Escape the Backrooms Level 8 Guide: Caves, Skinstealers & The Parkour Skip

Part 1: The Airlock & Supplies

Upon arriving from the underwater cave, you will find a table with supplies (Almond Water). Ahead is a metal door with a wheel valve.

• The Mechanism: Turning the wheel releases insecticide gas. You must wait for the door to open.
• The Rule: Only one door functions at a time. If you are in multiplayer, ensure everyone gathers before moving through, or the doors may desync/lock others out.

Part 2: Death Moths

You will encounter large moths clinging to the cave walls or flying in swarms.

• Behavior: They are attracted to light and movement. If you shine your flashlight directly on them or run past them, they may grab you.
• Strategy: Crouch when moving near moths. As shown in the video, crouching significantly reduces their detection range. If you are an experienced player, you can sprint past them, but this is risky.

Part 3: The Skinstealer (Xiepi)

The Skinstealer is a tall, humanoid entity that patrols the caves.

• Chase Mechanics: It runs faster than you but has a short attention span.
• Evasion: If spotted, run back through a doorway or around a sharp corner. As the video explains, if you break line-of-sight for 4-5 seconds, the entity will often "disengage" and walk away.
• Hiding: Unlike Level 6, there are fewer safe spots, so breaking visual contact is your best defense.

Part 4: The Suspension Bridge

You will eventually reach a deep chasm crossed by a narrow wooden suspension bridge.

Walk normally across the bridge. Once you reach the other side, turn the valve to open the next security door and trigger a checkpoint.

Part 5: The "Rock Climb" Glitch (Level Skip)

This level features a massive exploit that allows you to skip a difficult section and the entirety of the next transition level (Level 0.11).

• Location: Near the suspension bridge area, look for a specific cave opening that leads to a dead-end with rocky ledges (shown at 03:00 in the video).
• The Method:
  1. Jump-crouch onto the first small ledge on the left wall.
  2. Jump-crouch again to the higher platform.
  3. Continue jumping up the jagged rocks. The character controller in the updated version is slimmer, making it much easier to climb geometry than before.
• The Destination: Once you climb high enough, aim for the large rock sticking out above and jump towards it. You will clip through the ceiling/teleport.
• Result: This teleports you directly to the start of Level 9 (The Suburbs), bypassing the rest of the caves and the glass room puzzle.

If you choose not to use the glitch, continue through the standard path past the bridge to reach the ladder leading to Level 0.11. However, the glitch is recommended for speedruns or difficult runs.

Additional Level 8 Route Notes

Part 1: Initial Airlocks & Supplies

Upon entering Level 8, you will find a supply table with Almond Water and flashlights. Ahead lies a mechanical door with a wheel valve.

• Insecticide Spray: Turning the wheel valve releases gas and opens the door. Note that only one door can be open at a time. If you turn it again, the current door closes and the opposite one opens.
• Checkpoints: Passing through these airlocks usually triggers a save point, which is vital given the difficulty ahead.

Part 2: Dealing with Death Moths

Death Moths are scattered throughout the tunnels, often clinging to the ceiling or walls.

• Stealth: You must crouch when moving near them. While experienced players can occasionally sprint past, crouching significantly lowers their detection radius.
• Pathing Tip: A useful trick to remember is that Death Moths usually path towards the left in branching tunnels. If you want to avoid them, consider the right-hand path where possible.
• Light Sensitivity: Avoid shining your flashlight directly on a Moth for extended periods, as this can trigger an attack.

Part 3: The Skinstealer (Xiepi)

The Skinstealer is a fast, aggressive humanoid entity that patrols the cave floor.

• AI Behavior: While it is faster than the player, its AI is easily manipulated. If it spots you, run behind a rock or through a doorway to break line-of-sight.
• Aggro Reset: As explained in the video, if you manage to stay out of the Skinstealer's vision for 4 to 5 seconds, it will lose interest and return to its patrol.
• Pathing Tip: Unlike the Moths, the Skinstealer typically patrols towards the right-hand side of the cave system.

Part 4: The Suspension Bridge (Wei Bridge)

Eventually, you will encounter a wooden bridge crossing a massive abyss.

Walk normally and carefully. Once across, activate the valve on the far side to secure the area. Note that the bridge path itself is risky as it lacks a mid-way save point compared to the tunnel path.

Part 5: The "Rock Climb" Skip (Major Glitch)

The video highlights a significant exploit that allows players to skip the final section of Level 8 and the entirety of the Level 0.11 transition.

• Location: Near the suspension bridge, locate the rocky outcroppings near the cave entrance (demonstrated at 03:00 in the video).
• The Method:
  1. Use a Jump-Crouch (Jump then immediately press Crouch) to land on the first small jagged ledge.
  2. Perform a second Jump-Crouch to reach the higher platform. The collision model in the current version is more forgiving, making it easier to scale the geometry.
  3. Continue upward until you reach the very top of the cave rocks.
• Result: Once at the top, aim for the "void" or specific teleport triggers above. This will bypass the ladder and the glass room puzzle, teleporting you directly to Level 9 (The Suburbs).

While the standard path involves climbing a ladder to Level 0.11, the Rock Climb glitch is highly recommended for those looking to avoid the difficulty spike at the end of the caves.