting long distances to then strike at Survivors. It’s really tough to control and predict, but players who master it are almost unstoppable.
  • Team Skill: Gain an additional Blink while within 16 meters of your teammate for a total of 2. This additional Blink is lost when out of range.
  • Innate Skill: Increases the length of Blink attack lunges by 30%. Increases reach by 30% with each consecutive Blink. Decreases the duration of Blink fatigue by 7%. Teleporting within 1 meter of a Survivor causes them to scream. Decreases fatigue from Chain Blinks by 65%. Increases movement sped during a Chain Blink by 30%. Increases the duration of the Chain Blink window by 0.2 seconds. Decreases fatigue from missing Special Attacks by 0.5 seconds.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.

The Nurse isn’t an enjoyable Killer to play unless you really know what you’re doing. In 2v8 Mode, she’s got a maximum of 2 Blinks you can chain together, which effectively leaves you with 3 after that initial Blink, to chase Survivors down with. The idea is to Blink and then swipe at Survivors to get your hits in. After the Blinks are done or you’ve hit a Survivor, there’s a short fatigue phase, then you’re back to it.

The best way to play as the Nurse is to stick close to your fellow Killer, but remain behind them. When they attack a Survivor, Blink to that Survivor to follow up with a second attack so they can then be sent to a cage. It’s pretty simple to understand, but getting this right is so incredibly difficult.

The Huntress

the huntress killer dead by daylight 2v8 mode
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Power – Hunting Hatchets: The Huntress has a stock of 7 hatchets that she can aim and throw at Survivors across great distances. She must refill that stock from lockers when she’s running low or empty. Hatchets count as hits, so two will down a Survivor.
  • Team Skill: Injuring a Survivor with a Hatchet inflicts the Revealed status effect for 5 seconds.
  • Innate Skill: Increases movement speed by 4.5% when out of Hatchets. Decreases reload time by 20%. Decreases cooldown between Hatchet throws by 20%. Increases movement speed during wind-up by 5%.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.
  • Killer Skill: Same as The Trapper’s.

I think The Huntress might be the best Killer in Dead by Daylight 2v8 Mode. Her Hatchets are lethal in the base game, and I’ve been hit by more than a few of them by skilled players in this time-limited one as well. She’s very much a primary Killer, so anyone playing with her should not be trying to take the lead.

As The Huntress, your goal is to land hits with Hatchets as frequently as possible. This will reveal the Survivors you hit, allowing the other Killer to spot them, hunt them down, and finish them off. You basically lead the way and determine which Survivors should be caged up next.


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Author
Image of Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie is a Staff Writer on Destructoid who has been playing video games for the better part of the last three decades. He adores indie titles with unique and interesting mechanics and stories, but is also a sucker for big name franchises, especially if they happen to lean into the horror genre.