Signal → what to do
- The number on Teller’s screen goes up by one after each room—the queue is moving.
- Some rooms have lit-up screens with a number on them. That’s the current queue number, so check it against your ticket.
- A red bar has appeared on the screen—that’s your number. Return your ticket right away.
- The screens show two numbers at once, one red and one yellow—that means two Tellers are after you.
- Teller’s screen turns completely red, like a "blue screen of death"—Ransom is attacking you.
- Teller stretches and shuts down—it’s out of tickets, so you’re free to go.
How to Beat Teller
The rules are simple. Teller gives you a ticket and asks for it back after the number of rooms shown on it. Then it moves to the end of each next room, and the counter goes up by one each time.
Here’s what I do after getting a ticket: 1. Check the number on the ticket and the number on Teller’s screen. 2. Work out which room it’ll ask for the ticket in: ticket number minus the current number, plus the number of the room you’re in. 3. In that room, stay close to Teller instead of running ahead. 4. When the red bar appears, return the ticket right away.
If you can’t return the ticket—for example, because you’re too far away—hide in a closet. Teller will try to break in, hit the closet, shake its injured hand, and shut down. It’s a decent backup plan, but don’t make it your first choice.
Don’t wait around in the queue room. If you take too long to grab a ticket, it’ll end up in your inventory automatically.
Where Teller Appears
Only in The Archives. Teller appears in a special room and blocks the exit until you take a Waiting Ticket. Its room can appear even if another Teller is already rolling after you.
A second Teller is more common in later sectors. A fourth one can appear too, but that’s extremely rare.
Common Teller Mistakes
- Waiting in the queue room for Teller to move on its own. It won’t clear the exit until you take a Waiting Ticket.
- Running a couple of rooms ahead. The bar will fill up before you can get back.
- Mixing up the numbers for two Tellers. The second one has its own queue number and ticket.
- Trying to outrun Teller to the last door. That won’t work anymore: the final door now says "It's blocking the door...".
- Forgetting that Bash can open the door to the next room. This affects Teller if you’re supposed to return a ticket there.
Who Is Teller?
Teller is a wooden tailor’s mannequin on wheels, wearing a brown shirt and a black skirt. One of its arms has been replaced by a metal hole punch. In front of its face is a queue screen that says "Now serving," and behind the screen is a head with wires for hair and a big jaw. Players also call it a ticket clerk or cashier.
The Journal says Teller probably isn’t conscious: its movements seem almost programmed. Its caption is pretty clear too: it crushes your hand with a giant hole punch. So the hole punch isn’t just for show. Teller is listed as a highly dangerous mechanical entity. It’s neutral but deadly, and has been in the game since August 28, 2026.
Two Tellers at Once
A second Teller can appear while the first one is still active. It’s orange and gives you an orange Waiting Ticket. The room screens then show both numbers, one red and one yellow.
It works the same way, but you need to watch the other number. It’s best to work out both ticket return rooms right away using the same formula. The worst timing is when they overlap with another threat, like Ransom. Ransom doesn’t encrypt Teller’s ticket, so it won’t take the ticket from you.
Ransom and Teller used to be a more dangerous combo: you couldn’t return the ticket during a Ransom attack, and an encrypted ticket could even disappear in older versions.
Teller When Playing with Friends
In co-op, each player gets their own Waiting Ticket. Teller shuts down only after it collects them all. As long as even one ticket hasn’t been returned, Teller is still active, so hurry up anyone who’s falling behind.
If the last ticket holder dies after everyone else has returned their tickets, Teller shuts down right where it is. And don’t take too long in the queue room: if you wait around, tickets will be handed out to everyone automatically.
Teller and Its Neighbors in The Archives
Teller rarely works alone. Bash can open the door to the next room and mess up your timing if that’s where you’re supposed to return your ticket. If that leaves you too far from Teller, a closet can save you.
Ransom doesn’t encrypt Teller’s ticket—it counts as a key item, like the cups of water. When Ransom attacks, Teller’s screen turns red, which is a good reason to deal with Ransom first.
In the first few days after The Archives came out, Teller sometimes stopped players from progressing. Progress-blocking bugs were fixed in patches on August 30 and September 1, 2026. The ticket being handed out automatically in the queue room is probably there to keep players from getting stuck too unconfirmed.
Teller Badges
- Now Served — survive Teller. It still counts even if Teller attacks you. Return the ticket in time, survive the damage if you have enough health, or hide in a closet, and Teller will shut down. Uncommon, with the description "You're serving, queen!"
- Patience — complete the entire queue in The Archives. Find Teller and make it through the whole queue line in its room. Uncommon and secret. The description is "It's a virtue."
I get Patience the first time I meet Teller. Going through the queue is easy, and it’s easy to forget about it if you leave it for later.
Fun Facts
- Now Served references ballroom culture slang and "to serve," while "queen" nods to drag culture and RuPaul's Drag Race.
- One theory says Teller’s design was partly inspired by Karen from SpongeBob SquarePants unconfirmed.
- If you go through the Subway with an active Teller, Forget-Me-Nots will grow on it. One flower disappears with each step in the queue.
- In the ad for The Archives Update, Teller had a red triangle instead of a number—probably to avoid revealing the mechanic.
- Teller is one of the exceptions to the "any pronouns" rule, like Jeff and Sally.
- The game might support a maximum of 4 Tellers: red, yellow, green, and teal unconfirmed.
Related badges
all badges
Frequently asked questions
How do you beat Teller in DOORS?
How much damage does Teller deal?
Can you hide from Teller?
How do you know which room to return the ticket in?
Why is Teller orange?
How do you get the Patience badge?
What happens if you don’t take a ticket from Teller?
Why did flowers grow on Teller?
See also
What’s Still Unconfirmed (5)
This information comes from announcements and rumors, or is outdated. The label will disappear once it’s confirmed.
- 1Ransom and Teller were a dangerous combination: players couldn't give Teller the ticket while Ransom was attacking.
outdated; this was in older versions · source - 2Under the old mechanic, Ransom could potentially delete the encrypted ticket, guaranteeing a Teller attack.
outdated; this was in older versions · source - 3Automatically giving players a Waiting Ticket probably prevents them from getting stuck and being unable to continue.
rumor, unconfirmed · source - 4Teller's design may be partly inspired by Karen from the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants.
rumor, unconfirmed · source - 5The game may be able to track up to 4 active Tellers, marked in red, yellow, green, and cyan.
rumor, unconfirmed · source
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