Survival fundamentals
A run ends when Lara hits a deadly obstacle, falls, or loses all her health in combat, unless you continue with a Resurrection Ankh. Smaller collisions make her stumble, which costs control for a moment; Steel Toe Inserts shorten stumbles. The longer a run lasts, the more frequent and difficult obstacles become.
Look ahead
Focus on the path two obstacles ahead, not on Lara.
One clean input
One deliberate swipe per obstacle. Double inputs cause most accidents.
Centre by default
The middle lane keeps both escape directions open.
Obstacle avoidance
Fan documentation lists these core trap types. Rather than memorise a fixed answer for each, read every trap the same way: is it low (jump), high (slide) or does it fill a lane (move around it)? Moving traps add timing.
| Trap | What to watch | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Swinging beams and pendulums | The swing rhythm | Commit when the gap opens; never jump into a returning swing |
| Floor spikes | Where the spikes sit on the path | Usually a jump; watch for a second set right after |
| Spike walls | Which lanes they block | Move to the open lane early |
| Rolling balls | Their lane and direction | Get out of their lane; avoid last-second swerves |
| Sawblades | Height and lane | Read whether it is low, high or lane-blocking before reacting |
Jumping strategies
- Jump late rather than early. An early jump lands Lara before the obstacle passes.
- Use a fixed trigger point. Swipe when the obstacle reaches the same spot on screen every time.
- Plan the landing. Know what comes after the jump before you swipe.
- Prefer lane changes over tight jumps when both would work.
Sliding strategies
- Slide for anything at head height, such as beams and overhangs.
- Don't slide by reflex. A slide at the wrong time can leave you unable to jump the next obstacle.
- Total slide distance counts toward It's Just Skin; avoiding slides entirely is required for Jumper.
Lane changes and turns
- One swipe moves one lane. Two quick swipes move two lanes; this is the most common lane accident.
- Return to centre after dodging unless the route needs a side.
- Swipe for turns as the bend arrives, not long before.
- Keep swipes horizontal. Diagonal swipes can be read as jumps or slides.
Wall runs
Wall runs are one of Lara's signature parkour moves. From the middle lane, swipe twice toward the wall. If you are already in the outer lane on that side, one swipe is enough. A tutorial update added wall-run hints because this input trips up many players.
Take every wall run you are offered. You'll learn the input faster, and it adds distance to Off the Wall (500 metres on walls) and moves to Athleticism (20 parkour moves in one run).
Regional hazards
Jungle Temple
Pendulums, including the triple pendulums, plus beams, spikes and plants Lara runs through.
Desert Ruins
Many trap types (Kobold Conquered asks for nine in one run), smashable windows, doors and pottery, and chandeliers.
Mountain Pass
Icicles (some falling), large bells, pots, ice barriers and drops into the abyss.
Difficult sequences
Late in a run, traps arrive in tight chains. Break them down:
- Find the anchors. Identify the moves that are forced, such as a jump over spikes that cover every lane.
- Choose the simplest filler. Between anchors, use the safest input, often staying put.
- Avoid extra lane changes. Every unnecessary swipe is a chance to mis-swipe.
- Reset after the chain. Return to the middle lane on the next calm stretch.
Reaction improvement
- Move your focus point higher up the screen as speed increases.
- Play in short sessions; reaction time drops when you are tired.
- Close background apps if the game stutters. Fan wikis suggest this helps on older devices, and lag ruins timing.
- Pause if your phone gets hot; performance and accuracy both suffer.
Staying alive longer
- Head Start moves Lara some distance into the run.
- Protective Aura (where available) can be tapped to protect Lara from crashing for a short time; upgrades extend it.
- Steel Toe Inserts shorten stumbles.
- Ankhs let you continue after a death without losing the run's progress or collected clues.
Common running mistakes
- Watching Lara instead of the path ahead.
- Double swiping into the obstacle you were avoiding.
- Diagonal swipes read as the wrong move.
- Chasing coins into unknown lanes.
- Checking the HUD mid-sequence.
- Jumping too early at pendulums and spikes.
- Staying in an outer lane with only one escape route.
Advanced survival tips
- Name your deaths. After each run, identify the cause in one phrase to spot patterns.
- Learn transitions. Many deaths happen right after combat or vehicle sections end; expect obstacles immediately.
- Plan two moves ahead so each dodge sets up the next.
- Save Ankhs for runs above your average distance or with valuable clues.