Stuck on a Candy Crush level, thwarted by an army of licorice swirls? You’re not alone. These candy-coated roadblocks can ruin even the best-laid plans. But with the right strategies, you can crush those swirls and conquer the level. Let’s dive into specific techniques for breaking through these sticky situations and expanding on general strategies to overcome specific blockers.
At a Glance:
- Learn to identify licorice swirl patterns and prioritize clearing them strategically.
- Master the use of special candies (striped, wrapped, color bombs) for maximum impact against swirls.
- Discover how to combine special candies to create devastating chain reactions that eliminate swirls and other blockers.
- Understand when to use boosters and how to conserve them for tough levels.
- Explore the “reset board” trick to potentially redistribute swirls for a more favorable setup.
Understanding the Licorice Swirl Threat
Licorice swirls (or shells depending on the game) aren’t just annoying; they actively hinder your progress. They prevent you from moving candies, block the effects of some special candies, and generally limit your options. Treating them as high-priority targets is crucial for consistent success. One key difference between licorice blockers and say, chocolate, is that they do not self-replicate, but they do limit movement and block special candy effects.
- Movement Restriction: Candies trapped within or directly adjacent to swirls can’t be moved, limiting matching opportunities.
- Special Candy Interference: Swirls can sometimes absorb the blast of a striped or wrapped candy, reducing its effectiveness.
- Strategic Bottlenecks: Swirls often appear in areas that are critical for completing the level objective (e.g., near ingredients or jelly squares).
Tailoring Your Attack: Strategic Prioritization
Not all licorice swirls are created equal. Some are strategically placed to cause maximum disruption, while others are relatively harmless. Learning to prioritize your attacks is crucial for efficient clearing.
- Identify Bottlenecks: Begin by scanning the board for swirls that are blocking key areas like ingredient drop-off points or sections with a high concentration of jelly squares. These swirls should be your primary targets.
- Assess Layered Swirls: Check for swirls that are layered (requiring multiple hits to remove). Prioritize these as they can quickly become significant obstacles if left unchecked.
- Anticipate Cascade Effects: Look for opportunities where clearing a single swirl could trigger a cascade reaction, potentially clearing multiple swirls or other blockers simultaneously.
Example: Imagine a level where ingredients need to be dropped down specific columns, but those pathways are blocked by layered licorice swirls. Ignoring these swirls will make the level virtually impossible to complete, regardless of how many other matches you make.
Special Candy Combos: Unleashing Devastating Power
While matching candies adjacent to licorice swirls is a basic strategy, special candies offer far more efficient clearing power. Mastering the art of creating and combining special candies is essential for tackling challenging levels.
- Striped Candy + Wrapped Candy: A classic combination that creates a large explosion, clearing a significant area around the point of detonation. This is particularly effective for clearing clusters of licorice swirls and other blockers.
- Pro Tip: Aim the striped candy so its row or column bisects multiple swirls.
- Color Bomb + Striped Candy: This combination turns all candies of the same color as the striped candy into striped candies, then activates them. This creates a massive chain reaction that can clear entire sections of the board.
- Pro Tip: Choose the striped candy wisely. Select a color that is prevalent on the board and strategically positioned to maximize the clearing effect.
- Color Bomb + Color Bomb: The ultimate clearing weapon. This combination removes all candies from the board, including licorice swirls. This combination is rare but incredibly powerful. Save it for when you really need it.
Case Snippet: A player was stuck on a level with a dense cluster of licorice swirls surrounding the ingredient drop-off points. After several failed attempts, they managed to create a color bomb and combine it with a striped candy. The resulting chain reaction cleared all the swirls and allowed the ingredients to drop, completing the level in a single move.
Booster Management: When to Deploy Your Resources
Boosters can be a lifesaver on tough levels, but they should be used strategically and conserved whenever possible.
- Hammer Booster: This allows you to directly remove a single licorice swirl. Use it sparingly, primarily for removing layered swirls that are blocking critical areas or when you’re just one or two moves away from completing the level.
- Striped/Wrapped Candy Boosters: These can be useful for creating initial clearing opportunities or for targeting hard-to-reach swirls.
- Free Boosters: Take advantage of daily spins and in-game events to acquire free boosters. Save these for particularly challenging levels.
Decision Tree:
- Is the level impossible without a booster? (Yes/No)
- Yes: Proceed to step 2.
- No: Continue playing strategically and conserve your boosters.
- Is there a layered licorice swirl blocking a critical area? (Yes/No)
- Yes: Use a hammer booster to remove it.
- No: Proceed to step 3.
- Can a striped or wrapped candy booster create a significant clearing opportunity? (Yes/No)
- Yes: Use the appropriate booster strategically.
- No: Re-evaluate your strategy and consider other options.
Advanced Tactics: The “Reset Board” Trick
This trick involves exiting and re-entering a level before making any moves. This can sometimes redistribute the licorice swirls (and other candies) on the board, potentially creating a more favorable starting setup. This is not guaranteed to work and can be time-consuming, but it can be a viable option when you’re repeatedly stuck on a level due to an unfavorable initial board layout. Be warned that this is considered by some to be an exploit and may not be available in all versions of the game.
Step-by-Step:
- Enter the level.
- Assess the board layout. If it’s unfavorable (e.g., dense clusters of licorice swirls blocking key areas), exit the level without making any moves.
- Re-enter the level.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you get a more favorable board layout.
Caveats:
- This trick can be time-consuming and frustrating.
- It may not always result in a significantly better board layout.
- Some players consider this to be an exploit, so use it at your own discretion.
Quick Answers: Common Questions About Licorice Swirls
Q: Are licorice swirls completely immune to special candies?
A: No. While they can sometimes reduce the effectiveness of special candies (especially if they are multi-layered), they are not immune. Special candies are still the most efficient way to clear them.
Q: Should I always prioritize clearing licorice swirls over other blockers?
A: Generally, yes. Licorice swirls restrict movement and can block the effects of special candies, so clearing them should be a high priority. However, there may be situations where clearing other blockers first (e.g., chocolate or marmalade) can create space for more effective special candy combinations against the swirls.
Q: Is there a specific level where licorice swirls are particularly problematic?
A: While the difficulty of levels varies with updates, levels with a high concentration of layered licorice swirls, especially those blocking ingredient drop-off points or jelly squares, are typically the most challenging.
Q: Do all special candy combinations work equally well against licorice swirls?
A: No. The striped candy + wrapped candy and color bomb + striped candy combinations are generally the most effective for clearing large numbers of licorice swirls. A color bomb + color bomb is the ultimate solution, but it’s also the rarest.
Actionable Close: Your Licorice Swirl Playbook
Ready to put these strategies into action? Here’s a quick-start guide:
- Assess the board: Identify key bottlenecks and layered swirls.
- Plan your moves: Focus on creating special candies and combining them strategically.
- Prioritize clearing: Target swirls blocking ingredient paths or jelly squares.
- Use boosters wisely: Save them for tough levels or critical situations.
- Consider the “reset board” trick: If you’re repeatedly stuck on a level with an unfavorable layout.
With these strategies in your arsenal, you’ll be well-equipped to overcome even the most challenging licorice swirl infestations and conquer Candy Crush!