1. Read the head, not the body
Only one thing decides an arrow’s fate: the straight line in front of its head. However the body bends, it follows the head and never gets in its own way. So don’t trace the lines; look for arrowheads and check what lies in front of each one.
2. Start at the edges
An arrowhead on the outer ring that points outward has nothing in front of it, so it always leaves. Sweep the border first, then work inward: once the outer arrows go, the inner ones get their way out.
3. Follow the line all the way to the edge
The most common mistake is to see a couple of empty cells ahead and assume the arrow will get out. The blocker can sit at the far side of the board: the tail or the bend of another arrow. Run your eye along the line right to the edge.
4. Free the arrows that block the most
Long, winding arrows often cross several rows and columns and hold up many others at once. Clear one of these key arrows and a large part of the board opens. The Hint follows the same rule: when it can, it shows the arrow that frees the most.
5. Queues go front first
Several arrows on one line pointing the same way form a queue. Only the front one can leave; the rest follow one by one. When you see a queue, find its front.
6. You don’t need to plan far ahead
There are no bad moves here: sending any arrow that can leave is correct, and the board never reaches a dead end. Don’t rush: find one arrow you are sure about, send it, then look for the next. There is no timer.
7. Check the direction at bends
When an arrow bends just before its head, your eye tends to follow the body. But the arrow only ever moves the way the arrowhead points. On bent arrows, always look at the triangle.
8. Stuck? Sweep the board
If your eyes keep circling the same spot, go through the board row by row and ask one question for each arrowhead: is there anything in front of it before the edge? If nothing turns up, press Hint; it is free.
How much room you have
| Levels | Arrows | Free at the start | At a typical moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4–30 | ≈ 10 | ≈ 5 | ≈ 3 |
| 31–100 | ≈ 13 | ≈ 4 | 2–3 |
| 101+ | ≈ 19 | ≈ 3 | 2–3 |
As the number of arrows grows, the number of free ones barely changes, which is why big boards make searching harder, not deciding.
FAQ
Is there ever an order that matters?
Only in one sense: a blocked arrow cannot leave until the arrows holding it have gone. Among free arrows, order does not matter.
Why are some levels marked Hard?
Every 10th level uses a larger, denser board: fewer free arrows and longer chains of blockers. The level after it is lighter.
Is using a hint cheating?
No. Hints are the same for everyone and free; the result just shows how many you used. A level cleared with no mistakes and no hints counts toward Flawless.
