Essential Tips for New Players

Get up to speed with these fundamental strategies

1

Think Before You Place

Unlike fast-paced arcade games, SPLONK rewards careful planning. Before placing a piece, scan the board for potential merges. Look for same-colored pieces that are close together—placing a matching piece between them can trigger multiple merges at once!

2

Prioritize the Center

Pieces placed in the center of the board have more neighboring cells, which means more opportunities for merging. Keep your edges relatively clear to preserve placement options, while building your chains in the middle.

3

Watch the Queue

Always keep an eye on your next 3 pieces. Plan your current placement based on what's coming. If you see two Rose pieces in the queue, start setting up a Rose cluster now!

4

Don't Fear the Explosion

When a piece reaches MEGA and SPLONKS, it clears a 3×3 area—including your own pieces! While this might seem wasteful, explosions are how you clear space and score big points. Embrace the SPLONK!

Pro Tip: The Corner Trap

Avoid building high-stage pieces in corners! When a MEGA piece SPLONKS, half of its 3×3 blast zone is wasted outside the board. Always try to position your BLOOM and MEGA pieces at least 1 cell away from edges for maximum impact.

Understanding the Point System

Points are awarded for merges, stage progressions, and especially for chain reactions. Here's the complete breakdown:

Action Description Points
Place Piece +5 points per cell +5-15
Merge to SEED First stage progression +15
Merge to BUD Second stage progression +30
Merge to BLOOM Third stage (triggers glow) +50
MEGA SPLONK! 3×3 area cleared + explosion +150
Chain ×2 Second explosion in chain 2× multiplier
Chain ×3 Third explosion in chain 3× multiplier
Chain ×4+ Fourth+ (multiplier increases) 4×+ multiplier
Line Clear Complete row/column cleared +100
Multi-Line Clear Multiple rows/columns at once ×2 bonus

Visual Stage Guide

🌱
SEED
60% size • Subtle inner glow • +15 pts
🌿
BUD
75% size • Gentle pulse • +30 pts
🌸
BLOOM
90% size • Outer glow ring • +50 pts
💥
MEGA
100% size • SPLONK! • +150 pts

Merge Formula: Each stage requires progressively more merges. Build up anticipation for the ultimate SPLONK!

Strategies by Skill Level

🌱
Beginner
  • Focus on making any merges you can find
  • Keep pieces spread out to avoid getting stuck
  • Don't worry about chains yet—just clear space
  • Use the center of the board more than edges
  • Take your time; there's no rush in Classic mode
🌿
Intermediate
  • Start planning 2-3 moves ahead
  • Group same colors in regions of the board
  • Learn to set up deliberate chains
  • Use small pieces to fill gaps strategically
  • Time your SPLONKs to clear problem areas
🌸
Advanced
  • Master the "cascade setup" for chain reactions
  • Position BLOOM pieces near each other
  • Use explosion knockback to trigger merges
  • Manage board density carefully
  • Sacrifice efficiency for bigger combos
💥
Master
  • Engineer 5+ chain reactions consistently
  • Use "color funneling" to cluster types
  • Calculate merge requirements in your head
  • Manipulate the queue with strategic delays
  • Aim for row/column clear bonuses with chains

Pro Techniques

A

The Cascade Setup

Position multiple BLOOM pieces of the same color adjacent to each other. When one becomes MEGA and SPLONKS, the blast can push surviving pieces together, triggering another merge chain. With practice, you can set up 3-4 BLOOMs in a line for devastating cascades.

B

Color Funneling

Divide your board into "color zones." For example: Rose and Ocean on the left, Sunbeam and Mint on the right. This reduces chaotic mixing and makes it easier to build high-stage pieces. Keep one color (like Violet) as a "floater" to fill gaps anywhere.

C

The Sacrifice Play

Sometimes it's better to waste a piece than place it poorly. If your queue has a large piece that doesn't fit anywhere good, place it in an isolated corner. It's better to "sacrifice" one piece than to block potential merge spots or create an awkward board state.

D

Explosive Timing

Don't rush to trigger SPLONKs! A MEGA piece sitting on the board is stored potential. Wait until you can position another high-stage piece nearby, or until the explosion will clear a problematic area. Patient players score higher than reactive ones.

Mode-Specific Strategies

🏔️ Classic Mode

  • Each level has specific objectives—read them carefully
  • Star ratings depend on score thresholds
  • Use power-ups strategically on harder levels
  • Sometimes meeting the objective quickly beats high scores

🧘 Zen Mode

  • No pressure—use this to practice techniques
  • Experiment with different color clustering strategies
  • Perfect for learning chain reaction setups
  • Great for relaxation and long sessions

⚡ Blitz Mode

  • Speed > perfection—make quick decisions
  • Chain reactions are worth the setup time
  • Fever Mode multipliers are crucial for high scores
  • Don't hesitate—a good move now beats perfect move late

📅 Daily Challenge

  • Same puzzle for everyone—compare strategies
  • Study the initial board before starting
  • Watch top players' replays to learn new techniques
  • Maintain your streak for bonus rewards

Ready to SPLONK?

Put these strategies to the test!

Download SPLONK