The most useful Block Blast tips come down to five habits: look at every shape in your set before you place the first, keep a large open area on the board, never leave isolated one-cell holes, clear lines steadily instead of hoarding space, and build combos on purpose. This guide explains each habit and how the same planning carries over to a merge puzzle such as Zertyzzle, our crystal-merge puzzle game.
The idea in a minute
In a block-placement puzzle like Block Blast, you are given a set of shapes (typically a few at a time) and place them on a grid. Completing a full row or column clears it, and clearing several lines at once, or in consecutive turns, earns bonuses. The game ends when none of the shapes you have can be placed. Details such as the exact grid size and scoring vary by version, so check your own game.
1. Look at the whole set first
Before you place anything, look at all the shapes you have. The best spot for the first shape depends on the second and the third. Decide the order, and place the shapes so that each leaves room for the next.
2. Keep a large open area
Keep one big open region on the board, so a large or awkward shape always has somewhere to go. A board with lots of small gaps scattered around cannot take a big piece, even if it has plenty of empty cells in total.
3. Avoid isolated holes
A single empty cell surrounded by filled ones is almost impossible to fill, and it blocks the line it sits in. Before you place a shape, check what holes it creates. A slightly worse placement that avoids a hole usually beats a tempting one that makes one.
4. Clear lines steadily
Don't pile up pieces while waiting for a huge clear. Clearing lines regularly keeps space open and lowers the risk of a deadlock. That said, a combo is valuable, so look for clears that also set up the next one.
5. Build combos on purpose
Combos reward planning. Look for moves where one placement completes two lines, or where the next turn is already set up to clear again. Shapes that fit neatly along an almost-full row are worth keeping in mind for the next set.
6. Don't rely on rotating
In most block-placement puzzles, shapes can't be rotated, so plan with the shapes as given. Check your game's rules before you assume otherwise.
Common mistakes
- Placing the first shape without looking at the others.
- Filling the middle and cutting the board into small pockets.
- Creating isolated holes for a short-term gain.
- Rushing. Most versions have no time limit on a placement.
What carries over to a merge puzzle
The planning in these tips, thinking ahead, keeping space and building chains, is the same skill that pays off in other grid puzzles. In Zertyzzle, you slide a row or column and merge three identical crystals in a line; chaining merges triggers combos, and the Zertyon clears a row and a column. Our guide to Zertyzzle's combos explains how to set them up, and our page on games like Block Blast compares the two games.
Zertyzzle is free and funded by advertising, and no ad interrupts a level. It plays offline: the 120 levels and Zen mode need no connection. It is available on Android, on Google Play; the iPhone version is coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a trick to always win at Block Blast?
No. The game ends when no shape can be placed, so the aim is to last longer, not to win outright. Good habits help you last much longer.
Can I rotate the shapes?
In most block-placement puzzles you can't. Check your version's rules.
Should I keep space or clear lines?
Both. Clearing lines creates space, and keeping a large open area lets you place any shape. Don't hoard.
Is Block Blast a game of luck?
Partly, because the shapes you receive are random. Planning decides how well you use them.
Is Zertyzzle available on Android?
Yes, on Google Play, from the Zertyzzle page. The iPhone version is coming soon.