Building Techniques

The realization of chain reactions with dominoes is a highly creative process with nearly endless options for choosing what to build next. This page presents an overview of selected building techniques to get you started, including the most typical elements of large toppling projects as seen on TV and online video platforms.

Straight Line

Straight Line

The most classic arrangement for preparing a chain reaction
Straight Horizontal Line

Straight Horizontal Line

Increased domino stability with a slower toppling speed
Straight Double Line

Straight Double Line

Provides more saliency than just a single straight line
Split

Split

Increases the number of simultaneously toppling domino lines
Double Split

Double Split

Splitting arrangement based on double instead of single domino lines
Domino Bridge

Domino Bridge

The most basic form of bridging over another domino line
Bridge

Bridge

Wooden construction to bridge over another domino line
Stairs

Stairs

Wooden construction to change the altitude of a toppling domino line
Curve

Curve

Basic variant of building a turn of 90 degrees with a single domino line
Double Curve

Double Curve

Basic variant of building a turn of 90 degrees with a double domino line
Falling Turn 1

Falling Turn 1

Trick for realizing a turn of 90 degrees with reduced space requirements
Falling Turn 2

Falling Turn 2

Another trick for realizing a turn of 90 degrees with reduced space requirements
Turning Fence

Turning Fence

Wooden construction allowing for a turn of 180 degrees
Tape Turn

Tape Turn

Minimal space solution for realizing a turn of 180 degrees using a piece of sticky tape
Field

Field

Rectangular arrangement of dominoes potentially also forming a picture
Fallwall

Fallwall

Wooden construction for building a vertical domino field with square "pixels"
Crossover Field

Crossover Field

Displacing every second line of a field for revealing the corresponding picture when toppled
Field Starter

Field Starter

Lengthy piece of plastic on two metal angles for toppling multiple lines at once
Triangle

Triangle

Increasing number of dominoes in each step until all rows of the field can be toppled simultaneously
Toppling Line

Toppling Line

Simple setup for toppling each line of the field one after the other
Spiral

Spiral

Typical spiral arrangement toppling from the outside to the inside
Double Spiral

Double Spiral

Two intertwined spirals toppling from the outside to the inside to the outside again
Circle Field

Circle Field

Circular assemblage of dominoes toppling from the inside to the outside
Simple Tower

Simple Tower

The most basic stacking structure involving only two dominoes per layer
Complex Tower

Complex Tower

More stable tower suitable for achieving greater heights than a simple tower
2D-Pyramid

2D-Pyramid

An assemblage shaped like the 2D projection of a pyramid to be toppled by removing a single domino
3D-Pyramid

3D-Pyramid

A pyramid-shaped assemblage in three dimensions to be toppled by removing a single domino
Wall

Wall

Extension of a 2D-Pyramid resembling the shape of a rectangular wall
Speed Wall

Speed Wall

Variant of a regular domino wall resulting in a faster toppling speed
Turtle

Turtle

Fragile surface made out of dominoes which collapses at a rapid speed
Lines on Lines

Lines on Lines

Extension of domino lines and fields in three dimensions
Sonimod

Sonimod

Simple visual trick based on subsequently removing the supports of leaning dominoes
Dominoes Sideways 1

Dominoes Sideways 1

Several leaning dominoes designed to move upright when an impulse is given
Dominoes Sideways 2

Dominoes Sideways 2

Several leaning dominoes designed to be knocked over one after the other
Elegant Splitting

Elegant Splitting

An elegantly looking way of combining a split and turns of 90 degrees in both directions
Split Ends

Split Ends

Several subsequent splits arranged such that all end points topple at the same time
Small Triangles

Small Triangles

Simple visual trick using three triangularly arranged dominoes as the basic building element
T-Setting

T-Setting

Line of T shapes achieving world-record toppling speeds at larger distances
Builder’s Challenge

Builder’s Challenge

Trial for builders with the goal to fill a gap while the dominoes towards it are already toppling
Marble Board

Marble Board

Marble course designed to delay the toppling of a domino line
Pendulum

Pendulum

Ceiling-mounted pendulum swinging in shrinking circles before toppling another domino line
Domino Template

Domino Template

Tool for simplifying the build of straight lines and fields
Safety Gap

Safety Gap

Simple technique to prevent the entire chain reaction from toppling too early