Strategies

Snakes can have several different tactics and strategies to gain mass and rise to the top of the leaderboard, these are some of the strategies that were made by players.

## Trapping

A common strategy in Slither.io is the Trapping strategy. How it works is that a large snake with the intention of gaining more mass aggressively will be able to trap a smaller snake and going into its own tail *(See image)*. The big snake will then begin closing in on the smaller snake until the space is so small enough that inevitably the small snake rams into the big snake, killing it and releasing its Mass for the snake.

Be warned, if the smaller snake can time it correctly, it can ram in front of the bigger snake as it is closing in and free itself, simultaneously killing the bigger snake.

## Coiling

Another common strategy is coiling, or following your own tail until you appear small enough to pose or
threat and lure enemies into a false sense of security.

However, this may result in a snake smaller than the coiling snake to to trap the coiling snake, trapping the bigger snake. Bigger snakes have less mobility than smaller ones, resulting in an almost instant game over.

## Edge-trapping

A third common gameplay strategy in Slither.io is trapping. This is the act of bringing a small snake to
the edge and semi-constricting them, leaving them to either ram headfirst into the barrier or crash into you. If you are ever caught in this, ram into the barrier to prevent the trapper from having any of your mass.

*Note:* that this is an **extremely** risky strategy, as the trapper itself may ram into the barrier that creates the edge of the map.

## Circle-breaker

The Circle-breaker is when you trick an opponent that is trying to trap you. What happens is you go near the opponent's tail, and when it is about to complete it, you rush straight in front and kill the opponent.

## Giant-killer

Small snakes turn a lot quicker than large snakes, get yourself more than 50 mass, and sneak to a giant's head suddenly after pretending to be an outsider. ***(For pros or idiots)***

## Cut-off

When a long snake dies, rush perpendicular to it and cut off the two sides of food so snakes speeding up the two sides will run into you, creating a ton of mass for you to eat.

## One-way dead end

When a large snake is following next to you, possible that you are a large snake too, make a U-turn to create a long dead end that just fits the prey's head and they will discover that it is too late.

## Psychologist

Continuing racing in full speed with a snake of your side and suddenly stop boosting to lure them turn and try to kill you, boost again to use the chance to kill it.

## Trapper

When a snake is following another snake, get ahead of it and create a very thin path that goes thinner and thinner until there is no more space, U-turn and grab some meat.

Also very useful against encircling between two other snakes.

## Ninja

Against trappers, only when you are skillful enough, pretend to be trapped but have very accurate moves such that you can get through all thin passages, the trapper would die if it gets too close.

## Quick Kill

This strategy will rely on boost. You go near other snakes and boost yourself in front of them and will run into you. If you succeed, you immediately take a sharp turn to take in all the mass so no other snakes steal your mass.

## Deceptive Thief

**The Deceptive Thief Strategy** is a starting off strategy. It's best to try to head closer near the center of the map, because loads of snakes are there which causes a lot of kills, but do not stick there too long when you are big. Follow these steps in order for this to work effectively.

1. Find a group of snakes and follow them.
2. Wait for the kills.
3. Last, grab the food and retreat out of the center.

Using those steps this strategy should work. Try not to be killed, there are a lot of little snakes hanging around there too. This strategy is a 4 Star strategy that works, but sometimes it won't work right. Another way is to head to the center and grab 5,000 mass, then retreat to the left, right, top, or bottom.

## Small Sniper

This strategy consists in following a very large snake. Sooner or later it is going to be killed and you can take all, or at least some, of its mass.

## Greedily Generous

Once a snake reaches a very large length, such as 30,000 or 40,000, it may make an enormous circle and eat whatever food is on the outside. Do the following steps:

1. Get a decent size, so no one can coil themselves around you
2. Go to the center of the map, where the most snakes are
3. Make a giant circle. If you are lucky, you may trap some snakes inside.
4. Chances are, if you are big enough, perhaps a hundred snakes will hang around close to you. A lot of food from snakes will build up on the outside of the circle. Eat as much of it as you can.
5. Only stick about 1/2 of your head on the outside of your circle. If you stick out more, a snake may kill you. (In other words, don't get greedy.)
6. Stick as much of your head on the outside as you can. If you do not, your coil will slowly decrease in size to the point where someone can make a coil around you.
7. Stay in your circle for as long as you can, perhaps hours, and you will have hundreds of thousands of mass before you know it!

## Trapping Loop

Double Trapping is an uncommon variation of trapping. While a snake is trapping another snake, one would trap the trapping snake. This strategy can be rather difficult, however, since the larger snake could easily stop  trapping the smaller snake. Once this strategy has been mastered, triple, quadruple, and quintuple trapping should be possible as well.

## Synergy Trapping

2-player trapping is a very rare strategy as it involves teaming up with another player. It can be very difficult to trap a very large snake, but it is possible to do when two snakes are trapping it.

## Trap Stopper

When you are being trapped, try to put your body near the bigger snake's body. It will kill the snake if it is not smart enough. Although most bigger snakes will avoid it, it will cause it to give up and free you. If 2 snakes are trapped, you can dogfight the bigger snake that is encircled then kill the bigger one. When the larger snake gets it, ram in front and kill it. This strategy can also be used when you are not the snake being encircled, but simply on the outside of the snake which is encircling.

## Starting Strong

As soon as you spawn in, purposely avoid eating and try to stay as small as possible. Do not spam your energy. Even if you come across a food stealing opportunity, do not take it. Then, try to kill a giant snake by lunging in front of it. You will become big very quickly. As soon as you kill the big snake, you can start eating. Then, go on and play the game as a big snake.

## Butt-end Eater

Because big snakes oftentimes are slower, they boost to go quickly. If you stay near the tail end of one while it's boosting, you can pick up the food it drops as it moves. This is a good way to get food when you are small. Beware of other snakes and circling as always.

## Big Snake Trap Escape

Because big snakes often surround smaller ones, this requires precise movement. If you are surrounded by a bigger snake, make a boost trail while avoiding the snake's body to bring in the snake's head. This will trick the snake into becoming vulnerable, which is when you strike while being careful. Then eat some of the mass left behind. Because certain snakes are greedy, once you get the amount you need, run out of the infested area.