Survivor

Be the last player standing in this elimination-style dart game. Each player is assigned a number on the dartboard and begins with a set number of lives. Players must first earn the right to attack by becoming a Killer — then systematically eliminate opponents by hitting their assigned numbers, stripping away their lives dart by dart. When your lives reach zero, you are out. The final player with lives remaining wins.

Survivor requires 3 or more players and a standard dartboard. Each player throws one dart with their non-dominant hand to determine their assigned number. The number the dart lands in (ignoring doubles and triples — only the segment number matters) becomes that player's number for the entire game. No two players may share the same number; if a player hits a number already claimed, they throw again until they land on an unclaimed segment.

Each player starts with 3 lives. On the scoreboard, write each player's name alongside their assigned number and mark their three lives clearly (tally marks, circles, or similar notation). Throwing order for the game is typically determined by closest-to-bull or by mutual agreement before the number-assignment round begins.

The game proceeds in two distinct phases for each player:

Phase 1 – Becoming a Killer: Before a player may attack anyone, they must first qualify by hitting the double of their own assigned number. For example, if your assigned number is 14, you must hit double 14 to become a Killer. Until you achieve this, your darts have no offensive effect — you are simply trying to activate yourself. You still throw three darts per turn during this phase, and only one successful double hit is required.

Phase 2 – Attacking Opponents: Once you are a Killer, you use your three darts per turn to hit other players' assigned numbers and remove their lives:

• A single hit on an opponent's number removes 1 life.
• A double hit on an opponent's number removes 2 lives.
• A triple hit on an opponent's number removes 3 lives — an instant elimination from the starting total.

Self-hit penalty: If you hit your own assigned number after you have become a Killer, you lose a life yourself. For example, if your number is 7 and you accidentally land a dart in single 7 while aiming for an adjacent segment, you lose 1 life. A double of your own number costs you 2 lives, and a triple costs you 3. Exercise caution when throwing near your own segment.

Elimination: A player is eliminated the moment their lives reach 0. That player removes their darts from the board (if still embedded) and takes no further turns. Lives cannot drop below zero — any excess damage is simply ignored.

Example turn: Suppose Player A (assigned number 18, Killer status active) throws three darts. The first lands in single 12 (Player B's number — Player B loses 1 life). The second lands in triple 18 — that is Player A's own number, so Player A loses 3 lives and is instantly eliminated. The third dart is not thrown because Player A is out of the game.

Survivor does not use a cumulative point total. Instead, each player's remaining lives are tracked on the scoreboard. The only arithmetic involved is subtraction:

• Single of an opponent's number: opponent loses 1 life.
• Double of an opponent's number: opponent loses 2 lives.
• Triple of an opponent's number: opponent loses 3 lives.
• Any hit on your own number (after becoming a Killer): you lose lives equal to the multiplier (1, 2, or 3).

For example, if Player C has 3 lives and an opponent hits double of Player C's number, Player C drops to 1 life. If another opponent then hits the single of Player C's number on the very next turn, Player C is eliminated at 0 lives. Darts that land in segments not assigned to any active player — or darts thrown by a player who has not yet become a Killer — have no effect on the scoreboard.

The last player with lives remaining wins the game. There is no tiebreak scenario under standard rules because players are eliminated sequentially — only one player can be the final survivor. In the rare event that two players eliminate each other on the same turn (for example, a Killer hits an opponent's number and also hits their own number in the same visit, both dropping to zero), the throwing player is typically ruled as eliminated first, since their self-inflicted damage is resolved dart by dart in the order thrown.

In tournament or league settings, Survivor is usually played as a single-game elimination. For extended sessions, players may agree to play multiple rounds, awarding 1 point per victory, with the player who accumulates the most wins over a set number of rounds declared the overall champion.

Blind Killer: Numbers are assigned secretly rather than openly. Each player's number is written on a slip of paper and kept hidden. No player knows which number belongs to which opponent, so every hit is a gamble — you may be helping an opponent by ignoring their number or accidentally attacking an ally. This variant adds a strong deduction and bluffing element to the game.

Kamikaze Killer: In this harsher variant, hitting your own number always costs you a life — even during Phase 1 before you have become a Killer. This punishes wild throws and adds pressure from the very first dart.

Team Survivor: Players form teams that share a combined life pool. For example, two teams of three might each start with 9 lives (3 per player). Any hit on any team member's number drains the shared pool. This variant works well for larger groups and encourages strategic coordination.

Variable Lives: For longer, more forgiving games, players may start with 5 lives (or more) instead of 3. This is particularly useful when newer players are involved, giving them more time to become Killers and participate in the attacking phase.

DARTSLIVE Electronic Survivor: The electronic dartboard version replaces discrete lives with 300 life points. Each round, a target number may be randomly assigned by the machine. Hitting an opponent's number deducts life points equal to the point value scored (e.g., a triple 17 removes 51 points). Hitting your own number restores life points rather than costing them. This variant plays quite differently due to the randomized elements and granular life-point system.

Survivor is widely known under the name Killer and is one of the most popular pub dart games worldwide. The rules above are consistent across both names; only the title differs by region or venue.

Pick an obscure number during the assignment throw: When throwing with your non-dominant hand, you have limited control — but to whatever extent you can influence the outcome, aim for a less commonly targeted segment such as 3, 7, or 19. Numbers in heavy-traffic areas of the board (like 20, 18, or adjacent segments) increase the chance that opponents will accidentally — or intentionally — land on your number with ease.

Become a Killer as quickly as possible: Every turn you spend failing to hit your own double is a turn where you have zero offensive capability while opponents may already be stripping lives from others. Prioritize Phase 1 completion above all else. Practice your assigned double with focused, deliberate throws rather than rushing.

Target the most dangerous opponent first: Once you are a Killer, resist the temptation to spread your attacks evenly. Identify the player who is the strongest finisher or who has already been attacking you, and concentrate your darts on their number. Eliminating a skilled Killer early protects your remaining lives far more than chipping away at multiple opponents.

Mind your own segment when attacking: If your assigned number is adjacent to an opponent's number on the dartboard (e.g., you are 6 and your opponent is 13), every attack throw carries the risk of a self-hit penalty. In such cases, consider whether the risk is worth the reward — sometimes it is safer to target a different opponent whose number is farther from yours on the board.

Play the board geography, not just the numbers: The dartboard layout places certain numbers next to each other (e.g., 20 is flanked by 5 and 1; 14 sits between 11 and 9). When choosing whom to attack, factor in which opponent's number you can target with the least risk of stray darts landing in your own segment or in the segment of another dangerous Killer.