Zertyzzle obstacles start showing up in the seventh nebula: frozen crystals, thick ice, rocks, metal-banded rocks, padlocks and portals, followed by the rainbow Wildcard, which helps you rather than gets in your way. Almost all of them break the same way: with a merge right next to them. Here's how each one works and how to deal with it.
This page is part of the Zertyzzle guide. If you don't know the basics yet, start with how to play.
The golden rule: "right next to it"
In Zertyzzle, a square is next to another if it touches it above, below, left or right. Diagonals don't count. When a merge happens, every obstacle next to one of the merged crystals loses one layer.
A detail that matters: an obstacle only loses one layer per wave of merges, even if it touches several merged crystals at once. But each step of a chain reaction is a new wave: a chain that passes next to thick ice more than once can break it in a single move.
Frozen crystals (Frost Nebula)
Frozen crystals are trapped in ice. They slide with their row and fall like any other crystal, but they can't merge while the ice holds. A merge next to them breaks the ice; the freed crystal becomes a normal crystal again and can merge straight away.
Many Frost Nebula levels ask you to free a set number of frozen crystals. Tip: go after the frozen crystals in the middle of the board first, since they block more line-ups than those on the edges.
Thick ice (Aurora Nebula)
Streaked ice is tougher: it takes two merges next to it to break. The Hammer removes one layer, and a Zertyon clears it all. Use chain reactions: two successive waves next to thick ice are enough.
Rocks and banded rocks (Asteroid Belt)
Rocks slide with their row but never merge. They break when a merge happens right next to them. Metal-banded rocks need two nearby merges; the Hammer removes one layer.
Since a rock never takes part in a line-up, it splits whatever line it sits on. A good habit: slide a rock's row to bring it close to where you're already merging.
Padlocks (Sealed Nebula)
A padlocked crystal blocks its row and its column: they can't slide ("Locked line!"). To open the padlock, merge right next to it, or merge the padlocked crystal itself by lining it up with two identical crystals. The Hammer also opens a padlock and leaves the crystal in place.
Open padlocks first: while they're shut, part of the board is frozen and your options shrink fast.
Portals (Sealed Nebula)
Lines marked with portals of the same color are linked: slide one and the other slides too, in the same direction. So check what happens on both lines before you play: one move can create a line-up on each side.
Watch out for the trap: if one of two linked lines holds a padlock, the other one is blocked too.
The rainbow Wildcard (Rainbow Nebula)
The Wildcard isn't an obstacle but an ally: it completes any line-up, whatever the family or rank of the crystals it joins. It only counts for one line-up at a time. Save it to finish a hard line-up toward a goal, such as a Jewel of a specific color. The Magnet won't pick it up.
Special rules in some nebulae
Three twists change how you play without being obstacles:
- Gems at the start (from the Jade Nebula): Gems are already on the board; line them up to get Jewels faster.
- Upside-down gravity (from the Ruby Nebula): crystals rise instead of falling, and new ones come in from the bottom. Think upside down!
- Zertyons at the start (from the Violet Nebula): Zertyons are waiting on the board; tap them at the right moment.
Which booster against which obstacle?
The Hammer is the best tool against obstacles: it removes a layer of ice or rock, or opens a padlock. The Magnet, on the other hand, ignores frozen crystals, rocks and Wildcards. The full details are on the Zertyzzle boosters page, and the combos and Zertyon page explains how a Zertyon cleans up a cluttered line.
Reading a board full of obstacles and thinking two moves ahead is exactly what good brain games for adults are about.
Frequently asked questions
How do you break ice in Zertyzzle?
Make a merge on a square next to the frozen crystal (above, below, left or right). Regular ice breaks after one merge, thick ice after two. The Hammer removes one layer and a Zertyon clears it all.
Can rocks merge?
No, never. They slide and fall like crystals, but you have to break them with nearby merges (two for metal-banded rocks) or with the Hammer.
Why can't I slide a row?
It most likely contains a padlocked crystal, or it's linked by a portal to a padlocked line. Open the padlock with a nearby merge or the Hammer.
Do obstacles exist outside the map?
Yes: Endless mode introduces them stage by stage, and the level editor lets you add ice, rocks, padlocks and Wildcards to your own creations. To talk strategy, head to the Zertyzzle forum or the Zertyzzle page.
