#222 · Thursday, 16 July 2026

Ladder answer

• RESET 5 letters
• RESTORE 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• DESTROYER 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

RESET sits inside RESTORE, which sits inside DESTROYER — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: ERTSE · RREEOST · EYESRRTOD.

LockCode answer: 3490

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 1450: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 1, 4, 5, 0 are in the code.
2. 9407: 1 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 3 of 9, 4, 0, 7 are in the code.
3. 9047: 0 in the right place, 3 in the wrong place — 3 of 9, 0, 4, 7 are in the code.
4. 2371: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 2, 3, 7, 1 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 4 codes remain possible.

With 4 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.