Steam Community :: Guide :: General Word Play Information

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Word Play Terminology

PLAYS: The number of words you are allowed to submit. Decreases by 1 for every word submitted. If you have 0 Plays and haven't reached the end of the round, you lose.
REFRESHES: A move that lets you exchange all of your current tiles for new ones. The old tiles are put back into the Letter Bag.
LETTER BAG: This is the pool that holds all of your Tiles.
GRID: The 4x4 area where all your tiles in play are placed.

MODIFIERS: Perks that give passive benefits, such as increasing your Bonus Points when you play certain types of words.
UPGRADES: Consumable items that usually affect your tiles.
GIFTS: Tiles that get added to your Letter Bag.

WORD SCORE: The total number of points you earn from all of the tiles' points.
BONUS POINTS: Bonuses given to you by spelling longer words and by Modifiers.
FINAL SCORE: The score earned from adding the Word Score and Bonus Points.
Some abilities affect Word Score and some affect Final Score; remember the difference!

Tile Types

(Underlines denote Special Tiles)
STANDARD TILE: A white Tile with no special abilities. A Standard Tile with an increased score is still considered a Standard Tile.
"ing" AND "ers" TILES: Self-explanatory. They're worth 8 points.
GLASS: Can't be upgraded or refreshed, and shatters when submitted.
MIRROR: Copies the letter and score of the tile to its left, but does not gain its special abilites (if any).
DOT: A red Tile that multiplies the Word Score by 2 if its the last letter of the word.
DIAMOND: A blue Tile. Its score increases by 5 when it's not submitted or refreshed every Play.
EMERALD: A green Tile which has a 25% chance to score 5x its listed score
GOLDEN: The Word Score is multiplied by the number of Golden Tiles in the submitted word.
POTION: Its listed score is added to your Play count. Shatters when submitted.
WILDCARD (*): Automatically replaced with an appropriate letter. If there's multiple that work, then it picks the first one alphabetically (i.e. in a scenario where "*one" is played, it would become "bone" rather than something like "hone", "zone", etc). It is worth 0 points.
EXCLAMATION (!): Scores equal to the number of unsubmitted tiles you have left over, but it has to end the word.
PLUS (+): Allows you to submit multiple words at once (i.e. FROG+RACE).
LOCKED: Can't be used or removed in any way until its timer expires. Its timer decreases by 1 every Play.

Rarity Odds

I think this is something we all wanted to know. Just how common are Common perks? How rare are Rare perks? To answer this, I ran some tests, marking down the rarities of every perk that came up. I also did this with the "Rare and Legendary Perks are much more likely to appear" perk to see how effective it is.

For natural odds, out of a total of 611 perks:
Common: 279 (45.66%)
Uncommon: 215 (35.19%)
Rare: 108 (17.68%)
Legendary: 9 (1.47%)

From this, I think it would be fair to estimate that the actual odds are probably:
Common - 45%
Uncommon - 35%
Rare - 19%
Legendary - 1%

For the raised odds, out of a total of 249 perks:
Common: 59 (23.69%)
Uncommon: 63 (26.30%)
Rare: 120 (48.19%)
Legendary: 7 (2.81%)

From this, I think it would be fair to estimate that the actual odds are probably:
Common - 25%
Uncommon - 25%
Rare - 47%
Legendary - 3%

Sell Prices

Unless otherwise stated, the sell prices for Modifiers are as follows:
Common - 1 Refresh
Uncommon - 2 Refreshes
Rare - 3 Refreshes
Legendary - 4 Refreshes
Tip: If you don't know what to pick and there's a Rare/Legendary Modifier, pick that and immediately sell it instead of skipping! You get 1 or 2 extra Refreshes for this decision.

List of Perks

NOTE: This list is partially incomplete as there are some perks with a bunch of variants which I definitely haven't seen all of. There may also be a couple more Legendaries that I haven't seen yet.

Common Modifiers

Perk

Extra Info

Add 1 Bonus Point. Increases by 1 when an Upgrade is used.

Add 2 Bonus Points. Increases by 2 if the word contains _ _. Letter pair changes when successful.

Possible pairs: CO, DE, DI, ED, EE, ER, ES, IN, LL, NG, OO, PR, RE, SS, UN

Add 3 Bonus Points. Increases by 2 when you add a new tile to the Letter Bag.

Formerly +1 on new tile, buffed in 1.06

Add an additional tile slot to the board.

All Q tiles are swapped for Qu tiles.

All tiles are automatically Refreshed at the start of each round.

Gain 2 Plays when you skip the perk screen, instead of 2 Refreshes.

This Modifier's sell price increase by 1 at the end of the round.

When submitting, the fourth tile will score 3x its points.

When submitting, the second tile will score 3x its points.

You can reroll the perks for free, once per round.

Uncommon Modifiers

Perk

Extra Info

3 in 4 chance for the perk screen to have 4 perks to choose from. 1 in 4 chance to only have two.

Add 10 Bonus Points during Special Rounds.

Add 10 Bonus Points. Decreases by 1 when you submit a word

Gives a grand total of 55 points over its lifespan.

Add 3 Bonus Points. Increases by 5 when a Modifier is sold or destroyed.

Add 3 Bonus Points. Increases by 5 whenever you reroll the perks.

Formerly +2 on perk reroll, buffed in 1.06

Add 5 Bonus Points for each unused Upgrade.

Formerly +1 on unused Upgrade, buffed in 1.06

Add a Hold Zone. Tiles in this zone aren't affected by Refresh.

Creates the Hold Zone, which is a column of 4 tiles on the left.

Add a Refresh Zone. Tiles in this zone will be Refreshed after submitting a word.

Creates the Refresh Zone, which is a column of 4 tiles on the right.

Don't lose a Play if you submit a word with exactly four tiles. Works once per round.

Gain a Refresh if the word starts with RE.

If the final word of the round has exactly four tiles, gain 2 Refreshes.

If the first tile is a Vowel, multiply its score by 5.

If the last tile is a Vowel, permanently increase its score by 2.

If the word begins with _, add 20 Bonus Points.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: C, F, H, M, O, P, Q, S, T, V, W

If the word ends with _, add 20 Bonus Points.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: D, G, R

If the word has an odd number of tiles, add 10 Bonus Points. If it has an even number of tiles, lose 5 Bonus Points.

If the word has exactly _ tiles, add 10 Bonus Points.

POSSIBLE NUMBERS: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

If the word has exactly five tiles, a random tile will become an Emerald Tile.

If the word has exactly five tiles, the first and last tiles score 3x.

If two adjacent tiles share the same letter, both score 3x.

Formerly scored double, buffed in 1.06

Rare and Legendary perks are much more likely to appear.

Effectiveness listed in the "Rarity Odds" section of this guide.

Refresh is free if you have a tile with a score of 8 or higher. Works once per round.

Refresh is free if you have no E tiles. Works once per round.

S and Z can be used interchangeably.

The lowest-scoring Consonant scores 5x.

If there's a tie, it only boosts the first one by 5x.

Upgrades can be used one more time than normal.

When an Upgrade is fully used up, gain a Refresh.

When the tiles are Refreshed, one of the new tiles will turn into a Golden Tile.

Whenever you add extra tiles to the Letter Bag, add one more of the same type.

Y is considered a Vowel.

Useless on its own, but synergizes with many other perks. Formerly Common, nerfed in 1.06.

Rare Modifiers

Perk

Extra Info

Add 1 Bonus Point. If you submit a Special Tile, convert it to a Standard Tile and increase by 3.

Add 1 Bonus Point. Increases by 2 if the word contains the letter _. Letter changes every round.

Possible Letters: C, F, L, T

Add 1 Bonus Point. Increases by 2 if the word contains two _s. Letter changes every round

Possible Letters: I, S

Add 1 Bonus Point. Increases by 5 when you submit a word. Resets at the start of the next round.

Add Bonus Points equal to the number of refreshes you have.

Add Bonus Points equal to the sell prices of all your Modifiers.

Includes this Modifier, meaning it has +3 by default

Add Bonus Points equivalent to the last tile's score.

Add two additional tile slots to the board.

Any Upgrades with at least one use will get all of their uses back at the start of a new round.

At the end of the round, convert a random Tile into a random Special Tile.

Not sure if the odds for each are different, might lab later

Boosts the Dot Tile multiplier by 0.2 when you successfully use a Dot Tile.

Diamond Tiles increase +10, but reset on a new round.

Don't lose a Play if the word starts with UN. Works once per round.

Double the Bonus Points rewards for spelling longer words. Words five tiles or shorter score 0 points.

Emerald Tiles always score, but have a 1 in 3 chance of being permanently destroyed.

Fill all the additional tile slots on the board, for the first word of each round.

Get a random Common Upgrade if the word starts with CO.

If another Modifier is sold or destroyed, make a new copy of it. Destroys this modifier.

Formerly a Legendary, buffed in 1.03

If every letter in the word is unique, multiply the Final Score by 1.5.

If the first and last letter of the word are both Vowels, multiply the Final Score by 2.

If the first and last letter of the word are the same, multiply the Final Score by 2.

If the first letter is a Vowel, multiply the Final Score by 1.5.

If the last word of the round starts with a Vowel, the perk screen will have 4 perks to choose from.

If the word begins with _, multiply the Final Score by 2. Letter changes every round.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: D, E, G, I, Q, W, J, S, T, U

If the word contains two identical letters in a row, multiply the Final Score by 1.5.

If the word doesn't have two Consonants in a row, multiply the Final Score by 2.

If the word ends with _, multiply the Final Score by 2. Letter changes every round.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: G, N

If the word has at least 3 different Vowels, multiply the Final Score by 2.

If the word has at least eight tiles, get a random Common Upgrade.

If the word has at least nine tiles, get a random Common or Uncommon Modifier.

If the word has exactly four tiles, duplicate the first tile and add it to the Letter Bag.

If the word has exactly four tiles, permanently increase every tile's score by 1.

If the word has more Vowels than Consonants, multiply the Final Score by 2.

If the word has no E in it, multiply the Final Score by 2.

If the word has three or more Special Tiles, duplicate them and add them to the Letter Bag. Destroys this Modifier.

If the word starts with the last letter of the previous word, multiply the Final Score by 2.

If you run out of Plays, get five more and keep playing. Destroys this Modifier.

If you spell a word with exactly eight tiles, double the number of Refreshes you have. Destroys this Modifier.

If you submit more than one Emerald Tile, each Emerald Tile is twice as likely to trigger.

If you submit three or more different Special Tiles, multiply the Final Score by 3.

If you submit two or more different Special Tiles, multiply the Final Score by 1.5.

Multiply the Final Score by 2 if you have at least 3 unsubmitted Special Tiles left on the board.

Multiply the Final Score by 3 if this is the only Modifier you own.

Multiply the Final Score by the number of _s in the word.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: E, R

Refresh ignores any tiles in the submission bar.

Return the first tile to the grid, instead of sending it to the Letter Bag.

Formerly Uncommon, nerfed in 1.03

Return the last tile to the grid, instead of sending it to the Letter Bag.

Formerly Uncommon, nerfed in 1.03

Special Tiles go back into the Letter Bag when submitted, instead of being spent.

This Modifier shows the next four tiles to come out of the Letter Bag.

Won't show anything during the perk screen intermissions

When a Modifier is sold or destroyed, multiply the Final Score by its sell value for the rest of the round.

When an Upgrade is fully used up, the next word's Final Score is multiplied by 2.

When submitting, convert the seventh tile into a Golden Tile.

When submitting, convert the sixth tile into an Emerald Tile.

When you Refresh, the next word's Final Score is multiplied by your remaining Refresh count. Destroys this Modifier.

When you sell any Modifier, add to your Play count instead of Refreshes.

Does not include this Modifier.

When you sell this Modifier, convert all your Refreshes into Plays.

This Modifier sells for 0 Refreshes instead of 3 because of how it works.

Word does not use a play if it has exactly _ tiles. Length changes every time this Modifier triggers. Lasts for one round.

You can refresh for free. Works once per round.

Legendary Modifiers

Perk

Extra Info

Add 1 Bonus Point. If the word contains a number from ONE to TWENTY, increase this Modifier by that many points.

Containing meaning that "DONE" would increase the score by 1 since there is a "ONE".

After each submission, convert a random unsubmitted tile into a Diamond Tile.

Any word can start with RE.

Gain a Play when you use the Refresh button.

If the word has a Golden Tile, the tile to the right of it will be turned into a Golden Tile.

Refresh ignores any Special Tiles.

The Final Score is multiplied by the number of Special Tiles in the submission.

When you Refresh, convert all the new tiles into random Special Tiles. Destroys this Modifier.

Common Challenge Modifiers

Perk

Extra Info

+4 Bonus Points if your word contains a letter pair. Otherwise -4 Bonus Points. Locks at +40.

Formerly +2/-2 and locked at +20, buffed in 1.06

Rare Challenge Modifiers

Perk

Extra Info

+2 Bonus Points if the word is the same length as the previous word. Otherwise, reset to 2. Locks at +20.

Haven't seen this one since the 1.06 update and I'm not sure if it has changed its bonuses like the others... will update this soon

+4 Bonus Points if your word contains an _. Otherwise reset to 0. Locks at +40.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: E, I, O. Formerly +2 and locked at +20, buffed in 1.06

+5 Bonus Points if the word contains the next letter in the alphabet. Otherwise reset to 0. Locks at Z.

This is the perk required to complete the "A to Z" achievement.

Common Upgrades

Perk

Uses

Extra Info

Hold one tile and Refresh all of the others

4

Refresh all tiles with the same letter. If there are 3+ of that letter, get 2 Refreshes.

4

Swap a tile with a common Consonant from the Letter Bag. Pick from D, L, N, R, T, or S.

4

Swap a tile with a Vowel from the Letter Bag. Pick from A, E, I, O, or U.

4

Can also give Y if you have the "Y is considered a Vowel" perk

Swap a tile with an E from the Letter Bag. Permanently increase the new tile's score by 2.

4

Transform a tile into a Dot Tile.

3

Transform a tile into a Golden Tile.

2

Transform a tile into an Emerald Tile.

2

Uncommon Upgrades

Perk

Uses

Extra Info

Create 3 new Standard Tiles with the same letter as the provided tile.

2

Create a Glass Duplicate of a tile.

4

Duplicate a tile and add it to the Letter Bag.

1

If the letter is a Vowel, Refresh all Vowels. If the letter is a Consonant, Refresh all Consonants.

4

Permanently add your Refresh count to a tile's score.

2

Permanently destroy a tile. Gain a Play when used.

3

Swap a tile with a random tile from your Letter Bag. If it's a Consonant, permanently increase the tile's score by 5.

2

Transform a tile into a Diamond Tile.

2

Rare Upgrades

Perk

Uses

Extra Info

Convert a tile into a Wildcard Tile with the same score.

1

Create a new Golden Tile with the same letter as the provided tile. If the tile has a score of 1, make 5 of them.

1

Creates a brand new tile, does NOT duplicate effects of the submitted tile like extra score.

Create a new Standard Tile with the same letter as the provided tile. If the tile has a score of 1, make 10 of them.

1

Same as above

Lock a tile for eight submissions. When it unlocks, permanently double its score.

2

Permanently add 5 points to a tile's score.

2

Permanently add a random number of points to a tile.

2

From testing it appears the range of numbers is 1-10.

Permanently destroy a tile, then add its score to another tile.

2

Transform a tile into a random Special Tile.

2

Legendary Upgrades

Perk

Uses

Extra Info

Permanently add 10 points to a tile's score.

2

Permanently destroy a tile, and set your Plays to that tile's score.

1

Common Gifts

Perk

Extra Info

Add 4 Refreshes.

Add 5 Standard _ tiles with 5 extra points to the Letter Bag.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: C, E, G, H, O, R, S, Y

Uncommon Gifts

Perk

Extra Info

Add 2 "ers" tiles to the Letter Bag.

Add 2 "ing" tiles to the Letter Bag.

Add 2 Diamond _ Tiles to the Letter Bag.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: Q, S, X, Y, Z

Add 2 Dot _ Tiles to the Letter Bag.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: G, K, N, S, T, Y

Add 2 Emerald _ tiles to the Letter Bag.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: Q, S, X, Y, Z

Add 2 Exclamation Tiles to the Letter Bag.

Add 2 Wildcard Tiles to the Letter Bag.

Convert your _ _ tiles into Golden Tiles.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: I, L, N, R, S, U

Rare Gifts

Perk

Extra Info

Add 1 Potion _ Tile to the Letter Bag.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: A, S

Add 2 Mirror Tiles to the Letter Bag.

Convert your _ _ Tiles into Emerald Tiles.

POSSIBLE LETTERS: H, M, W, X

Fill any unused Upgrade slots with random Common Upgrades.

Legendary Gifts

Perk

Extra Info

Add 1 Plus Tile to the Letter Bag.

Special Rounds

Can only submit 4 Tiles. Increases after each word.
First Tile is locked. (Possible letters: B, F, G, H, M, N, O, P, R, S, W)
Special Tiles don't trigger
The top 4 Tiles are locked for 4 submissions.
This letter must be a Vowel, or it will be destroyed. (Only picks from the first four spaces.)
Tiles Refresh after submission. Refreshes cost Plays.
Vowel Tiles score 0 points.
Word must include highlighted Tile or lose 2 Plays.
Words cost 2 Plays.
Words shorter than six tiles score 0 points.

Difficulty Differences

Mode

Starting Plays

Starting Refreshes

Plays Gained on Round Clear

Rounds to Clear

Special Rounds

Easy

10

5

4

10

5, 10

Normal

10

4

12

5, 8, 12

Hard

10

3

4

12

5, 8, 12

Legendary

8

3

14

5, 8, 10, 14

Marathon

12

6

4

20

5, 10, 15, 18, 20

Ultramarathon

10

3

4

20

5, 10, 15, 18, 20

Quick Play

30

6

-

Point Requirements

Round #

Easy

Normal

Hard

Legendary

Marathon

Ultramarathon

1

35

45

50

60

40

2

45

55

65

80

75

100

3

50

60

70

85

80

120

4

55

70

80

95

90

155

5

60

75

95

110

95

200

6

75

90

120

130

110

265

7

90

110

155

120

355

8

110

135

205

195

140

485

9

140

170

280

245

160

660

10

180

220

395

320

180

910

11

-

290

570

425

210

1255

12

-

385

830

570

245

1740

13

-

775

285

2420

14

-

1060

335

3375

15

-

395

4705

16

-

465

6575

17

-

550

9185

18

-

650

12845

19

-

775

17970

20

-

920

25140

In Quick Play, you earn a Bronze Medal for 500 points, a Silver Medal for 1000 points, and a Gold Medal for 1500 points.

(If I missed anything in this guide, let me know!)