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The five inks
You start with the pen. The other four are unlocked in the Dojo with coins, and each changes what a line can do. Switch between them with the buttons at the bottom left, or keys 1 to 5.
Pen

The all-rounder, and the only ink you have at the start. Pen lines are solid, a fair length, and last a few seconds. They stop arrows, deflect rocks, and hold him up as bridges and ramps. If you're unsure, use the pen.
Rubber

Rubber is springy. If he runs onto a rubber line he bounces high into the air and flips, which clears thorns, pits and boulders in one go. Rocks that land on rubber rebound hard, often flying far away. The trade-off: rubber lines are a little shorter.
Best for: jumping long hazards without building a bridge. Draw a short flat stroke just in front of the danger and let him bounce.
Steel

Steel lines are short but tough, and they last noticeably longer than pen. Falling rocks shatter on steel instead of bouncing. Arrows that hit steel fly back much faster, which makes returning them easier. A steel line also crushes a desert scorpion that walks into it.
Best for: heavy traffic. When rocks and arrows keep coming, one steel line handles more than one pen line.
One exception: against the Catapult boss, use any ink except steel. Its boulders need to bounce back to it, and steel smashes them instead.
Fire

Fire lines are not solid. He runs straight through them, so they're useless as bridges. Instead, fire burns: arrows turn to ash when they touch it, and an archer's plank catches fire and drops him to the ground. Spear throwers and scorpions burn too.
Best for: taking archers out of the fight before they shoot again. Draw a fire line up to the plank and it's over.
Ice

He skates on ice, about 40% faster than running. That speed carries off the end of a slope, so an ice ramp throws him much further than a pen ramp.
Best for: long jumps and big gaps. Draw a long gentle ramp in ice before a wide pit or a thorn field.
Quick comparison
| Ink | Solid? | Length | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pen | Yes | Normal | Does a bit of everything |
| Rubber | Yes | Shorter | Bounces him high; rocks rebound hard |
| Steel | Yes | Short, lasts longer | Shatters rocks; arrows return faster |
| Fire | No | Slightly shorter | Burns arrows, planks and enemies |
| Ice | Yes | Normal | He skates faster and jumps further |
The first run after you unlock a new ink sets up a spot to try it, with a hint showing where to draw. Using all five inks in a single run earns the Full palette badge.