A Water Sort puzzle is solved by pouring colored liquids between tubes until each tube holds a single color. The key strategy is to create empty tubes for workspace, complete one color at a time, and plan two to three moves ahead. This guide covers everything from basic rules to advanced techniques.
What Is Water Sort?
Water Sort is a color-sorting puzzle game in which players pour colored liquids between test tubes until each tube contains only one color. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times on iOS and Android, making it one of the most popular casual puzzle games worldwide.
Each level presents a set of tubes filled with layers of colored liquid. The goal is to sort all the colors so every tube is either empty or filled with a single color. You can only pour the top layer of one tube onto another tube if the receiving tube is empty or its top layer matches the color being poured.
Step-by-Step Strategy for Beginners
Step 1: Survey the Board
Before making any moves, scan the entire board. Identify which colors are closest to being completed — these are your priority targets. Look for tubes where the same color appears in consecutive layers near the top.
Step 2: Create Empty Tubes
The single most important strategy in Water Sort is creating empty tubes. An empty tube gives you a temporary workspace to move colors around. Without empty space, you will get stuck. Always prioritize moves that lead to emptying a tube.
Step 3: Complete One Color at a Time
Focus your efforts on finishing one color completely before moving to the next. The color that is closest to done — where most of its layers are already in one tube — should be your first target.
Step 4: Plan Two to Three Moves Ahead
Do not just look at the current move. Think about what the board will look like after your move and whether it opens up new possibilities or blocks you. Water Sort rewards sequential thinking over reactive play.
Advanced Techniques
The Bottom-Up Rule
Always work from the bottom of tubes upward. If a color is trapped at the bottom of a tube with other colors on top, you need to clear those top layers first. Prioritize the colors that are deepest and hardest to access.
Avoid Color Fragmentation
Do not scatter the same color across many different tubes. Every time you split a color into a new tube, you increase the number of moves needed to reassemble it. Consolidate colors whenever possible.
Use Empty Tubes as Buffers
Think of empty tubes like temporary storage. You can pour a blocking color into an empty tube, access the color underneath, then pour the blocking color back. This technique is essential for solving harder levels.
When to Use a Solver
Some Water Sort levels are extremely difficult or even mathematically unsolvable. If you have been stuck on a level for more than a few minutes, use ChromaOracle to check whether a solution exists and to find the optimal path. The solver uses breadth-first search to guarantee the shortest solution.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filling empty tubes too quickly — empty space is your most valuable resource
- Partially sorting many colors at once — finish one before starting another
- Ignoring the bottom layers — trapped bottom colors cause the most problems
- Making random moves — every move should have a purpose
Frequently Asked Questions
How many moves does it take to solve a Water Sort puzzle?
The number of moves depends on the puzzle complexity. Simple four-tube puzzles typically require eight to twelve moves, while advanced levels with ten or more tubes can need thirty or more. ChromaOracle finds the absolute shortest path.
Can Water Sort puzzles be unsolvable?
Yes. Some configurations are mathematically impossible to solve. ChromaOracle detects unsolvable puzzles instantly, so you do not waste time on impossible levels.
What is the best first move in Water Sort?
The best first move is usually one that either creates an empty tube or consolidates a color. Avoid moves that fragment colors into more tubes than necessary.