#268 · Monday, 31 August 2026

Ladder answer

• PRONE 5 letters
• PIONEER 7 letters — adds two letters to the rung below
• REOPENING 9 letters — adds two letters to the rung below

PRONE sits inside PIONEER, which sits inside REOPENING — the two letters added at each rung are the whole puzzle. Scrambles shown that day: PORNE · ERENOIP · NREEPGONI.

6 players finished the Ladder; 100% solved it, averaging 4 guesses.

LockCode answer: 8259

The clues and what each one tells you:

1. 3259: 3 in the right place, 0 in the wrong place — 3 of 3, 2, 5, 9 are in the code.
2. 6392: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 6, 3, 9, 2 are in the code.
3. 9312: 0 in the right place, 2 in the wrong place — 2 of 9, 3, 1, 2 are in the code.
4. 5016: 0 in the right place, 1 in the wrong place — 1 of 5, 0, 1, 6 are in the code.
5. After all clues, 9 codes remain possible.

With 9 candidates left, a good second guess splits them by feedback so the third guess is forced. Read the LockCode strategy guide for the method.

9 players finished LockCode; 100% solved it, averaging 2.9 guesses.

Lumen answer: CACTUS

8 players finished Lumen; 100% solved it, averaging 1 guesses.