Killer Darts: Rules and Tactics

Last updated 10 November 2026

Killer is the best darts game for a group. Everyone gets their own number, everyone can attack everyone else, and alliances form and collapse within a single round. It works with three to six players and gets livelier the more you have.

The rules

1. Pick your number. Each player throws one dart, and the number it lands in becomes theirs. Each player has three lives.
2. Become a killer. On your turns, throw at the double of your own number. Once you hit it, you are a killer for the rest of the game.
3. Take lives. As a killer, every dart that lands on an opponent's number takes one of their lives.
4. Last one standing wins. A player with no lives left is out. The final player with lives remaining wins.

How the scoreboard handles it

• At the start, each player's first dart claims their number. Make sure every player ends up with a different number. If two land on the same one, restart and throw again.
• Double to become a killer is on by default. Turn it off on the setup screen if you want any hit on your own number to count. That makes a gentler game for beginners.
• Once you are a killer, a single, double or treble on an opponent's number each removes one life.
• The scoreboard shows each player's lives, and how many lives they have taken.

A worked example

Three players: Sam has 7, Alex has 14 and Jo has 20. Sam hits double 7 and becomes a killer. On their next turn Sam throws single 20, treble 20 and single 1. Each of the two darts in the 20 takes one of Jo's lives, so Jo drops to one life. The 1 does nothing.

Jo now has an obvious problem, and an obvious ally: Alex, who is next on Sam's list.

Tactics

Your number matters

If you claim a number next to the 20, other players aiming high will hit it by accident once they are killers. The bottom of the board is quieter. Of course, you only control this if your throw is accurate.

Get your double early

Until you are a killer you are a sitting target. Becoming a killer quickly is usually the priority.

Attack the leader

In a group, take lives from whoever is most dangerous: the player who is already a killer, or the one who throws best. Leaving them alone just lets them pick everyone else off.

Watch the neighbours

Aiming at an opponent's number when your own is next to it is risky in house rules where hitting yourself costs a life. Aim at the side of their segment furthest from yours.

Common house rules

• Suicide rule: a killer who hits their own number loses a life.
• Doubles to kill: only a double on an opponent's number takes a life.
• More lives: five lives makes for a longer, more tactical game.
• Trebles take more: a double takes two lives and a treble three.

The scoreboard uses the standard rules above. Agree any house rules before the first dart.

Frequently asked questions

How many players do you need for Killer?

At least three makes it interesting. Two can play, but it becomes a straight race to hit your double and then the other player's number.

Do you have to hit the double of your number to become a killer?

In the standard game, yes. On DartScore.uk this is on by default and can be switched off on the setup screen.

Does a treble take three lives in Killer?

Not in the standard game or on the DartScore.uk scoreboard, where every hit takes one life. Some house rules let doubles and trebles take more.