Level 385 · Army Stew

Army Stew is level 385 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 1292 blocks in 11 colors, the tray holds 85 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Expert.

Difficulty

Expert

Pacing

All the way

Blocks

1292

Colors

11

Ant boxes

85

Mechanics

1 golden key(s) · Spider web (45 bites) · Mystery boxes

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

Play level 385

About the dish

Ham, sausage, tofu and instant noodles crowd a pot of spicy broth, a slice of cheese melting on top.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 18 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly navy and tan, the middle band is mostly red and dark red, and the core is mostly red and yellow. 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 navy, red 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 outer ring of the picture and needs 45 bites from soldier ants.

Reading the tray

The tray starts with 85 boxes in 4 columns, and none of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: dark red (has to wait), red (has to wait), tan (has to wait) and red (has to wait). The first taps have to dig.

Locked boxes start in column 1, row 21.

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

4 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 85 taps. The chart shows how many boxes were still parked in the 5 slots, waiting for their color, just before each tap.

Opening (taps 1–28): 35% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 29–59): 32% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 2 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 60–85): 32% 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 14. The web breaks before tap 57.

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.

Tight from start to finish. Only take boxes that can send ants immediately, watch the second and third rows of the tray, and plan the next tap ahead.

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.

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 · 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 385 questions