1. Same seven prompts
Everyone on the planet gets the same categories, in the same order, once a day.
Field notes
How to play Krillion.
A daily trivia dive. Correct is not enough. Uncommon and still accepted is the whole game.
2. One answer, ~20 seconds
Type a single thing that fits. Research is not the point. What you know is what you dive with.
3. Rarity is the score
Your word is compared with every other valid answer. Crowded answers barely move you.
4. Points become depth
Each point is 10 metres. Around 700 points / 7,000 metres is a near-perfect trench day.
Understanding the scoring system
Krillion uses a rarity-based scoring system where your answer's value depends on how many other players submit the same answer. The game compares your submission against all valid answers for that prompt and assigns a score based on scarcity.
The six rarity tiers
- Plankton (10 points) — The most common answers. Everyone thought of it. You barely sink beneath the surface.
- Too Clever (15 points) — Valid but still crowded. A step above obvious but not rare enough.
- Schooler (30 points) — Moderately common. You're swimming with a smaller school of players.
- Rare (60 points) — Uncommon answers. This is where strategic thinking pays off.
- Deep Cut (85 points) — Very few players submitted this. You're diving into the abyss.
- One in a Krillion (100 points) — The rarest accepted answers. Only a handful of players found this. Trench territory.
A perfect 700-point game (seven 100-point answers) translates to 7,000 metres depth — the deepest possible dive. Most strong players aim for 400+ points (4,000 metres), which puts you in the abyssal zone.
Core strategy principles
Burn two seconds
Your first idea is the school's idea. List three valid answers in your head before you commit. The answer that comes second or third is usually rarer than the first.
Specific beats general
”Axolotl” usually out-dives “dog” on an animal prompt, if it clearly fits the category. Specific examples from specialized knowledge score higher.
Stay inside the category
A rare reject scores zero. Clever-but-wrong is the most expensive move. When in doubt, pick the safe rare answer over the risky perfect one.
Type before panic
Pick by second ten. A typo on a brilliant answer scores the same as a blank. Speed matters, but accuracy matters more.
Know your knowledge
Play to your strengths. If you know obscure cocktails, dive deep on drink prompts. If you're weak on geography, play it safer with a mid-tier answer.
Avoid the clever trap
Don't chase edge cases that might be rejected. “Is mayonnaise an instrument?” is funny but scores nothing. Stick to answers you're confident are valid.
Advanced tactics
Reading the prompt carefully
Prompts are worded precisely. “Name a fruit” excludes vegetables. “Name something red” is broader than “Name a red fruit.” The narrower the category, the smaller the valid answer pool, which means mid-tier answers become safer bets.
Using your niche knowledge
Your obscure hobbies and interests are advantages here. If you know bird species, obscure cocktails, vintage cars, or rare minerals, those prompts are your opportunity to dive deep. Most players default to common knowledge, so specialized knowledge wins.
Handling broad categories
On very broad prompts like “Name an animal,” going obscure is safer because the valid answer pool is huge. This is when “axolotl” beats “dog.” But on narrow prompts like “Name a bird that can't fly,” the pool is smaller, so even mid-tier answers (like “penguin”) might be common.
Time management
You get roughly 15-20 seconds per prompt. A good rhythm is: 2 seconds to read, 8 seconds to think of alternatives, 5 seconds to type, 3 seconds buffer. Don't spend all 20 seconds thinking — leave time to actually submit.
Spelling and variants
The game is strict about spelling. “Colour” vs “color” might both work depending on the answer list, but typos like “colur” will be rejected. If you're unsure about spelling, pick a different answer you can spell confidently.
Common mistakes to avoid
Overthinking narrow prompts
On a prompt like “Name a day of the week,” there are only seven valid answers. Going obscure is impossible. Take the safe mid-tier answer and move on.
Underthinking broad prompts
On “Name an animal,” typing “dog” wastes the opportunity. Broad prompts are where you can safely dive deep without risking a rejection.
Ignoring the clock
A blank answer scores zero. It's better to submit a common answer for 10 points than to overthink and run out of time.
Chasing perfection
Don't sacrifice five solid 60-point answers trying to find seven 100-point answers. Consistency beats home runs.
Example walkthrough
Let's say the prompt is: ”Name something you drink out of.”
Common answers (10-15 points)
Cup, glass, mug, bottle — these are the first things everyone thinks of. You'll score Plankton tier.
Mid-tier answers (30-60 points)
Wine glass, tumbler, flask, thermos — more specific but still widely known. Schooler or Rare tier.
Deep answers (85-100 points)
Quaich (Scottish drinking bowl), chalice, goblet, stein, flute, snifter — specialized glassware or cultural items. Few players will think of these. Deep Cut or One in a Krillion tier.
The winning strategy here is to skip “cup” in the first two seconds, consider “wine glass,” then land on something like “chalice” or “stein” — specific enough to be rare but clearly valid.
Practice modes
The Daily Dive is one attempt per day, but the official site offers practice modes that don't affect your daily score:
- Unlimited Classic — Same format as the daily dive, but you can play as many rounds as you want. Perfect for testing strategies.
- Movies Pack — Film-specific prompts. If you know obscure directors, cult films, or foreign cinema, this is your playground.
- Sports Pack — Athletics, teams, and competitions. Niche sports knowledge (like Olympic events or obscure rules) scores higher.
- Geography Pack — Countries, cities, and landmarks. Knowing small nations, remote islands, or historical place names helps here.
Use these modes to calibrate your sense of what's common vs rare. After a few practice rounds, you'll start to recognize which answers are too obvious and which are risky edge cases.
How many prompts are in Krillion?
Seven shared prompts each day, the same set for every player. The prompts reset at 04:00 UTC daily.
How long do you get per prompt?
About 15–20 seconds per prompt. The timer starts as soon as the category appears. A blank or unsubmitted answer scores nothing.
How does scoring work?
Rarer accepted answers score more. Each point is 10 metres of depth. 700 points is the trench floor. Your answer is compared against all other valid answers for that prompt.
Can I play more than once?
The daily dive is one attempt per day. Use official unlimited mode and themed packs (Movies, Sports, Geography) for extra practice without affecting your daily score.
What happens if I misspell an answer?
Misspellings are usually rejected. The game accepts some spelling variants but most typos will score zero. Type carefully before the timer ends.
Can I skip a prompt?
No. Leaving a prompt blank scores zero for that category. You still continue to the next prompt, but you lose 100 potential points.
What makes an answer rare?
An answer is rare when few other players submit it. Common answers (what most people think of first) score low. Specific, unusual answers that are still valid score high.
How do I know if my answer is accepted?
After you submit each answer, the game shows whether it was accepted and reveals its rarity score. You cannot change an answer after submission.