Dead by Daylight’s The Walking Dead chapter is a licensed guest chapter, which means its survivor and killer can only be unlocked with Auric Cells — there is no Iridescent Shard purchase option — and it arrives with a new realm, three teachable perks, and a matching cosmetic set. The live date is confirmed by Behaviour Interactive on the official reveal stream and again in the patch notes published with the update; across the current chapter cycle, releases have landed on a Tuesday roughly two to three weeks after the public test build (PTB) closes. If you only want one perk from the chapter, the Shrine of Secrets can carry licensed perks for 2,000 Iridescent Shards each, which is often cheaper than buying a character you will not play.
Our top picks
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
What is actually locked in for this chapter
Licensed chapters follow a stricter set of rules than original ones, and those rules are what most guides get wrong. Here is what is settled before launch and what only the official chapter page can confirm.
| Detail | What we know | How it gets confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter type | Licensed guest chapter (The Walking Dead IP) | Official chapter announcement |
| Unlock currency | Auric Cells only — 500 AC per character | In-game store rules for licensed content |
| Roster size | Licensed format: typically one survivor and one killer slot | Official chapter page and store listing |
| New map | One new realm ships with the chapter | Official patch notes |
| Teachable perks | Three, unlocked at Bloodweb levels 30 / 35 / 40 | Dead by Daylight Bloodweb rules |
| Live release day | Tuesday, 2–3 weeks after the PTB closes | Official reveal stream and patch notes |
Release date: the timeline you can plan around
Behaviour Interactive does not usually announce a chapter date months in advance. The date becomes firm at the reveal stream, and the PTB schedule is the most reliable predictor of the live day. Here is the shape of a standard chapter cycle, based on the pattern of recent releases.
| Stage | Typical gap | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Reveal stream | Day 0 | Trailer, perk text, map preview, roster confirmed |
| PTB opens | 1–3 days after reveal | PC players test perks and the new realm |
| PTB closes | 14–21 days open | Balance pass on perk numbers |
| Live release | 7–14 days after PTB closes | Update ships on all platforms simultaneously |
| Mid-chapter patch | About 6 weeks after launch | Tuning, plus seasonal event content |
Two practical notes. First, perk values on the PTB are almost never the values that ship — treat any PTB number as provisional. Second, licensed chapters are the one category that does not get the usual early discount: Auric Cells never go on sale, and new licensed character DLC typically holds full price for several months before appearing in a bundle discount. If you are waiting for a deal, the base game and older chapters are where the discounts actually show up.
Playable characters and how they unlock
The survivor and killer in this chapter are Auric Cells purchases at 500 AC each. Iridescent Shards — the currency you earn by levelling your account — cannot buy licensed characters, which is a rule that catches out new players every chapter launch. Cosmetics for licensed characters are sold separately and are never included with the character unlock.
There is one legitimate shortcut. The Shrine of Secrets rotates four perks weekly at 2,000 Iridescent Shards each, and it can include perks from licensed characters. If you want one perk and have no interest in the character, waiting for it to appear in the Shrine is the cheapest route by a wide margin. Shrine stock changes weekly, so it is worth checking on the same day each week rather than assuming a fixed pool.
The new map: what to check in your first 60 seconds
Every new realm changes your loadout more than any perk rework does. On a fresh map, the layout questions that decide the match are:
- Loop density. Count the strong pallet loops near the middle of the map. A realm with two or three reliable loops rewards an exhaustion perk; a realm with weak loops rewards stealth and information instead.
- Generator spread. If generators are clustered, a killer who patrols efficiently will find you early — bring an aura-reading or repair-speed perk. If they are spread wide, mobility matters more than repair speed.
- Indoor versus outdoor. Indoor realms shorten sightlines and make scratch marks and sound the primary information source. Outdoor realms reward long-range aura perks.
- Killer travel time. A large realm with a central landmark means killers lose more time walking; that pushes survivors toward generator pressure and away from chase perks.
Because the map ships with the chapter, the PTB is the only place to learn it before it hits live servers. That two-to-three-week window is a genuine advantage if you play killer and want to learn patrol routes before everyone else does.
Which perks to unlock first
Teachable perks from a chapter character appear in that character’s Bloodweb at levels 30, 35 and 40 — so the order you level them in determines which perk you get first. Once a perk is taught, it appears in every other character’s Bloodweb, which is why levelling the chapter character to 40 is usually the correct first move even if you never play them.
| Your situation | Unlock priority | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| New player, under 50 hours | The information perk first | Knowing where to go matters more than raw efficiency at low ranks |
| Solo queue survivor | Aura-reading or self-recovery perk | You cannot rely on teammates for healing or callouts |
| Survivor in a coordinated group | Chase or anti-tunnel perk | Comms already cover information, so you gain more from raw chase strength |
| Killer main, aggressive playstyle | Slowdown or chase perk | Pressure comes from ending chases quickly and defending generators |
| Killer main, learning the role | Tracking or information perk | Finding survivors is the hardest early skill, not downing them |
Two caveats worth repeating. PTB perk numbers change before launch, so do not spend Bloodpoints chasing a value you saw on a test build. And if you only want the strongest single perk from the set, check the Shrine of Secrets first — 2,000 Iridescent Shards is a fraction of a 500 AC purchase, and shards are free.
What the chapter actually costs in time and money
Auric Cell packs are sold in fixed tiers, and the chapter’s two characters come to 1,000 AC total. Prices vary by region and platform, but the general market ranges are consistent.
| What you are buying | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One licensed character | 500 Auric Cells | Survivor and killer priced separately |
| Both characters in the chapter | 1,000 Auric Cells | Roughly the $10 pack tier |
| Auric Cell packs | About $5 / $10 / $20 / $50 | Roughly 500 / 1,100 / 2,250 / 6,000 AC |
| Single perk from the Shrine | 2,000 Iridescent Shards | Earned free through account levelling |
| Bloodpoints to reach Bloodweb 40 | Roughly 1–1.5 million BP | Unlocks all three teachables; the cap is 1,000,000 BP, so bank before spending |
| Match time equivalent | Roughly 35–50 matches | Assumes an average of 25,000–30,000 BP per match |
Mistakes that cost Bloodpoints and Cells
- Buying a character for one perk. Check the Shrine first — a 2,000 shard perk beats a 500 AC character you will never play.
- Levelling the wrong character first. The teachable at Bloodweb 30 is not always the one you want. Confirm the unlock order before you commit Bloodpoints.
- Hitting the 1,000,000 BP cap. Any Bloodpoints earned above the cap are lost. Spend down before a long session.
- Buying cells before the reveal stream. If a bundle or edition is announced alongside the chapter, buying standalone characters first can cost you more.
- Trusting PTB numbers. Perk values are frequently retuned between the test build and launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the DBD x The Walking Dead chapter release?
The live date is confirmed on Behaviour Interactive’s official reveal stream and repeated in the patch notes released with the update. Chapters in the current cycle have shipped on a Tuesday, typically two to three weeks after the PTB closes. Treat any date not published by Behaviour as an estimate.
Can I buy the Walking Dead characters with Iridescent Shards?
No. Licensed characters are Auric Cells only, at 500 AC each. Iridescent Shards can be spent on original characters, cosmetics, and the Shrine of Secrets, but not on licensed characters. This rule has been consistent across every licensed chapter.
Are the chapter’s perks worth unlocking if I never play the characters?
Often yes. Teachable perks appear in every other character’s Bloodweb once unlocked, so levelling the chapter character to Bloodweb 40 makes the perks permanently available across your roster. If you only want one of the three, the Shrine of Secrets is the cheaper route at 2,000 Iridescent Shards.
How long does it take to unlock all three teachable perks?
Reaching Bloodweb level 40 on a single character takes roughly 1 to 1.5 million Bloodpoints, which works out to around 35–50 matches at average earnings. Remember the Bloodpoint cap is 1,000,000, so bank and spend in stages rather than letting points go to waste.
Will the chapter go on sale after launch?
Not quickly. Auric Cells are never discounted, and new licensed character DLC generally holds full price for several months before it appears in a bundle reduction. If you want a discount, the base game and older chapters are where sales actually happen.
Does the new map come with the chapter or cost extra?
Maps are free for all players. The new realm ships in the same update as the chapter and is available in the map rotation regardless of whether you buy the survivor or killer. You only pay for characters and cosmetics, never for maps or gameplay balance changes.
Write Your Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!