I’m a senior participating in this year’s game of Senior Assassins with a brother who made it to the final round of his respective game. I feel qualified to give advice as to how to succeed in a senior assassin’s game.

These are some of my best tips to avoid assassination.

Communicate with your team members

Whether your game has teams of two or teams of four, communication is key. You need to be able to communicate information about your targets, or any plans you have for an assassination. Get that group chat started and keep your ringer on to keep up to date with any new information.
Take safety gear seriously

In senior assassins safety gear is not a joke. Make sure you wear it at all times unless a purge is happening. You don’t want to be the first one out of the whole game because you forgot to put on goggles while walking your dog in the morning.

No matter how silly you think you look, it is still very important. If you are not willing to wear a tutu while getting your nails done or a cowboy hat while grocery shopping, are you even committed to the game? Don’t risk your team’s success by making a careless mistake.

Read the rule book carefully

Every game of senior assassins differs in rules, even if it is the same school but a different year. Each game maker or game-making team has a different interpretation of the same game. If you are unsure if something is against the rules, just take a peek at the rule book.

Sometimes the rules prove to be vague. In that case, reach out directly to the game maker to double-check your question. This year alone the same person has been killed three separate times in one round because of misreadings of the rulebook.

Use your connections

If you are given a target that you do not know much about, reach out to people you know. Sometimes they are able to give you the information in return for something they need. Be careful when reaching out to other students because they can always betray you.

Do you need to know the activities or jobs of your target? A quick Instagram stalking session can solve all of your problems. A lot of times people have what they do after school right in their bio.

Utilize your family

Your family members are your number one resource for free support. Parents and siblings also have different connections than you might have, meaning more ways to assassinate your target. More times than not your family may also be willing to lie for you.

They can easily watch your back and inform you of any movement outside of your house. Allow them to get involved because this is just as fun for them. It allows them to be in the experience with you.

Create a plan

There is no use going into an assassination without a plan. Winging an assassination is like going into a Pre-Calc test without doing any of the homework, doomed for disaster. You could get blindsided and attacked, or if you are my group, just get caught in the act.

If you draft a plan of where you and your teammates can hide and the time that is best for the assassination then you are more likely to succeed. Google Maps is your friend and can often show you where the best hiding places are. Don’t forget to hide your car in case the plan fails and you need to make a run for it.

Be aware of your surroundings

It is necessary to always be on the lookout for suspicious movement, especially during a purge. Common places for people to hide are by cars, behind bushes, or around corners. Most tend to still make noise so always listen for any faint whispers or giggles.

Teams often follow their targets home to use their address in the future or to try and get an assassination there and then. If you think someone is following you, take a few wrong turns in your neighborhood to lose them. If you can’t lose them, just drive to a grocery store or even a police station to force them to give up.

Keep your lips locked

Senior Assassins is a game that needs to be taken seriously. Avoid letting any information about your targets out to just anyone. If you are trying to gain information, tread carefully.

Betrayal is inevitable in this game, but it is less likely if you keep everything you know to just your team. Your personal whereabouts are very valuable pieces of information for many people. Don’t talk about your weekend plans too loudly during the passing periods where just anyone can hear.

Purges are to be feared

No matter what type of purge is in place, it is a scary time for everyone. There is no safety and the only way to survive is to stay in the comfort of your own home, or, in my case, my boyfriend’s home which is almost an hour away.

You have the option to hunt your targets or anyone participating. If you take that route, know what you are getting yourself into, and do not make any decisions without letting your team know. This is ultimately a team game, and you need to do whatever it takes to ensure your team wins.

Take this advice with a grain of salt and play the game so it is fun. There is no need to stress too much. The game is meant to connect the senior class before graduation and to maybe make a little money out of it.