Vanilla Pack
The Button
The Button is probably the simplest solvable vanilla module. Yet, we still found a few quick facts.
- The Yellow button clause is completely redundant. It does not add any new rules that other clauses do not cover.
- The "CAR clause" (lit indicator + white button) is only almost redundant. Its unique effects kick in if the "FReaK clause" (lit indicator + ≥3 batteries) is also in effect.
- The white stripe clause is also redundant; it does not introduce any unique rules regarding releasing buttons.
- The Button is the only vanilla module that makes use of indicators. It is also the only time-sensitive solvable module.
Complicated Wires
Complicated Wires may seem intimating, but it loses part of its complications (pardon the pun) once these bullets are noted.
- Complicated Wires uses a single ruleset throughout the bomb. Once what can (and can not) be cut are known on one module, subsequent instances on the same bomb become easier.
- Complicated Wires is the only vanilla module that is dependent on the ports present on a bomb.
- White means nothing on a complicated wire that is also blue or red. It is useful only when a wire is neither blue nor red.
- White featureless wires, White star wires, and Red star wires can always be safely cut, no matter what edgework is on the bomb.
- Inversely, White LED wires, Blue star wires, and RedBlue star LED wires can never be cut.
Keypad
We have found a few quickies for Keypad.
- The © and Ϭ symbols are always safely tappable first, because they are consistently the highest priority symbols throughout the module.
- Building on the previous bullet, Ϭ and ÓŹ symbols can always be safely tapped in the order shown.
- Likewise, ★ and Ω symbols should always be tapped last, because they are consistently the lowest priority symbols throughout the module.
Maze
None of the 9 possible Maze layouts has a circle share positions with another.
Memory
Memory is well up there in complexity. Yet, we have found a few shortcuts.
- While all 4 stages' labels do need to be remembered, only the first 2 stages' positions need to be remembered.
- Positions are important for stages 2 and 4. Labels are important for stages 3 and 5.
Morse Code
Morse Code itself is fairly simple... in its original package.
- Usually the first three characters is all it takes to find the correct frequency. Sometimes a solution can be found before then.
- Katane Blitz normally dedicates all modules to 20 sec loops, no matter the complexity of the code. However, each 25 modules solved in an Arcade mission causes the loop to shorten 1 sec (causing the flashes to be faster), to a minimum of 16 sec.
Needy Modules
The available three needy modules have a few fun facts. Some are shared, some are unique.
- Needy modules can initially activate when 90 seconds have passed, a module has been solved, or a life has been lost; whichever comes first. Needies that show up after the first bomb activate immediately.
- If a capacitor overloads, the module will permanently deactivate. Consequently, Katane Blitz intentionally omits blown capacitors when scoring in Endless games.
- Other needy modules can reactivate anywhere between 10 and 40 sec from the last deactivation.
- Knobs are unique among the
vanilla
needy modules in that it will always run its timer down to zero. When it does, if the arrow is in the correct orientation, the module quietly deactivates. Otherwise, it strikes. - Venting Gas has a nasty habit of tripping defusers with its questions.
Password
Password is exceptionally simple... in its original package.
- Normally, there can be six characters per column.
- Katane Blitz takes advantage of its simplicity and increases column sizes, based on how many modules have already been disarmed in an Arcade mission. Each 25 modules increases the column size by one.
- To counter-balance the increased difficulty, Katane Blitz grants time extensions on 8/9 column Passwords as if 25 fewer modules were solved; and 10-column Passwords as if 50 fewer modules were solved.
Simon Says
Simon Says is also exceptionally simple... again, in its original package.
- It is the only vanilla module that cares about vowels and strikes. Since Katane Blitz uses lives in place of strikes, it instead treats lives lost as if they were strikes.
- Katane Blitz takes advantage of its simplicity and dynamically increases its difficulty based on score.
- Normally, there can be 3-5 stages. Katane Blitz adds one stage to the maximum for each 25 modules. The stage range caps at 3-9.
- In addition to the stage limit, Katane Blitz starts the flash cycle at 667 ms, but accelerates this process similarly to increasing the maximum stages, to a minimum of 462 ms.
Who's On First
Who's on First has a decent amount of complexity. Nonetheless, these facts can be used to optimize this module.
- Clickable buttons can use phrases from 1 of 2 distinct answer pools.
- While Blank and Nothing exist as top labels, there is absolutely no mention of a
Null
label (although Null and No are somewhat similiar in pronounciation). This could be used to the team's advantage. - Red and Read top labels use the very same (middle right) read position. Same goes for words See and Cee (bottom right); but not single letter C (top right).
- All answers past the original phrase are useless because it will always be in the list of 6 answer buttons.
- Because the 6 buttons all have to tap into the very same 1 of 2 different answer pools, this means the last 5 answers in a given list will never be used. Even if the original phrase is in the final five.
Wires
Wires is not exactly a complex module, but it still exposes a few fun facts.
- When cutting 3 wires; the Last Wire White clause is redundant. If there is a red wire, the last wire will always be the correct wire; except if there are also exactly 2 blue wires. The last blue is the correct wire instead.
- When cutting 5 wires; the third and last wires are never the correct wire to cut. The fourth wire can be the correct wire only if the last digit is odd.
- Likewise, when cutting 6 wires; the first, second, and fifth wires are never the correct wire to cut. The third wire can be the correct wire only if the last digit is odd.
Wire Sequence
Wire Sequence is well up there in complexity, since it requires keeping counts of each of three colors. We found a few quickies nonetheless.
- The first Black and seventh Red wires are always cuttable.
- It is technically possible, though very unlikely, to run into a Wire Sequence with no valid wires. This requires that there be no black wires, and at most 6 red wires.
- Contrary to what the manual may suggest, there could be 9 or 10 wires on a single Wire Sequence.
Adjacent Pack
Expansion Module Notes
Since not all expansion (modded) modules are created equal, Arcade mode has additional mechanics that influence when these modules can appear.
- Unless specified otherwise, these modules do not appear outside of Endless Hardcore until 13 modules have already been solved.
- If a module is specifically restricted, it will never show up until that many modules are already solved. Restricted modules also add time as if the nearest multiple of 25 fewer modules were solved.
- These modules will never appear in Endless Stable, as that mission's module pool is limited exclusively to the 11 solvable vanilla modules.
9-Ball
9-Ball (by GhostSalt) is a fairly simple module.
- Each of the nine object ball slots has a unique potting condition during the
break phase
, some of which are related to their neighbors. - During the break phase, the order in which compatible balls are potted does not matter.
Adjacent Letters
Adjacent Letters (by Timwi and Lumbud84) is a difficult module.
- Each of the twelve letters has a unique set of neighbors that, when present on the appropriate side, necessitate that the key be pressed.
- A letter can
resonate
with one, but not both, requirements of another letter. - Because of a combination of increased difficulty and time consumption, this module will not appear in Arcade games until 53 modules have already been solved.
Modulo
Modulo (by Royal_Flu$h) itself is extremely simple. Katane Blitz takes advantage of this and upgrades this module as more modules are disarmed in Arcade games.
- Normally, the dividend can range anywhere between 50 and 999, and that the divisor can range from 3 to 15. The respective maximums increase whenever an extra life threshold (each 25 disarms) is reached in an Arcade game.
- If at least 50 modules have already been disarmed, there is a small chance this module will upgrade to a Cruel Modulo (by VFlyer and ktane1). It is also available as a unique mission.
Switches
Switches (by Brian Fetter) is deceptively simple.
- Yet, 10 of the possible 32 switch combinations are illegal. This is just over a quarter of the possibilities
- The
problem
and solution are guaranteed to be different by 2 switches minimum.
Coprime Pack
Alphabet
Alphabet (by mitterdoo) is a fairly simple module.
- Each of the four letters is unique.
- None of the 3-letter words share more than one letter in common, nor are they able to build a 4-letter word.
- The same does not hold true for 2-letter words. Several ways exist to form 3-letter words, slightly reducing the appearance rate of these solutions.
- On the other hand, each 2-letter word is already in alphabet order. The
spell the second word
clause is redundant, as no differences are made if it is ignored.
Colored Keys
Colored Keys (by LeGeND) is a difficult module.
- Each of the three primary colors of light (Red + Green + Blue) are legal colors, along with all the combinations resulting from these colors, except cyan (Green + Blue).
- Each of the four buttons has a total of nine possible conditions.
- Some of the conditions are shared across each button. Others are bound to the bomb edgework. A few conditions match neither of the previous two statements.
- While less difficult than Adjacent Letters, it is still fairly punishing of mistakes. As a consequence, this module does not appear in Arcade mode until 22 modules have already been solved.
Coprime Checker
Coprime Checker (by VFlyer) is exceptionally simple. It is also upgradable in Katane Blitz.
- One way to think of each of the two integers is arrange them into a [improper] fraction. If the fraction can be simplified, the numbers are not co-prime; and vise versa.
- Normally, each integer caps at 999.
- The capacity increases with each 25 modules solved.
Numbered Buttons
Numbered Buttons (by VFlyer and Kusane Hexaku) is a moderate module.
- Between 16 cells and 12 accepted integers in each cell, it is a fair amount to go through.
- Some integers are never accepted, while others are not unique in terms of accepted positions.
- Speaking of, integers may show up in a grid more than once.
Lights Pack
Colour Flash
Colour Flash (by Bashly) is a difficult module.
- Uses an identical color system to Colored Keys, only that Purple is called Magenta.
- Three (3) conditions at a time are active, depending on the color of the last entry of the sequence.
- Some of the possible conditions can count both a word and a color matching the word.
- It is because of its above average difficulty, that it does not appear in Arcade games until 28 modules have already been solved.
Colored Squares
Colored Squares (by Timwi and TheAuthorOfOz) is a moderate module.
- Mileage may vary wildly, as there is always the possibility of there being a surge of valid inputs in a single stage.
- 1-3 white tiles with having last been assigned a column or a row are impossible, because the grid is 4x4 in size.
Lights Out
Lights Out (by Bashly) is the first expansion needy module, and it is a difficult one at that.
Because of how difficult it can be to shut off all the lights, especially to less experienced defusers, this module does not show up in Arcade until 28 modules have already been solved.
Two Bits
Two Bits (by Kaneb) is a time consuming module.
- While not as difficult as some of the other restricted modules, it still will not appear in Arcade until 28 modules have already been solved.
- The 100 different pairs are shuffled on a per module basis.
- It is possible for the initial value to generate a query identical to itself. If that happens, then the solution has already been found.