How to play pen fight
Pen fight is played on a school desk with two pens and no equipment beyond what is already in your bag. The rules take thirty seconds to learn. Winning consistently takes considerably longer.
The rules
Place your pens
Both players put one pen on opposite halves of the desk, lying flat and across the table. Nothing else goes on the surface.
Take turns
Players alternate. On your turn you may flick your own pen exactly once. You may not touch it again until your next turn.
Wait for everything to stop
The next shot cannot begin while any pen is still sliding or spinning. This is what makes the game about reading the board rather than reacting quickly.
Knock the other pen off
A pen is out the moment it crosses the edge of the desk. Whoever is left on the table wins the round.
Do not knock yourself off
If your own pen leaves the table you lose the round — even if you took your opponent's pen with you. Overhitting is the most common way to lose.
Play the series
Rounds are usually played as best of five. Reset both pens to their starting halves after each round and let the loser of the round shoot first.
Technique
Grab the pen off-centre to spin it
A flick delivered away from the middle of the barrel turns the pen as it travels. Useful for curling around an opponent; terrible when you wanted a straight shot.
Aim past your target, not at it
Hitting the exact centre of the opposing pen transfers a clean push. If the pen behind it has nowhere to go, that push does nothing. Aim at the half of the pen nearest the edge.
Half power is usually enough
Full power sends your own pen most of the way across the desk, which is exactly where you do not want to be. Short, controlled shots win series.
Park in the middle
The safest square inch of the table is the centre. Ending your turn there means your opponent needs two good hits instead of one.
A light pen shoves harder
Because a flick delivers a fixed impulse, a lighter pen leaves your finger faster and hands more speed to whatever it hits. It is also the easiest pen to knock off. Pick your poison.
Controls in Pen Fight Mania
| Action | Desktop | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Walk | W A S D or arrow keys | Joystick, bottom left |
| Enter the arena | E, next to the desk | Tap “Play Pen Fight” |
| Aim | Drag back from your pen | Drag back from your pen |
| Power | Drag further | Drag further |
| Add spin | Start the drag off-centre | Start the drag off-centre |
| Flick | Release | Lift your finger |
Want the full rulebook, including fouls and the arguments people actually have? Read the rules. Ready to win rather than just play? Nine tactics.