Black Death Sword and Sprinkle Placement Guide
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Introduction
Hello and welcome to the Black Death Sword and Sprinkle Placement Guide. Black Death has always been famous for its swordfighting talent and today we are willing to share some of the knowledge we have learned about the mechanics of swordfighting that have been kept secret for quite some time. In this guide we will cover why swords and sprinkles land where they do. Using this knowledge you will be able to accurately predict either where your attack will hit your opponent, or where your opponent may attack you next. However, some of the information provided here may be a bit hard to understand at first and it is our belief that you will probably need to be a decent swordfighter to be able to fully take advantage of this knowledge. That being said, this guide is not only directed towards the advanced swordfighters in the community, as now that you will be able to understand why swords or sprinkles land where they do you may also be able to use that to help increase your skill.
Vertical Swords
How Vertical Swords Are Created
First we'll explain how vertical swords are created. When you build a gem that is taller than it is wide, it creates a vertical sword. Also, if you break a gem that is equal in both height and width it will send a vertical sword. All vertical sword's lengths are greater than their width. This is why there are no square vertical swords that hit your opponent. 2x2 gems singled become 1x4 swords and 3x3 gems singled become 2x4 swords. The maximum width a sword can be is 3 blocks wide. If a gem is built wider than 3 spaces, you subtract 1 block from it's width and add it to it's length. Eg. A 4x5 block becomes a 3x6 sword. When you combo a gem you multiply the swords length by the size of the combo. Doubling a 2x3 gem creates a 2x6 sword. Back to the first example of if you double a 4x5 gem, first the gem becomes a 3x6 gem and then doubled become a 3x12 sword.
If you break a gem that is wider than it is tall it creates a horizontal sword. Horizontal swords are explained in the horizontal placement section found further below. However, there is one special case where a horizontal gem creates a vertical sword. If you combo a horizontal gem to the point that it creates a horizontal sword with a length of 12 blocks or greater, the horizontal sword will become vertical and enter the screen downwards from the top.
The Underlying Mechanisms
There are two basic mechanisms underlying sword placement. Two underlying queues for all swords dropped on the screen. Both queues are shared between opponents. Both in 1vs1 and multiplayer brawls. This means that not only do your opponents get the same pieces as you, their swords also count as a turn in the sword pattern explained below. For example, if you send a 1x4 first it lands in column 2 (first number of pattern), then your opponent sends a 1x4 which lands in column 3 (second number of pattern), then you send another 1x4 and it lands in column 5 (3rd number of pattern, because sword has to avoid collumn 4).
Horizontal swords count towards one of the turns in the patterns too like every other sword. So if you send a 1x4 into column 2, then a horizontal, then another 1x4 it will land in column 5 as the horizontal takes the place of a sword in column 3. Every sword sent by both opponents counts as a turn in the sword pattern.
First: Each sword follows a successive order across the screen, starting in column 2.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1
Second: Swords alternate right handed, and left handed.
R, L, R, L, R, L
Right handed meaning if they're horizontal they come in from the right side of the screen. Or if they're vertical, when they're blocked by either another sword, or a 'gem' (2x2's, etc...) in row 13, they move right of the obstacle until it finds a place it can land. Left handed meaning the opposite. Namely that a left handed horizontal will come in from the left, and vertical it will move left through the pattern to avoid obstacles. However, say for example a 1x4 is right handed and wants to drop in collumn 2, but there is already 1x4's in columns 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Since vertical swords cannot land on top of each other as explained below, it would move right to avoid the obstacle because it's a right handed sword.The sword would keep moving right until it finds out that it is not possible for it to land on the right of the original obstacle. So instead, it now checks to the left of the obstacle. Though that particular scenario isn't actually possible, you get the meaning that if a sword cannot land on the side of the obstacle it is supposed to move to to avoid it, it just checks to see if it can land on the opposite side of the obstacle. These two mechanisms combined together give us the 'order' or 'queue' determining where swords enter the screen. Shared by all swords, both vertical and horizontal. Swords are assigned the column they should land in right when they are broken, not when they hit. However, though swords are assigned a number right away, they have to check the screen the turn before they drop to make sure they follow all 5 of the vertical sword placement rules explained below.
Vertical Sword Placement Rules
Not only is vertical sword placement based on those two underlying mechanisms, they also follow 5 main rules explained below that help guide when and where a sword can land under certain circumstances.
1. Swords Falling on Top of Each Other
Vertical swords can never fall on top of another vertical sword. If a sword is going to fall on top of another sword, it will move over across the screen either left or right depending on whether it's a right or left handed sword. After it finds a place to land, the next swords will fall just as they would if the other sword didn't have to be moved, except now maybe they too will be landing on top of a sword and may also have to be moved.
2. Swords Forced to Land In a Column
Vertical swords cannot land in column 4 unless there is no other open spaces the sword can drop in, and the sword can fit into the space where part of it or all of it lands in column 4. (eg. A 2xN in column 1/2 and a 2xN in column 5/6 with one more 2xN still having to land. The last 2xN can only fit in column 3/4, so that's where it drops. 3xN's can be forced to land in column 4 if another sword sent at the same time lands completely in column 1,2, and/or 3. No matter what, part of the sword would have to land in column 4.
3. Solid Blocks at the Very Top of the Screen
If there is any solid block at the very top of the screen (top of gem in row 13) where the sword should land, and the sword is completely blocked from entering the screen at all, it will move left or right to avoid the obstacle based on whether it's a right or left handed sword.
4. Solid Blocks Stopping Full Sword From Landing
The most recently discovered rule of sword placement is solid blocks stopping the full sword from landing on the defending screen. The example I will use is having a 2x2 built on the very bottom of the defending screen in columns 3 and 4. The attacker then sends a sword 12 rows tall that is intended to land in column 2/3. Should the sword land in column 2/3 it would fall partially on the 2x2 and be stopped 2 rows up allowing only only 11 rows of the full 12 to enter the screen. In order to maximize your attack, the sword is then forced to move left or right until it can completely land on the defending screen. In this case, if it were the first sword of the game, the vertical sword would move through the pattern to an empty column 5/6 where it can fit fully on the screen and drop there. However, the sword will not land in a column that would result in insta-ing the defender unless it has no other possible place to go. (See above rule for this case)
If the sword finds that it cannot land anywhere on the screen completely, it searches through the pattern until it finds the place where the largest amount of the sword can fit on the screen.
5. Wasted Swords
A sword that has absolutely no where to land as defined by the previous given sword rules, will also be completely wasted. Part of vertical swords that are longer than 13 pieces long or cannot fit on the screen just get wasted off the top of the screen. Any part of a horizontal sword that is longer than 6 pieces or cannot fit entirely on the board (as long as it doesn't reach 12 spaces long or else it will become vertical) also is wasted.
The Sword Pattern
For simplicities sake. We can first look at single sword types.
1x4 Pattern
1x4s will drop in the following order
Column:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1 (actual order)
2, 3, 5*, 5, 6, 1 (order avoiding column 4) repeated
An asterisk (*) signifies a sword moved out of order to avoid column 4
The third sword is a right handed sword, so will always avoid column 4 by moving to the right.
2xN Pattern
2xNs will drop in the following order
Column:
2/3 3/4 4/5 5/6 1/2 2/3 3/4 4/5 5/6 1/2 (actual order)
2/3 2/3* 5/6* 5/6 1/2 2/3 5/6* 2/3* 5/6 1/2 (order avoiding column 4) repeated
An asterisk (*) signifies a sword moved out of order to avoid column 4
The second sword is a left handed sword, so it avoids dropping 3/4 by moving to the left to 2/3. The third sword is a right handed sword, and avoids dropping 4/5 by moving to the right to 5/6. Sword seven is a right handed sword, and avoids dropping 3/4 by moving to the right to 5/6. Sword eight is a left handed sword, and avoids dropping in 4/5 by moving to the left to 2/3.
3xN Pattern
3xNs will drop in the following order
2/3/4 3/4/5 4/5/6 1/2/3 (actual order)
1/2/3* 1/2/3* 1/2/3* 1/2/3 (order avoiding column 4)
An asterisk (*) signifies a sword moved out of order to avoid column 4
I realize that a single 3xN can only drop in 1/2/3 to avoid column 4, but bear with me as I explain what is happening behind the scenes.
Sword one is a right handed sword, and moves right through the order to 1/2/3. Sword two is a left handed sword and moves left through the order to 1/2/3. Sword three is a right handed sword and moves right through the order to 1/2/3.
Combos
Combos do not affect the order of swords in the queue.
As each successive sword in the combo breaks, it is inserted into the next spot of both the column placement queue, and the handedness queue.
That is to say, for example; In a triple, any sword generated by the first breaker broken will be inserted first into the queue, followed by any sword generated by the second breaker, followed by any sword generated by the third breaker.
Horizontals Revealed!
How Horizontal Swords Are Created
First we'll explain how horizontal swords are created. If the attacking player builds a gem on their screen that is wider than it is tall, it creates a horizontal sword. Because horizontal swords enter from the side we define it's length by how far it enters into the screen and it's width as how many rows it hits. Horizontal swords are a minimum of 2 blocks wide a maximum of 3 blocks wide. If a horizontal gem is more than 3 rows tall, you subtract 1 block from the horizontal width and add 1 block to it's length. Eg. A 6x4 gem becomes a 7x3 horiontal.
Just like vertical swords, you multiply a horizontal sword's length by the size of a combo. A 3x2 gem doubled becomes a 6x2 horizontal sword. If we go back to the first example and double the 6x4 gem, first the gem becomes a 7x3 and then doubled becomes a 14x3. As you know the swordfighting board is only 6 blocks wide, therefore the maximum length a horizontal sword can enter into the screen is 6 spaces regardless of it's actual length. However, horizontal swords have a very special case. If a horizontal sword reaches a length of atleast 12 blocks, the sword becomes vertical. It then enters the screen vertically the same length as it's actual value.
Horizontal Placement Rules
Horizontals are based on three things....
- 1. No Gems on Opponent's Screen
If there are no 'gems' (2x2's, 2x3's, ...etc.. solid blocks) on your opponent's screen, it is based on how high the highest block on the defending person's screen is, the turn right before the horizontal enters the screen. The top of the horizontal will enter 2 rows below the highest piece on the defending screen.
- 2. Gems on Opponent's Screen
However, if there is a 'gem' (solid block) on the defending screen, the horizontal changes so that the top of the horizontal lands 3 rows below the bottom of the very lowest gem.
- 3. Horizontal Sword Unable to Land on Opponent's Screen
In odd cases a horizontal sword may be unable to enter the opponent's screen anywhere on their board. An example of this would be having 2 gems screen-high on both sides of the opponent board. As you know, horizontals cannot go through gems therefore the sword cannot possibly enter the screen horizontally. If this happens, the horizontal sword turns vertical. It should also be noted that in absolutely no cases can a horizontal sword enter in row 13. If the only possible place a sword could enter the screen is partially in column 13 then the sword will be forced vertical. Finally, if a horizontal sword cannot entirely enter the opponent screen it is also turned vertical.
Horizontals Count as a Turn in the Pattern
As stated above, horizontals also count as one of the turns in the vertical sword pattern. So if you send a horizontal very first it would make the first 1x4 sent over, the second sword sent, go into column 3, the second number in the pattern. Also, looking back on an old forum thread I saw that someone had posted that horizontals always land before vertical swords, so I thought I should clear this up. This is untrue, horizontal swords do not always land before vertical swords. All swords enter the screen in the same order that they are broken in on the attacking side. This includes horizontal and vertical swords, this is why sometimes a vertical sword will enter first and the horizontal will crash into its side, and sometime the horizontal will hit first and the vertical will fall on top of it.
Which Side the Horizontal Enters From
Horizontals enter from the side of the screen based on whether it's a right or left handed sword. If it's right handed it enters from the right side, and if it's left handed it enters from the left. If a horizontal is the very first sword of the game sent, it will enter on the right.
Therefore, if the number of swords you have sent is even, horizontals should enter from the right, and if it's odd they should enter from the left. This is unless there is a 'gem' or another horizontal or vertical sword in the way. In this case it switches sides and checks if it can enter at the same height from the opposite direction. This will not change the back and forth pattern though, so if it has to switch sides from hitting the right side to hitting the left side, the next horizontal will still hit the left side again as it would if the first horizontal had been allowed to enter on the right. If there is a 'gem(s)' stopping it from entering at that height on both sides, it checks back and forth ( right - left ... in order based on which side it was originally supposed to enter), then drops down another level and again checks both sides. If it cannot enter the screen any lower, it goes higher then it was originally supposed to hit in the same manner checking back and forth, but going up 1 row each time instead of going down. You can block a horizontal from entering at all or fully entering by completing a 'gem' in it's path on the turn where you see the horizontal flashing at the side.
Horizontal Instakill
It is impossible to instakill using only a horizontal sword. This means a horizontal will never hit so high up that the top of the horizontal is in row 13. It is possible for it to land in row 12 and below, but in order for part of a horizontal to hit in either row 11 or 12 it would have to have been forced to move up.
Horizontal Entrance Tables
I wrote these up for everyone so they can easily see the pattern that horizontals follow. Note for the patterns including 'gems', the horizontal may be forced to move up or down depending on whether or not something is in the way, for example... a 2x2 in row 1/2 on the far right would just make the horizontal switch sides, however 2 2x2's on both sides will force the horizontal to move up.
| Height1 | Rows (No gems) | Rows (With gems) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 wide | 3 wide | 2 wide | 3 wide | |
| 1-4 | 1/2 | 1/2/3 | 1/2 | 1/2/3 |
| 5 | 2/3 | 1/2/3 | 1/2 | 1/2/3 |
| 6 | 3/4 | 2/3/4 | 2/3 | 1/2/3 |
| 7 | 4/5 | 3/4/5 | 3/4 | 2/3/4 |
| 8 | 5/6 | 4/5/6 | 4/5 | 3/4/5 |
| 9 | 6/7 | 5/6/7 | 5/6 | 4/5/6 |
| 10 | 7/8 | 6/7/8 | 6/7 | 5/6/7 |
| 11 | 8/9 | 7/8/9 | 7/8 | 6/7/8 |
| 12 | 9/10 | 8/9/10 | 8/9 | 7/8/9 |
| 13 | 1/2 | 1/2/3 | N/A2 | N/A2 |
1 A height of X refers to row X, or X blocks up from the bottom. If there are no gems, the height is the row number of the highest block on the defending player's screen. If there are gems, the height is the row number of the bottom of the lowest gem on the defending player's screen. Once again, the game checks this the turn before the horizontal enters the screen.
2 It is impossible to have the bottom of the gem in row 13, hence the N/A.
Two Horizontals Entering From the Same Side
If you manage to send two horizontals that should enter from the same side, and the first horizontal lands high enough up that the second horizontal can enter below it, then the second horizontal acts like the first horizontal is a gem. If in fact that 'new gem' is the lowest gem on the screen, it will land 3 rows beneath it just as it would if there really was a gem there.
Horizontal Conclusion
So now, if you understand this knowledge, you can also fully understand that age old question of "Why did the horizontal enter many rows above the blocks underneath it on either the right or the left, like this one?". You can see her highest column is 12 high on the left, and the horizontal enters in row 9/10 just like the table says it should.
Sprinkles
This will explain the method of calculating the number of sprinkles sent in an attack and also their placement on the opponent's screen.
Sprinkle Calculations
It is important to understand that one sprinkle is created for every two blocks broken (Breakers are included as blocks). The number of sprinkles sent is multiplied as the size of the combo increases, as is the case for swords. To calculate the number of sprinkles that will be sent you must first seperate the attack into groups based on their combo size. If you single 3 blocks, double 4 blocks, and triple 5 blocks then you'll have a group of 3(Single), 4(Double), and 5(Triple). Now you must divide the number of blocks in each group by two. The 3 is now 1.5, the 4 becomes 2, and the 5 is 2.5. For any group that has half a block, simply remove the .5. The 1.5 is now 1, 2 will stay 2, and 2.5 becomes 2. For the final step just multiply each group by it's respective combo size and add the numbers together to get the total amount of sprinkles sent. 1 singled is 1, 2 doubled is 4, and 2 tripled is 6. 1 + 4 + 6 = 11. Therefore, this particular attack would send 11 sprinkles.
Sprinkle Placment
The side in which sprinkle attacks start on also goes back and forth (right, left, right, left, right, left... etc) The first sprinkle of the game always lands on the right. Note that also like swords both opponents drops count towards the side the sprinkle will fall on. (eg. You send a sprinkle and it will fall on the right, opponent sends a sprinkle it will land on your left, then you send another sprinkle it will land on the right again.) The difference between the back and forth mechanism between swords and sprinkles is that each sword sent is assigned either left or right handed switching back and forth. However, not each sprinkle sent is assigned to fall on the left or the right, but instead the entire attack (All of the sprinkles sent over in the same turn) is assigned to be either a left side or right side attack.
If the sprinkle is supposed to start on the right side, it drops a block, moves to the left and drops, moves to the left and drops and so on. If it starts from the left side, it does the exact same except it drops then moves to the right. Finally, as you all probably know sprinkles cannot land any higher in column 4 than 10 rows up. This makes it impossible to actually instakill someone with sprinkles.
Conclusion
This concludes the Black Death Sword and Sprinkle Placement Guide. You now know every bit of information used to define the placement of a sword or sprinkle. All credit goes to the members of the Black Death crew on the Midnight Ocean who tested and discovered these rules. You are free to test these rules by yourself, but all of the information displayed here has been tested multiple times by multiple crew members and has been proven 100% true to the best of our knowledge.
