Attacks and combos in multiplayer
In multiplayer matches you can launch attacks that briefly disrupt an opponent's view of the grid. An attack never touches the words themselves; it makes the letters harder to read for a few seconds while your opponent's timer keeps running.
There are four attacks. You earn them by building combos or through random drops, and you fire them at a chosen opponent whenever you like.
The four attacks
Brain Fog hides four to six tiles behind drifting clouds. Tornado spins six to ten tiles into odd angles. Freeze locks three tiles so they cannot be selected at all, which makes it the only attack that actually blocks input rather than just obscuring it. Mirror flips the whole grid left to right, which sounds mild until it lands mid-word.
When an attack is earned, each of the four types has an equal 25% chance of being the one you get.
| Attack | Effect | Duration | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🧠 Brain Fog | Hides 4-6 random tiles | 5 seconds | common |
| 🌪️ Tornado | Rotates random tiles | 4 seconds | common |
| 🧊 Freeze | Freezes 3 tiles | 4 seconds | uncommon |
| 🪞 Mirror | Flips grid horizontally | 6 seconds | rare |
Earning attacks through combos
A combo builds when you find valid words back to back. You have 3 seconds after each word to start the next one; let the window lapse and the combo resets.
Combos do not multiply your points. Their payoff is attacks, plus the satisfaction of the announcer calling out your streak.
| Combo milestone | Chance of earning an attack |
|---|---|
| 3× combo | 30% |
| 5× combo | 60% |
| 10× combo | 100% |
| 15× combo and beyond | 100% |
Random drops and catch-up
Every valid word also has a 10% base chance to drop an attack outright. In games with more than one player, that chance grows by 5 percentage points for every rank you sit behind the leader. Last place in a four-player match earns drops at 25% per word.
This is deliberate. Players who fall behind get more ammunition, which keeps matches close without touching anyone's score.
Defending against attacks
You cannot block an incoming attack, but you can play through it. Fog and Tornado leave most of the grid readable, so work the clear tiles. During a Freeze, plan words that route around the locked tiles. For Mirror, many players find it easier to close their eyes for a beat and re-read the grid fresh than to mentally un-flip it.
Attacks expire on their own after a few seconds. Losing four seconds of scanning hurts far less than tilting for the rest of the round.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use attacks in practice mode or the daily challenge?
No. Attacks only exist in multiplayer matches. Practice and daily challenge are purely about finding words.
Can I hold more than one attack?
You hold one attack at a time. Earning a new one while you already hold one replaces it, so fire what you have rather than sitting on it.