Abyssal Escape Timer

How the timer works

1. The round starts with a countdown that grows with the number of survivors (see above).
2. Survivors clear red mist (called “X's presence” in the game). Each patch cleared removes time from the clock.
3. The killer moves through three phases as the timer runs down. Phase 2 starts at the round length ÷ 1.25, and Phase 3 at the round length ÷ 2.1 (see the calculator).
4. At 1:00 the escape ring spawns and is marked on every survivor's screen.
5. At 0:00 the round ends. Survivors who haven't reached the ring don't escape.

Red mist: how to drain the clock

• Stand in a patch of red mist and complete the skill-check minigame.
• You're locked in place while you do it, so clear mist while the killer is busy elsewhere.
• Up to four survivors can work on the same patch together.
• More people on one patch clear it faster, with diminishing returns: according to the developer, 2 people work 1.5x as fast as 1.
• Each patch you clear earns you 5 rings.
• Release-week reviewers report the patches spawn in the same places every match, so learning them saves time. Killers learn them too.

Why the timer matters: killer phases

Killers don't stay the same all round. Phase 2 brings small buffs, and Phase 3 brings big ones. Two killers transform completely:

• The Deity (X) runs faster, and Hide and Seek gets faster and can fly.
• Furnace builds Heat much faster.
• Fleetway gets a large speed boost.
• No More Innocence turns into his hedgehog form, and the TVs disappear.
• 2017X turns into Beast Form (Broken Face), with a 40-damage slam M1.

The faster you drain the clock, the less time you spend against a Phase 3 killer. In a full server, Phase 3 starts with about 3½ minutes left.

Tips

• Small lobbies are the hardest. With one or two survivors there are fewer people clearing mist and no last man standing mode, so play safe and stun the killer whenever you can.
• Split up between two patches when the killer is chasing someone far away, then regroup.
• Plan your route to the ring before 1:00. The killer is at full strength by then.

FAQ

How long is a round of Abyssal Escape?

According to the developer's patch notes, a round lasts 2 minutes plus 45 seconds per survivor (since v1.25 on October 18; it was 60 seconds per survivor at launch). That's 2:45 with one survivor and 7:15 with a full server of seven, before any mist is cleared.

When do the killer phases start?

Phase 2 starts when the time left equals the round length divided by 1.25, and Phase 3 when it equals the round length divided by 2.1, according to the developer's notes from September. In a 7:15 round that's 5:48 left for Phase 2 and 3:27 left for Phase 3.

How much time does clearing red mist remove?

The developers haven't published that number, and we haven't confirmed it. What is confirmed is that each mist you clear earns you 5 rings, and more people on one mist clear it faster with diminishing returns (2 people work 1.5x as fast as 1).

When does the escape ring appear?

When one minute is left on the timer. It's highlighted on every survivor's screen.

Is there a last man standing timer?

Not yet. There's no dedicated LMS system, so when you're the last survivor nothing changes: no LMS music, no heals, no buffs. You keep whatever health you have and wait out the timer. The developers are revealing survivor LMS themes, so a system is on the way.

New to the game? Start with the beginner guide, then read the step-by-step how to escape guide.