Deadly Challenge: how to survive 45 seconds

The Deadly Challenge is the hardest game in HeyFootball, and the one that pays the most. Survive 45 seconds while defenders fly at you, and you win a treasure chest with five random prizes. Touch a single defender and it's over. Here's how to finally beat it.

How the Deadly Challenge works

• You control the ball with your finger, mouse or arrow keys.
• Red ☠ defenders fly in from the top and sides, aimed toward you.
• They come faster and more often the longer you survive.
• After about 14 seconds, some defenders become chasers: they bend toward you for a while instead of flying straight.
• One touch and you're out. Reach 45 seconds and you win.

The prize: a treasure chest

Beat it and you open a treasure chest with five random prizes, each one a free pack (Basic, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Rising Stars, Icons or a United pack) or 2,000 coins. You can win one chest a day from the challenge. You can also buy a chest for 5,000 coins in Cards. Learn what each pack is worth in our pack guide.

8 tips to survive

1. Stay low and central

Most defenders enter from the top. Sitting in the lower middle of the pitch gives you the most time to react and space to dodge both ways.

2. Move early, move small

Big sweeping movements put you in the path of defenders you haven't seen yet. Small, early dodges are safer than last-second dives.

3. On a phone, use the offset

On touch screens your ball sits a little above your finger, so your thumb doesn't hide it. Keep your eyes on the ball, not your thumb.

4. Dodge sideways from chasers

Chasers turn toward you, but slowly. Running straight away just lets them follow. Step sideways at the last moment and they can't turn fast enough.

5. Use the edges carefully

Edges feel safe, but defenders also come from the sides. Use them for a quick escape, then get back toward the middle.

6. Watch the gaps, not the defenders

Look for the empty space you're moving into rather than staring at each defender. Your eyes go where your ball goes.

7. The last 10 seconds are the hardest

Defenders are at their fastest at the end. Stay calm, keep your movements small and don't panic-dive across the screen.

8. Practise, then challenge your friends

Every run teaches you the patterns. When you get a good time, hit "Share my score & challenge a friend". They'll get a link straight into the game with your time to beat. More in playing with friends.