How to play DrawDuel.io
Everyone gets the same word and ninety seconds. Win a Ranked Duel and your rating climbs! The steps below are the rules. The tips come from a lot of lost rounds.
Hit Play and pick a mode
You play as a guest, nothing to download. Ranked Duel pairs you with the next person in the queue. Party Duel opens a room on a four-letter code, for a table of up to 5. Grab your friends!
Read the prompt and commit early
You both get the same word and the clock starts right away. Draw the first thing you think of! More rounds are probably lost hunting for a cleverer idea than by drawing badly.
Draw for recognition first
Judge Bob has to tell what it is before anything else counts. Block in the big shape first. Then spend what’s left on the one detail that settles it, like the tail on the dog.
See what Judge Bob makes of it
Clock’s up! Every drawing goes to Judge Bob. He scores each one, names a winner and writes one line on why. Expect to argue with him now and then.
Go again!
Win and your rating jumps. Early on a loss costs half of what a win pays, so keep queueing!
What wins rounds
- Outline first! Judge Bob scores the silhouette before anything else, and you can’t fix an outline in the last ten seconds.
- Spend the last ten seconds on the detail that settles what it is. A tail beats shading.
- Add a second color only when it makes the subject clearer.
- Writing the word scores close to nothing. Judge Bob is told to look for it, and he loves catching it.
Things people ask
Do I need to be good at drawing?
No! Judge Bob scores what you drew before how well you drew it. A plain cat with the right outline beats a careful drawing he can’t name. Most people on the ladder probably can’t draw much either.
Is it free?
Yes. Nothing to download or pay for, and you don’t need an account to start.
Do I need an account?
No, you can play as a guest. A guest gets a few duels a day. A free account has no cap and keeps your rating and your spot on the leaderboard.
How long does a duel take?
Ninety seconds of drawing, then a few seconds for the verdict. About two minutes, start to finish.
Can I draw against someone specific instead of a stranger?
Yes! Start a party and send the four-letter code. Two of you or up to 5, same prompt for everyone. It’s free, needs no account, and pays XP and coins rather than rating.
Which duels move my rating?
Only Ranked Duels. A party is unranked and pays XP and coins, so a round with friends can’t cost you your league. Meeting the same opponent over and over pays less each time: 6 duels together in 7 days at full rating, then less, and from the 11th nothing either way.
Can more than two of us play?
Yes. A party seats up to 5 on the same prompt, and Judge Bob scores the whole table in one verdict. Hosting is free and your friends only need the code. Bring everyone!
Can I play on my phone?
Yes! Any modern mobile browser, drawing with your finger. Add it to your home screen and it opens like an app.