Cipher Machines

, or Ciphers, are the main objectives for.

Overview
The number of Cipher Machines on a map will always be equal to the number of survivors starting the match plus three. This results in 7 Machines being placed randomly around the map, assuming that all four Survivors joined the game, though all but 2 must be repaired in order for the Exit Gates to become active.

As the Cipher Machines have four sides, it is possible for up to four Survivors to simultaneously use it - assuming that there are no other props blocking any of the sides. The more Survivors that work on the same Cipher Machine at the same time, the faster it will decode. However, co-op decoding reduces the decoding speed of characters.

The time taken to decode a Cipher Machine can be further reduced with Abilities Persona or Marks. Once fully repaired, the lights above the Cipher Machine will activate and illuminate the immediate area around it, and the Hunter will receive an auditory and visual cue to the Machine's location.

A Skill Check (known as a calibration) may trigger whilst a Survivor is decoding. If the Survivor fails a calibration, the Machine will short-circuit. In addition, no progress will be gained for 2 seconds. The failing player will display a shock animation, and the Hunter will receive an auditory and visual cue to the player's location. If a Survivor stops deciphering as a calibration appears, the calibration will automatically fail.

After decoding two Cipher Machines, the Dungeon will spawn.

The trait "Borrowed Time", which can be found on the East wing of the Persona Web, heals Survivors by 0.5 damage. It is a common strategy to prime the cipher to 99% and wait by the cipher for the Survivor kiting the Hunter to be hit before finishing the cipher. Detention activates after the last cipher is primed, so take note of your teammate's cues.

It is a strategy for the kiting Survivor to say "Focus on Decoding!" in response to "Cipher Machine Primed!" signaling their teammates to finish the cipher and open the gates. This is to save time and will be said if the kiting Survivor is at a good area for kiting. However, do not prime the cipher when the kiting Survivor says "The Hunter is near me!". This means the Survivor might be hit any time soon and is depending on Borrowed Time.

Statistics
Up to 4 Survivors are able to repair a single Cipher Machine, given that all four sides are accessible. Each additional Survivor will boost the overall repair progress. Co-op decoding decreases the decoding speed of each Survivor. Rescue-type Survivors tend to decode slower than the rest of the Survivors.

When the match starts, after about three minutes have passed, an event called "decoding acceleration" will occur causing all Cipher Machines to crackle with electricity and get decoded 30% faster.

Hitting a perfect calibration grants 1% (0.81 seconds) extra progress as opposed to hitting a normal calibration which grants none.