Killer Darts is the perfect game to play if you have a large group of people that all want to play darts together. Whilst playing a leg of 501 may seem like a daunting prospect for beginners and the more casual throwers, the simple rules of darts killer make it an easily accessible darts game for all abilities to enjoy. To play the killer darts game, all you need is a dartboard and a set of three darts - that’s it! To start the game, each player is designated their own number segment on the board (eg. 20), which means it can be played as a party game with friends or family. There are different variations of how to play killer in darts, but the main of the game is to eliminate your opponents. The game is called killer as you become a ‘killer’ once you hit your own number a set amount of times. The main aim of darts killer is to eliminate your opponents by hitting their designated number to remove their lives. The winner of the game is the last player standing with lives still intact. @dartscorner.co.uk Bored of playing 501 darts? Watch this video to find out how to play 'Killer'! #WeGetDarts #darts #equipment #fyp #dartboard #lovethedarts ♬ original sound - Darts Corner Killer Darts Rules 1. What’s your number? To start the dart killer game, each player takes it in turns to throw one dart at the board with their non-dominant hand. If you are right handed, throw with your left hand, or if you are left handed, throw the dart with your right hand. The number segment your dart lands on is your assigned number. No two players can have the same number, so if a player hits a number that has already been taken you must throw again until you have a number that has not been claimed. Once each player has their own assigned number, players will then take it turns to throw a dart each at the bullseye (using their dominant hand again), to determine who throws first, second, third and so on. 2. Become a killer The player who threw closest to the bullseye will start the game, with each player taking it in turns to hit their designated number segment. For example, if your number is 20 and you hit a single 20, you receive one life, a double 20 would earn you two lives, and a treble 20 would earn you three lives. Once you have amassed three lives you then become a ‘killer’ and can start taking lives from other players. 3. Start the killing As the killer in darts, you can now try to eliminate other players from the game. For example, if one of the other players’ number is 19 and you hit a single 19, you remove one of their lives, a double 19 would remove two lives and a treble 19 would remove three lives. A player is eliminated when they have zero lives and their number is then hit again by a ‘killer’. The rules of killer darts means that you can also lose your status as a ‘killer’. If you lose any of your own lives you are no longer a killer. You must win your lives back by hitting your own segment until you have three lives again. You can also lose your own lives by hitting your own number by accident when trying to hit someone’s else’s number. The winner of the game is the last player with lives left and every other player has been eliminated. Killer Darts scoreboard Now you know the darts killer rules, here is an example of how the scoreboard would look before, during and after a game of killer. Use a darts chalkboard or whiteboard, a pen and paper or the notes app on your phone to keep track of the scores. The killer darts scoreboard will start with three columns. The first column will list each players’ name, the second column will be used to display the designated number for each player, and the third column will be used to keep a record of the number of lives each player has. PLAYER NUMBER LIVES The scoreboard below shows each players’ name and their designated number. Players will take it in turns throwing a dart at the board with their non-dominant hand to determine what their number is. A reminder that two players cannot have the same number. PLAYER NUMBER LIVES JAKE 11 LOUIS 3 ALEX 12 Players then take it turns throwing a dart at the bullseye, with the throwing order determined by who is the closest to the target. Each player then throws at their designated number, with the aim to accrue three lives. The scoreboard below shows each player in the game has hit their number three times and means they have all become killers. PLAYER NUMBER LIVES JAKE 11 III LOUIS 3 III ALEX 12 III The scoreboard below shows that both Louis and Alex have lost lives. A life is lost when a player (who is a killer) hits your number with a single worth one life, a double worth two lives and a treble worth three lives. Louis and Alex must hit their designated number’s again until they are back on three lives to become killers again. PLAYER NUMBER LIVES JAKE 11 III LOUIS 3 I ALEX 12 II This scoreboard marks the end of the game, with Louis the winner of the game. Once a player is on zero lives, if their number is hit again by a killer then they are eliminated. Both Jake and Alex have been eliminated and Louis is the last player standing. PLAYER NUMBER LIVES JAKE 11 LOUIS 3 III ALEX 12 Darts Killer variations There are many variations you can add to the game of darts killer depending on your skill level. Here are some of the more popular how to play killer darts variations:- Blind Killer - this is very similar to killer, but is played with a twist! A blind draw is made before the start of the game to determine each player’s number and each player will then take it in turns throwing for any segment on the board. Once a number segment has been hit three times, the player should check to see if that number is assigned to a player. The last player alive is the winner. Straight Off - this variation of the game takes out the part where players must earn lives to become killers. Instead, everyone starts the game as a killer and can remove lives and eliminate their opponents straight away. Trebles - for the more advanced players, where to gain/take away lives you must hit the trebles only of your own/opponents’ number. You can also switch this up and opt for doubles if you prefer. Enjoy Playing Darts Killer! That’s everything you need to know about how to play darts killer, so it’s time to round up your friends and see who will be the last player standing! If you want even more darts games to try out, check out our ‘What Darts Games Can You Play?’ blog for our comprehensive list of games to play on a dartboard. Alex Moss is a content creator for Darts Corner and the co-host of the Weekly Dartscast podcast. Alex co-founded the Weekly Dartscast in 2017 and has helped produce 400+ episodes of the podcast, with their list of previous guests on the show a who’s who in the world of darts. Alex also writes content for the Darts Corner blog, including the weekly darts news round-ups and how-to guides.
