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How to beat the Twin Archers without getting hit

The Twin Archers are the fifth boss and the one that ends most long runs. Two shooters, two directions, and no rest between shots. Here's a calm, repeatable way through.

First, understand the rhythm

The twins never shoot at the same time. They take turns: front, back, front, back. Each turn has three parts you can see:

1. The twin stops moving and draws his bow.
2. Red dots grow along the path of the shot. For the back twin, a red arrow also pulses on the left edge of the screen if he's out of view.
3. He fires, and the other twin starts his turn a moment later.

That means you only ever deal with one shot at a time. The fight feels chaotic, but it's a strict back and forth. Say it in your head: front, back, front, back.

Step 1: take out the front twin

Start with the twin ahead of you. His arrows come from in front, where you can see everything, and a returned arrow flies back into the open sky toward him.

When he aims, draw a short line across the middle of his dots, leaning back toward him. The arrow bounces home. He takes two of these: the first makes him flinch and skip his shot, the second knocks him down. Because a boss twin counts as a boss, you want a clean hit: tilt a little more than you would for a normal archer, since he's higher up.

While the front twin is still up, block the back twin's shots simply. A short upright wall just behind the ninja's shoulders is enough. Don't try to return those yet.

Step 2: finish the back twin

Once the front twin falls, the back twin shoots more often. You have two good options:

• Return his arrows. Draw across his dots, tilted toward the left and up. His arrows are flatter and faster than normal, so a shallow tilt works best.
• Burn his plank. If you've unlocked fire ink, switch to it and draw a short stroke up to his plank. The plank catches fire and he drops out of the fight. Nothing else ends the fight faster.

Ink choice

Pen for the blocks, steel if you want faster, straighter returns, and fire for the plank trick. Pick up the ink orbs as they come, and switch each one on with its button at the bottom left when you need it.

Five habits that prevent hits

1. Never draw before the dots appear. The shot's angle depends on where he stands when he fires.
2. Keep one ink drop in reserve. If you're empty when the next turn starts, you're relying on luck.
3. Walls behind him go close. The back twin's shots come in low and shallow; a wall far behind gets overshot.
4. Use slow time. Pressing the pen down slows everything, even mid-fight. Press, look, then draw.
5. If a shield orb floats by, take it. A shield absorbs one hit, the perfect insurance for this fight.

Practise it

Once you've reached them, start your next runs from a checkpoint just before 2,500 metres (pick it on the home screen), so you meet them fresh and often. Beating them earns the Two at once badge.