How to avoid arrow traps in Spelunky 2

One of the easiest ways to die in Spelunky 2, especially in previous levels, is the arrow trap. They can be recognized by the dragon-style carvings on the side, with the mouths pointing in the direction the arrow will shoot.

Getting hit by an arrow isn't instant death, but it takes away two of your health points and can also hit you hard enough to change your momentum. This can sometimes be powerful enough to push you straight into another trap or into an enemy that can hit you out of your control.

However, there are several ways to cancel these deadly contraptions.

Use an item to activate them

Perhaps the easiest way to activate them is to throw an object in the row of one. They will only trigger if something goes past them in alignment and about seven tiles close, so if you have an enemy that is stunned or a loose object that you can throw in their path, that will trigger the trap. This includes arrows that have been shot from other arrow traps.

You can also use your pet as a shield for one, although doing so will damage them and potentially incapacitate them, meaning no rewards at the end of a level.

Blow them up

Traps are destructible, so if you're unsure if you can get past one without an object, you can use a bomb to destroy it. You can also use the bomb as an item to trigger the trap, but it will mean that you are throwing a bomb in the area, which can make the path to the end of the level more difficult, especially if you are missing more bombs or strings.

Fall in front of them

With enough momentum from a high drop, you can just fall faster than the trap can shoot you. This means the arrow will drop after you've already passed it, but you'll have to be careful that the arrow's bounce doesn't hit you as it will still count as a hit.

Break the whip

By far the most difficult method to achieve is to simply break your whip when the arrow approaches you. This should bring the arrow out of the air. However, this should only be used as a last resort, as the sync window to achieve this is incredibly narrow. However, if you are sure you can do this, it will allow you to pass most traps without a scratch.