14 Multiplayer

Team Composition

In multiplayer, your first decision is who plays which role. The core roles are extractor, distractor, support, and scout. You do not need all four every run, but you should always know who is responsible for which job. A simple way for beginners is to assign at least one dedicated extractor and one dedicated distractor, then let the remaining players flex between support and scouting.

Think of team composition as a balance between machine speed, safety, and information. Too many extractors and you will clear machines fast but wipe if a strong Twisted appears. Too many distractors and you will survive but time out or stall on higher floors. A common and reliable setup for a 4‑player team is two extractors, one distractor, and one flex who helps where needed. In a 3‑player group, one extractor, one distractor, and one flex works well.

Try to complement each other’s strengths. If someone brings a toon that is strong at extraction, let them focus on machines and give them extraction trinkets and items. If someone chooses a more mobile or tanky toon, they are usually better suited for distraction or scouting. Avoid stacking the same exact role unless you are all experienced and coordinating a specific strategy.

Before starting the run, quickly call out your plan. Simple lines like “I am main extractor,” “I will distract,” or “I will scout and bring items” are enough. The key is that everyone knows what they should prioritize so you do not all rush to the same machine or all accidentally kite Twisteds at each other.

Communication

Multiplayer success comes from clear and simple communication. You do not need to talk constantly, but you must share important information quickly. Focus on three things: Twisted locations, machine status, and your own danger level. Whenever you spot a Twisted, say where it is and where it is moving. Keep it short, like “Main hall, going left” or “Near elevator, heading to storage.”

When working on machines, report which machine you are at, how much progress it has, and if it becomes unsafe. Short updates such as “Blue machine half done,” “Skill checks are fast here,” or “Leaving machine, Twisted nearby” help your team decide where to go next. If you fail a skill check, it is helpful to warn others that a Twisted might be coming toward that machine.

Use consistent names for locations. Pick simple labels for common rooms and hallways and keep repeating them across runs. Over time your group will develop a shared language for each map and you will waste less time explaining where you are. If voice chat is not available, use quick pings or short text messages. Say the most important part first, like “Chase on me near elevator” rather than giving a full story.

When you are in trouble, be direct. Say “I am one heart” or “I am out of stamina” so teammates know whether to come help or keep extracting. Silence is often what kills runs. If you cannot safely talk while being chased, at least say “Chased” and your last known area so teammates do not walk into the same danger.

Splitting Machines

In multiplayer, the biggest time gain comes from splitting machines effectively. The goal is to cover different machines without overstacking on one. When the floor starts, spread out in a controlled way. One or two players scout for machines, then call out their positions and decide who takes which. Do not send everyone to the first machine you see unless a Twisted is already nearby.

A useful beginner rule is “two per risky machine, one per safe machine.” If a machine is in an open or dangerous area, two players can work together to finish it quickly and share skill checks. This reduces the chance of repeated failures and cuts the time you spend exposed. If a machine is in a tucked‑away corner with good escape routes, it is often safer for one experienced player to solo it while others cover more ground.

Avoid frequently swapping machines unless there is a reason like a Twisted aggro or a blackout. Every time you move between machines you lose time and risk bumping into Twisteds or into each other’s kites. If a machine is nearly complete, try to finish it before abandoning it. Leaving many half‑done machines scattered around usually confuses the team and leads to wasted backtracking.

Communicate machine priorities. If one machine is almost done, say so and let the nearest teammate help finish it if they are free. If another machine is in a very unsafe spot, consider saving it for last or only attempting it when you know where the current Twisted is. Treat your team as a small network of workers who should always be doing something useful: extracting, distracting, scouting, or supporting, never all idle in the same place waiting for someone else to act.

Sharing Items

Items are much stronger in multiplayer when you treat them as a shared resource instead of personal loot. Healing items, stamina items, and powerful extraction tools often provide more value in the hands of the right teammate. When you find something, quickly decide whether to keep it or pass it to someone whose role benefits more.

Heals are usually best on the players most likely to take risks. In many groups that means the distractor and the main extractor. If your distractor is low on hearts, a single heal might keep them alive long enough to protect everyone else. Stamina items are especially valuable on distractors and scouts who need to be able to kite, reposition, and gather information. Extraction items belong primarily on your most efficient extractors.

Plan meeting points to trade items safely. Announce something like “I have a heal, meet near elevator” or “I have stamina juice, come after you finish that machine.” Avoid dropping items in the middle of hallways or near common Twisted paths, since panicking for an item in a chase can get teammates hit. It is often better to hold onto a clutch item and call out that you have it than to drop it where someone might forget or fail to find it in a tense moment.

Also, respect inventory limits. If you are full, say so, so someone else can pick up useful items instead of leaving them behind. A good habit is to occasionally do a quick check with your team: who has heals, who has stamina items, and who has utility items. This lets you make better decisions about who should take the next item you find.

Coordinating Distractors

Distractors are the shield of the team. In multiplayer, a well coordinated distractor can create long windows where other teammates safely finish machines. The key is planned aggro, not random running. Before or early in the run, decide who is the primary distractor. That player focuses on pulling and holding Twisted attention whenever the team needs a safe extraction window.

When a Twisted is near an important machine, the distractor should move into its vision intentionally, trigger aggro in a controlled way, then kite it away along a known loop. The extractors should wait a short moment, confirm that the Twisted is fully engaged on the distractor, then start or resume machines. If communication is good, you can time this so machines pop shortly before the distractor brings the Twisted back toward safer areas or a different loop.

Avoid having multiple players accidentally share aggro. If the team runs near the distractor’s loop, the Twisted may switch targets and ruin the plan. When someone says “I am kiting,” teammates should avoid that route and work on machines far from the chase. If a second Twisted appears on higher floors, you may assign a secondary distractor, but they should coordinate clearly to avoid crossing paths and sending Twisteds into each other’s routes.

Distractors must also manage their own stamina and safety and communicate when they need a break. If the distractor says “I am low stamina” or “I cannot hold much longer,” extractors must be ready to leave machines early and reposition. The worst outcome is a surprise down where a Twisted is dragged straight to a busy machine cluster. Good distractors call early, and good teammates react quickly.

Reviving and Supporting Teammates

Downed teammates are a critical decision point in multiplayer. Reviving always has risk, but losing a player for the rest of the floor is usually worse. When someone is down, quickly check three things: where the nearest Twisted is, how many machines remain, and who is currently safe enough to attempt the revive. You do not want your main extractor to die on a reckless revive if other players can do it more safely.

Support in multiplayer is not only about healing after damage. It is also about preventing damage in the first place. If you see a teammate being chased near a dead end, call that out and suggest an escape route. If a player is doing a machine in a bad position and you know a Twisted is patrolling nearby, warn them and either take over the machine or stay nearby to be ready for an emergency distraction.

When going for a revive, use items and communication. If you have a stamina item or a heal, plan to use it right before or right after the revive. Have another teammate call out the Twisted’s location so you do not revive into a patrol path. Sometimes it is safer for one player to bait the Twisted away while another revives. You can also leave the revive for a slightly later time if finishing a crucial machine will make the rest of the floor significantly safer.

After a successful revive, do not send the revived player straight into danger. They often have fewer hearts and no items. Let them regroup at a safe area, share a heal if available, and reassign them to a lower–risk task like scouting or safe machines until they are stable. Treat every revive as a small reset of your team’s formation.

Public Lobby Etiquette

In public lobbies you are often playing with strangers who may not share your exact playstyle. Simple etiquette makes these runs smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. At the start, briefly state your intended role, such as “I will extract” or “I can distract.” Even if nobody answers, you have given a clear signal and might encourage others to share their plan.

Avoid blaming or flaming when mistakes happen. Everyone in a public lobby is at a different skill level. Instead of saying “stop failing skill checks,” say something more helpful like “that machine is hot, Twisted is nearby” or “I will come help with that machine.” If a player is new or unsure, give short tips only when relevant, and do not lecture in the middle of a dangerous moment.

Loot and item sharing can be tricky with strangers. A good default is to take what you need, but leave obviously suited items for the right roles when possible. If you see someone clearly acting as a distractor, consider pinging or dropping stamina items for them. If you find extra heals and are doing well, you can leave one near the elevator or a common room and ping it so others can grab it later.

Respect the team’s direction. If most players are clearly pushing machines and playing aggressively, adapt as best you can. If they are playing safe and slow, avoid doing reckless solo pushes that could wipe the group. If someone suggests a simple strategy like “stick in pairs,” following it usually creates more coherent runs than everyone doing their own thing.

Playing With Friends

Playing with friends is the best way to learn multiplayer and practice more advanced coordination. Since you can communicate more freely and know each other’s habits, you can build consistent strategies and roles over many runs. Before starting, agree on a simple structure: who prefers to extract, who likes distracting, and who enjoys support or scouting. Plan your toons and trinkets to complement each other rather than each person picking in isolation.

Use voice or a fast messaging system to coordinate early decisions, like which side of the map each player will scout first. You can also develop named routes and loops specific to your group. Over time, you will know that “left route” or “safe loop” refer to certain patterns of movement and machine coverage that work well for you.

With friends, you can also practice more advanced tactics such as planned double distractions, rotating roles mid–run, or deliberately funneling resources into one player to carry higher floors. Try runs where you swap main roles, for example letting your usual distractor practice extracting. This builds flexibility and helps your group handle unexpected situations, like a key player disconnecting.

Most importantly, keep the mood constructive. Reviewing what went wrong after a failed run is very useful, but do it briefly and with the goal of improving, not blaming. Ask questions like “Should we have split differently on those machines?” or “Did we need two distractors that floor?” Over time, your shared understanding will grow, and coordinated multiplayer will feel smoother and less stressful.