Number blocks

A number block is one big block spread over several cells, with a number painted on it. They first appear in level 9, Pizza Slice, where the three pepperoni rounds are number blocks.

The rules

• The number is how many bites the block still needs from ants of its color.
• It can be bitten as soon as any one of its sides is exposed.
• Several ants can bite it at the same time, so two boxes of its color can work on it together.
• At 0 the whole block disappears at once, which can open a big hole in the picture.
• The numbers on the boxes already include all of these bites.

What it means for your plan

A number block is a big chunk of one color that only becomes useful once one side is open. Until then, every box of its color is weaker than it looks. Once it is open, it is the safest target in the picture: it takes many ants, so a box of that color will not run out of work.

Tips

• Open one side early so its color always has somewhere to go.
• Because it vanishes all at once, it can expose a whole new layer in a single moment; be ready with the colors underneath.
• The Machine Gun takes several bites off a number block with each shot.