You know the feeling. You’re sitting in the lobby, looking at a Killer you just prestiged, and you realize you are exactly 14,000 Bloodpoints short of that crucial Tier 3 perk in the Bloodweb. It’s annoying. It’s a grind. So, like everyone else, you tab out and start hunting for a dead by daylight code that actually works.
But here is the thing about the DBD community: it moves fast. Honestly, if you’re looking at a list of codes that was updated three days ago, you’re probably already too late for the good stuff. Behavior Interactive—the devs behind this beautiful, buggy mess—loves to drop "blink and you'll miss it" codes during livestreams or random Tuesday afternoons on X (formerly Twitter).
The struggle is real.
Most people think these codes are just about free Bloodpoints. Sure, a 100k BP dump is nice. But the real veterans are hunting for the "Iridescent Shards" or those rare "Charms" that never come back once the event ends. If you miss a code for a pride flag or a specific character's sweater, you might be waiting years for it to show up in the in-game store for real money. That’s why understanding the rhythm of how these codes drop is actually more important than finding a static list.
How the Dead by Daylight Code System Actually Functions
Basically, Behavior uses these codes as a lever. They want you engaged. When player counts dip or a new Chapter like All Things Wicked or the Castlevania crossover drops, the codes start flying. They aren't just gifts; they're incentives to get you to log in and look at the new store items.
You’ve got two main types of codes.
First, there are the permanent ones. These are rare. Usually, they’re tied to social initiatives or long-standing rewards that newcomers need to catch up. Think of the "PRIDE" code. It’s almost always active because the devs want that inclusivity to be a baseline feature, not a limited-time offer.
Then you have the "Limited Time" killers. These are the ones that expire in 24 to 48 hours. They usually drop during the Dead by Daylight Anniversary event in June or the "Haunted by Daylight" Halloween event. During these windows, you can easily rack up over a million Bloodpoints just by staying tuned to the community.
Where These Codes Come From (The Real Sources)
Don't just trust every random "Gaming Wiki" you see on the first page of search results. Half of them keep expired codes on the page just to keep you clicking. If you want the raw data, you have to go to the source.
The most reliable place is the official Dead by Daylight Discord. There is a specific "Announcements" channel where the community managers post the second a code goes live. If you aren't on Discord, the next best thing is following the official DBD Twitter account, but be warned: they sometimes hide codes in the middle of a video or a seemingly random image. It’s a bit of a scavenger hunt.
Twitch streamers also get exclusive "Fog Whisperer" codes. These are unique. They aren't "one size fits all." A Fog Whisperer—someone like Otzdarva or Monto back in the day—might get a batch of codes to give away to their viewers. These aren't usually typed into the store; they’re often one-time-use keys.
The Frustration of "Code Expired"
We’ve all been there. You type in "THANKYOU" or "WARRIOR" and the game gives you that red text: "This code has already been claimed or is expired."
It hurts.
The reason this happens so often is that Behavior has started putting "Use Limits" on certain rewards. It's not just a date anymore. Sometimes a code is only valid for the first 50,000 players. In a game with hundreds of thousands of active users, those 50k spots disappear in less than an hour.
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This is especially true during the "Advent Calendar" style events in December. Every day is a new code. If you miss the 24-hour window, that 50k Bloodpoints or 500 Iridescent Shards are gone forever. No amount of emailing support will bring them back.
The Bloodpoint Cap Problem
Here is a pro tip that most casual players forget: The Bloodpoint cap.
For a long time, the cap was 1 million. Then they bumped it to 2 million. If you are sitting at 1,900,000 BP and you redeem a dead by daylight code for 200,000 BP, you might lose out.
Actually, wait. Let me clarify that.
Codes usually allow you to bypass the cap. If you earn BP through matches, you stop at 2 million. But "gift" BP from codes or login rewards can push you over the limit. I’ve seen players with 4 million BP saved up for a new Chapter release because they hoarded codes. It’s the only way to "bank" progress for a Killer that hasn't even been released yet.
How to Redeem Codes Without Fumbling
It’s not exactly intuitive if you’re new. You don't do it from the main menu. You have to go into the In-Game Store.
- Launch the game (obviously).
- Click on the "Store" tab on the left.
- Look at the top right corner. You’ll see a button that says "Redeem Code."
- Type it in.
- Pray it’s still active.
Case sensitivity used to be a massive pain in the neck, but Behavior has gotten better about that. Most codes now work whether you use all caps or lowercase, but just to be safe, stick to caps. That’s how they are usually presented in the official graphics.
Why Some Codes Give "Invalid" Instead of "Expired"
There’s a difference. "Expired" means you’re late. "Invalid" usually means you have a typo, or you’re trying to use a code from a different platform.
Wait, platform-specific codes? Yeah, they exist. Occasionally, Amazon Prime Gaming will offer a dead by daylight code specifically for skins or BP. Those are unique to your Prime account. You can't just share that with a friend. Once it’s used, it’s dead.
If you see an "Invalid" error, double-check your O’s and 0’s. The font Behavior uses in-game makes it surprisingly hard to tell the difference between a zero and a capital letter O.
What’s Trending Right Now?
As of early 2026, the meta for codes has shifted toward "Cosmetic Pieces."
In the past, it was all about the currency. But now that the prestige system has been reworked and getting perks is slightly less of a nightmare than it was in 2021, players want the "drip." We are seeing more codes for limited-edition charms that hang off your survivor’s belt or the killer’s hook.
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These charms are the ultimate "I was there" badge. If you see someone with a 2022 Halloween event charm, you know they’ve been looping killers for years.
Don't Fall for the Scams
This is important. You will see websites or YouTube videos claiming there is a "secret code" for 10,000 Auric Cells.
Auric Cells are the premium currency. They cost real money. Behavior never gives these away via public codes. If a site asks you to "verify your account" or "log in to Steam" to get a code for free Auric Cells, close the tab immediately. They are trying to steal your account.
Real codes only ever give:
- Bloodpoints (The most common)
- Iridescent Shards (Rare)
- Rift Fragments (To level up your Tome)
- Cosmetics/Charms (Event-based)
Strategy for the Savvy Player
If you want to maximize your rewards, you need a routine. I’m not saying you need to live and breathe DBD news, but a little bit of legwork goes a long way.
First, check the "Dead by Daylight" subreddit (r/deadbydaylight) and sort by "New" or look for the stickied post. The mods there are usually pretty fast about pinning a thread when a new code drops.
Second, if there’s a major holiday—Lunar New Year, Anniversary, Halloween, Christmas—log in every single day. Even if you don't have time to play a match. Just logging in and checking the store for a dead by daylight code can net you millions of BP over the course of a week.
Third, watch the "Developer Updates." They happen roughly once a month. Even if the update is just about balance changes to the Nurse or the Blight, they often tuck a code into the end of the blog post or the livestream.
The Future of Rewards in the Fog
Behavior is moving toward a "Rewards Center" style of engagement. We’re seeing more integration with Twitch Drops. This is different from a code. You link your Behavior account to your Twitch account, watch a streamer for two hours, and the reward just appears in your inventory.
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Is the code system going away? Probably not. It’s too iconic. It’s a low-effort way for the devs to apologize when the servers go down or a new patch breaks the game (which happens... more often than we'd like).
Whenever the game feels "unplayable" due to a bug—like when a specific map gets disabled—keep your eyes peeled. That’s usually when a "compensation code" is released. It’s their way of saying, "Sorry the game is broken, here’s 250k BP to make it better."
Actionable Steps for Players
To ensure you never miss out on another reward, take these three specific actions right now:
- Link your accounts: Go to the official Behavior Account website and link your Steam, Epic, PlayStation, or Xbox account. This is becoming mandatory for certain cross-progression rewards and "automated" codes.
- Set up a "DBD Codes" Alert: If you use X or Discord, set a notification for the official Dead by Daylight accounts specifically for keywords like "Code" or "Redeem."
- Clear your Bloodweb: If you are sitting on a mountain of Bloodpoints, spend them. Don't let your "gift" points sit there. Use them to prestige your characters so you have space to collect the next "compensation" drop without worrying about the soft cap.
- Check the Store Weekly: Every Tuesday, the store refreshes. Even if no one is talking about a code, sometimes a "0 Auric Cell" item appears in the store, which is basically a code you don't have to type in.