JANUARY 5, 2026 · PUZZLE #144
MULE to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
MULE
START01
MOLE
LETTER 202
POLE
LETTER 103
POLL
LETTER 404
POOL
LETTER 305
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
MULE and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the fourth letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the second letter: MULE → MOLE. Near the goal, POOL is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its fourth letter.
Every letter change
- MULE → MOLE: change letter 2 from U to O.
- MOLE → POLE: change letter 1 from M to P.
- POLE → POLL: change letter 4 from E to L.
- POLL → POOL: change letter 3 from L to O.
- POOL → POOP: change letter 4 from L to P.
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