patch · November 7, 2024
Dead by Daylight PTB 8.4.0 Update Adds The Houndmaster, Taurie Cain, and Map Reworks
Behaviour Interactive has launched PTB 8.4.0 for Dead by Daylight, introducing the new Killer The Houndmaster and Survivor Taurie Cain alongside extensive perk adjustments and character tuning. The update also brings a new Ormond Lake Mine test map and quality-of-life HUD improvements.
Dead by Daylight players can test update 8.4.0 on public test build servers. This content drop introduces a new Killer and Survivor pair, multiple perk balance passes, and basekit adjustments for several existing Killers. The update also features the Ormond Lake Mine map for testing purposes and several additions to the activity HUD.
New Killer and Survivor Additions
The Houndmaster joins the roster with her dog, using Chase and Search commands to track and hinder Survivors. Her perks are All-Shaking Thunder, Scourge Hook: Jagged Compass, and No Quarter. Joining the Survivor side is Taurie Cain, equipped with three perks: Invocation: Treacherous Crows, Clean Break, and Shoulder the Burden. Testing is underway for the Ormond Lake Mine map on the other side of Mount Ormond.
Killer Balance and Tweaks
Existing Killers receive notable adjustments. The Shape receives a basekit buff to Evil Within I movement speed at 4.4 m/s, along with adjusted stalk requirements and multipliers. The Dark Lord sees increased cooldowns on shapeshift and Hellfire alongside faster Wolf Form orb spawns and shorter pounce charge times. The Demogorgon benefits from decreased portal setting and entry times alongside increased Upside Down travel speed. Other adjustments target The Ghost Face, The Good Guy, The Lich, and The Mastermind.
Perk Adjustments for Killers and Survivors
Killer perks such as Dominance, Human Greed, Languid Touch, and Weave Attunement receive updated block durations, aura ranges, and status effect triggers. On the Survivor side, Ace in the Hole, Pharmacy, Plunderer's Instinct, and Scene Partner are adjusted to alter item add-on generation, chest unlocking speeds, and aura read durations. Unlocking chests now takes a base 8 seconds instead of 10.
HUD Improvements and Bug Fixes
The survivor activity HUD now tracks additional activities including mending, self-healing, and blessing totems. Perks feature visual differentiation for temporary unavailability. The patch addresses environment bugs, map collisions, and UI crashes, while noting that The Nightmare and The Skull Merchant are disabled for the course of the PTB.
Why this patch matters
PTB 8.4.0 brings adjustments to character abilities, map layouts, and perk utility that will alter trial strategies once the chapter hits live servers.