#262 · Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Ladder answer

• GREEN 5 letters
• INTEGER 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• ENERGETIC 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

GREEN sits inside INTEGER, which sits inside ENERGETIC — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: NREEG · ENTEGRI · EEECGITRN.

LockCode answer: 7396

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 5346: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 3, 4, 6 are in the code.
2. 7352: 2 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 2 of 7, 3, 5, 2 are in the code.
3. 5723: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 5, 7, 2, 3 are in the code.
4. 3450: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 3, 4, 5, 0 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 3 codes remain possible.

With 3 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.

Lumen answer: UMBRELLA