Level 155 · Reeds

Reeds is level 155 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 1292 blocks in 8 colors, the tray holds 125 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Hard.

Difficulty

Hard

Pacing

Waves

Blocks

1292

Colors

8

Ant boxes

125

Mechanics

7 chained pair(s) · 1 golden key(s) · Spider web (54 bites) · Mystery boxes

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

Play level 155

About the dish

The reeds by the creek were taller than me, and in autumn they wore fluffy white plumes. When the wind blew at sunset, the fluff drifted everywhere through the golden light.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 18 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly black and tan, the middle band is mostly gold and black, and the core is mostly gold and black. 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 black, gold and tan.

The 1 golden key(s) are buried in the middle band of the picture, so the locks they open come into play around the middle of the level.

The spider web covers 30 cells in the middle band of the picture and needs 54 bites from soldier ants.

Reading the tray

The tray starts with 125 boxes in 4 columns. At the start 2 of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: light blue (bites now), green (has to wait), black (bites now) and green (has to wait).

Chained pairs start in column 2–3, row 11, column 2–3, row 22, column 2–3, row 23, column 2–3, row 25, column 3–4, row 9, column 3–4, row 10 and column 3–4, row 26.

Locked boxes start in column 4, row 29.

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

6 soldier box(es) carry the bites for the web.

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 118 taps. The chart shows how many boxes were still parked in the 5 slots, waiting for their color, just before each tap.

Opening (taps 1–43): 34% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 44–82): 34% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 1 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 83–118): 33% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 0 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

A key comes out before tap 75. The web breaks before tap 24. Chained pairs are taken at taps 29, 30, 33, 85, 86, 89 and 99.

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.

Pressure comes in waves: the opening and the ending are tight, the middle is a breather. Use the middle to clear slots and bring chained or locked boxes to the front.

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.

Nothing under the spider web can be eaten. Wait until the edge of the web is exposed before sending the soldier box (the leafy green one), or it just occupies a slot.

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 · Spider webs and soldier ants · 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 155 questions