Your first three nails

Choose a champion when the game opens. Move your mouse or pointer to line up the hammer with the nail head; the hammer follows your aim. On a touchscreen, use the play area to position your aim and the selected champion’s attack control. Start with the stationary nails to get a feel for the timing before the conveyor begins.

Choose your swing. Ol Faithful charges while you hold and swings when you release. Autoclicker swings on each click. Nome swings automatically while you aim.
Watch the nail, not just the hammer. Aim at the head. A centered strike is more useful than a hurried swing between targets.
Finish the job. Tougher nails can take multiple hits. Sink the nail completely to earn its value, then shift to the next threat.

The first wave gives you three stationary nails. From the second wave, nails travel across the board. Keep an eye on the left edge: an unfinished nail that escapes costs ten times its value.

The workshop runs on Copper

Your wallet is a survival resource as well as a shopping budget. Sinking nails earns currency; escaped nails impose penalties; buying equipment spends part of your cushion. A negative balance ends the run. Before buying a part, consider whether you can still absorb an escape.

A practical early-run habit: clear the nail nearest the exit before chasing a fresh nail on the right. When several are close together, a well-aimed splash attack or active item can help clear the backlog.

Between waves: choose, then build

Resolving a wave leads to a reward choice. Read each option before selecting it: some strengthen your champion’s build, while others improve damage, swing speed, or hit area for this run. The loadout shop refreshes after waves; check the new stock instead of assuming the same part will always be available.

The shop pauses the action. Use it to compare the displayed price, effect, and equipped part. Your four active-item slots are for limited-use tools; turrets have their own controls. The champion and upgrade guide explains how these choices work together.

When the board gets crowded

Do not spread weak hits across every nail unless your build rewards it. Finishing an endangered target removes a penalty risk. Freeze Charge buys time, Fear Bomb pushes nearby threats away from the exit, and Rampart temporarily blocks nails on its right. Save these tools for a problem they can actually solve, then activate them before the line is already lost.

The Nail Factory encounter introduces a larger target that keeps pressure on the workshop. Continue watching the ordinary nails as well as the boss. Turrets and active items can help, but they do not remove the need to aim and manage your wallet.

What carries into another run?

Each run starts with a fresh champion choice and build. Your best score and unlocked cosmetic hammer skins persist; your run’s purchases and power do not become a permanent head start. Cosmetic skins change the look, not the champion’s combat rules. The global leaderboard gives you a score to chase after a run ends.

Use the same browser to retain your local player identity. Clearing site data can reset locally saved progression. There is no account sign-in promising cross-device saves.

Quick fixes and common questions

Do I need to pay or download anything?: No. The browser game is free. Optional support checkout is currently test-only and accepts no real payments.
Can I play without analytics or ads?: Yes. Choose essential-only privacy settings; the game still works. The privacy controls remain available at the bottom of the page.
Why is the play area missing or unusually small?: Reload the page to receive the October 12 responsive-layout fix. If it persists, report your device, browser, and approximate window size to the contact on our About page. Do not clear your saved game data as the first troubleshooting step.
Where are sound and music controls?: The top controls let you mute sound effects and music separately, and adjust music volume. A browser may require an initial interaction before audio starts.