In Gorilla Tag, movement is everything. While wall running and vertical climbing often take the spotlight, branching is arguably the most dynamic and versatile form of locomotion in the game. Branching allows players to chain movements across tree branches, moving swiftly through the treetops while maintaining unpredictability. Unlike other movement styles, branching requires both precision and adaptability; you’re not just climbing—you’re creating routes in real time while staying ahead of your opponents.
This article will provide a complete deep dive into branching, covering beginner fundamentals, drills, advanced tricks, and map-specific strategies. By the end, you’ll have the tools and techniques to dominate treetop chases, whether you’re avoiding skilled taggers or hunting down evasive runners.
The Fundamentals of Branching
Branching may look chaotic, but it follows clear mechanics. At its core, it is about connecting your hand placement, jumps, and swings from one branch to the next. Unlike simple wall running, which has predictable patterns, branching forces you to think in three dimensions.
The first fundamental skill is learning how branches react to your hand motions. Instead of aggressively slapping branches, you must place your hands with purpose, using controlled motions to generate smooth transitions. This efficiency ensures you don’t waste stamina or momentum while moving.
Another key fundamental is understanding vertical versus horizontal branching. Vertical branching involves climbing higher into trees for safety, while horizontal branching prioritizes speed and quick escapes. A good player must know when to switch between the two depending on the situation.
Choosing the Best Trees for Practice
Not all trees are equal for branching practice. Some are too tall, requiring advanced skill, while others have overly spaced-out branches that punish beginners. The Forest map is widely considered the best place to start because of its balance between accessibility and complexity.
Look for “starter trees” with multiple branching options close together. These allow you to test different pathways without risking long falls. Practicing on trees that connect to others also helps you develop an instinct for chaining routes, which is essential in real matches.
As you progress, challenge yourself by moving to taller trees or ones with uneven branch spacing. This forces you to improve your adaptability, a critical trait since opponents will not always chase you toward ideal practice routes.
Hand Placement and Grip Technique
Hand placement determines whether you succeed or fall. Beginners often slap their hands directly on top of branches, causing awkward stops. Instead, think of gripping at an angle, so your hands pull your body across rather than against the branch.
Use your palms and fingertips together for stability. The tighter and more balanced the grip, the smoother your transitions will be. If your hand placement is sloppy, you’ll waste precious time and allow pursuers to catch up.
Practicing slow, deliberate branch grips before attempting high-speed routes builds muscle memory. Once your grip style becomes second nature, you can increase speed without sacrificing control.
Mastering Momentum and Flow
Momentum is the secret sauce of branching. Without flow, you’ll end up stopping on every branch, which makes you easy prey for taggers. Instead, think of branching as a dance—where one movement should always lead into the next.
Players often struggle by pushing off branches too hard. Overshooting causes loss of rhythm and forces you to restart. Conversely, pushing too softly makes it impossible to reach the next branch. The trick is consistency: push just enough to maintain smooth forward motion.
One effective exercise is to pick a sequence of four branches and practice connecting them in a loop. Repeat this loop until you can maintain the same rhythm without stuttering. Flow-based drills like this are invaluable for training speed and precision.
Beginner Drills for Branching
Every skill in Gorilla Tag benefits from structured drills, and branching is no exception. Beginners should focus on small, controlled challenges before attempting advanced maneuvers.
Drill 1: Triangle Loop
Pick three branches forming a triangle and rotate through them in sequence. This develops rhythm and teaches you how to change direction without losing speed.
Drill 2: Branch Ladder
Climb from the lowest branch of a tree to the top by chaining upward swings. This builds vertical adaptability while training grip precision.
Drill 3: Chase Simulation
Have a friend play the tagger while you only branch around one tree. This adds pressure and forces you to practice under realistic conditions.
These drills prepare beginners for the intensity of actual matches while building the muscle memory required for smooth branching.
Advanced Branching Techniques
Once the basics feel natural, it’s time to upgrade to advanced moves. One such move is speed branching, where you intentionally skip smaller branches to cover more ground. This requires stronger pushes and a sharp eye for branch placement.
Another advanced trick is branch redirecting. Instead of committing to a straight path, you switch directions mid-branching, leaving pursuers confused. Combining redirection with sudden vertical climbing makes you unpredictable.
Finally, fake drops are another tool in your arsenal. Pretend to fall from a branch, then quickly grab a lower one to continue your route. This is especially effective against aggressive taggers who overcommit to chasing your descent.
Offensive vs. Defensive Branching
Branching isn’t just for escaping; it’s also a powerful offensive tool. When hunting, branching allows you to cut off opponents from above or match their movements while keeping the high ground.
Defensive branching focuses on survival, requiring unpredictability and evasive maneuvers. You’ll often climb higher and use redirections to tire out opponents. Offensive branching, on the other hand, emphasizes speed and positioning. By memorizing shortcuts, you can ambush players or chase them down more efficiently.
The best Gorilla Tag players know when to switch between offense and defense mid-branching. Sometimes, climbing higher defensively creates opportunities to strike offensively once your opponent makes a mistake.
Map-Specific Branching Routes
Each Gorilla Tag map introduces unique branching challenges.
- Forest Map: The most balanced map for branching, with circular routes connecting multiple trees. Excellent for both practice and competitive play.
- Canyons Map: Sparse branching, requiring mixed techniques with wall climbing. Best for intermediate players looking to expand versatility.
- Caves Map: Limited trees but high verticality. Players must combine branching with wall grabs to survive.
- Mountains Map: Slippery terrain makes branching less reliable, but hybrid routes using slides and trees create creative escape paths.
Learning map-specific branching paths ensures you’re never caught off guard.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Branching comes with pitfalls that even experienced players fall into.
- Overreaching: Trying to grab distant branches often results in falling.
- Over-reliance on one tree: Sticking to the same routes makes your movement predictable.
- Ignoring momentum: Pausing on branches destroys your rhythm and makes you an easy target.
- Panic jumping: When pressured, many players make wild jumps, wasting stamina and control.
Avoiding these mistakes elevates your skill and ensures consistency during intense matches.
Training Routines for Continuous Improvement
To truly master branching, consistent practice routines are essential. Dedicate 15–20 minutes per session to structured drills, alternating between offensive and defensive styles.
Incorporate partner training, where one person branches while the other tags. This simulates real-game pressure and builds adaptability.
Finally, record your gameplay. Reviewing your movement highlights weaknesses you may not notice mid-game, such as hesitations, sloppy hand placements, or overreliance on certain routes.
Conclusion
Branching in Gorilla Tag is more than a flashy trick—it’s a vital survival and hunting skill that separates average players from elite competitors. By focusing on hand placement, momentum, drills, and map-specific strategies, you can transform into a branching master capable of outmaneuvering even the most skilled taggers. With practice and patience, the treetops will become your domain, giving you both the speed and unpredictability needed to dominate every match.
