Level 147 · Lotus Pod

Lotus Pod is level 147 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 1292 blocks in 8 colors, the tray holds 72 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Expert.

Difficulty

Expert

Pacing

Hard middle

Blocks

1292

Colors

8

Ant boxes

72

Mechanics

7 chained pair(s) · 1 golden key(s) · Mystery boxes

Like this pixel picture? BitBead can turn it into a printable fuse bead pattern.

Play level 147

About the dish

A lotus pod looks like the head of a little watering can, with a seed hidden in every hole. Peel off the green skin and the seeds are sweet and tender, though the bitter green heart made me pull a face.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 18 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly white and mint, the middle band is mostly white and lime green, and the core is mostly green and lime green. Ants can only reach the next layer once the one around it is gone, so the core colors are the last to become useful.

By block count the biggest colors are white, mint and lime green.

The 1 golden key(s) are buried in the outer ring of the picture, so the locks they open come into play early.

Reading the tray

The tray starts with 72 boxes in 4 columns. At the start 4 of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: black (bites now), mint (bites now), white (bites now) and mint (bites now).

Chained pairs start in column 1–2, row 9, column 1–2, row 10, column 2–3, row 8, column 2–3, row 11, column 2–3, row 12, column 3–4, row 9 and column 3–4, row 10.

Locked boxes start in column 1, row 16.

15 mystery box(es) only show their color when they reach the front.

How the verified run plays out

The solution further down was played to the end in the real game, with ants walking and real timing. It takes 65 taps. The chart shows how many boxes were still parked in the 5 slots, waiting for their color, just before each tap.

Opening (taps 1–25): 33% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 1 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 26–44): 35% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 45–65): 32% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 3 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

A key comes out before tap 15. Chained pairs are taken at taps 25, 29, 30, 34, 41, 42 and 43.

Strategy

Check the colors of the first three boxes in each column and compare them with the colors exposed on the outer ring of the picture. Always keep one slot free to catch a color that can't be eaten yet.

The start is easy and the pressure builds in the middle. Use the calm opening to sort out the back rows and try to have two slots free before the middle phase.

Keys are buried in the picture and must be dug out to open the locks in the tray. Prioritize colors that eat around the keys so locked boxes don't block the front row for long.

Chained boxes need both halves in the front row and two free slots. Take the boxes in front of them first and free two neighboring slots in advance.

Mystery boxes show their color only when they reach the front. When you see one coming, don't fill every slot; leave room for it.

Strategy guide: reading the tray and keeping the nest clear · Chained boxes · Locks and golden keys · Difficulty curves

Step-by-step solution

This order of taps is verified to clear the level. Columns are numbered 1–4 from the left; after each tap, wait until the ants are out before the next one. Two boxes shown together are a chained pair taken in one tap.

Level 147 questions