JULY 24, 2026 · PUZZLE #344
DUST to POOP.💩
One shortest route in 5 moves.
00
DUST
START01
LUST
LETTER 102
LOST
LETTER 203
LOOT
LETTER 304
LOOP
LETTER 405
POOP
GOAL 💩Why this route takes 5 moves
DUST and POOP differ in 4 letter positions. The shortest accepted-word route needs 1 additional move; the first letter changes more than once.
Start by changing the first letter: DUST → LUST. Near the goal, LOOP is one letter from POOP; the last move changes its first letter.
Every letter change
- DUST → LUST: change letter 1 from D to L.
- LUST → LOST: change letter 2 from U to O.
- LOST → LOOT: change letter 3 from S to O.
- LOOT → LOOP: change letter 4 from T to P.
- LOOP → POOP: change letter 1 from L to P.
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