Match 3 Basics

***Note:*** *This wiki is maintained by fans of the game, and is not affiliated with G5 Entertainment. If you are experiencing technical issues with the game itself, please contact customer support.*

In the City of Shadows, there are several "Match 3" mini-games. In all of these mini-games, you will match 3 or more crystals of the same color by swapping 2 crystals adjacent to each other. After a match is made, the original crystals will break or clear (sometimes forming tools) and new crystals will drop from the top of the game board.

* Crystals is the oldest of these types of mini-games and is always available to be played.
* Excavations is an event-exclusive version, often available as one of the two event-specific mini-games.
* Magical Items is an event-exclusive version. It is rarely offered as one of the two event-specific mini-games.
* Gemstone Vault is an event-exclusive, limited time version. If an event includes Gemstone Vault, it will appear and disappear as scheduled by the game.

## Gameplay

The Match 3 type mini-games have 2 different goals. Either you are trying to clear all the Yellow Tiles (as in Crystals and Gemstone Vault) **or** you are trying to collect event tokens (as in Excavations and Magical Items).

Regardless, you will be swapping two adjacent crystals to make a set of 3 or more crystals of the same color. The matching set will clear and more crystals will drop from the top of the game board.

Notice that the goal is **not** to clear all the obstacles (all the chains or all the stone). You do not lose any points if you leave an obstacle on the board but still meet the goal (yellow tiles or event tokens).

These mini-games are geared towards the swapping of the crystals. ***Doing 'combos' by matching multiple rows or columns using one movement does not advance you in any way*** (despite the sound cues becoming higher pitched).

If you do not do anything for about 10 seconds, the game will show you a possible swap by highlighting two crystals and shaking them.

If there are zero possible moves, the board will automatically scramble the crystals.

These mini-games have both a time variation and a limited move variation.

## Crystal Colors

There are currently 8 colors of crystals: Red, Pink, Orange, Green, Blue, Azure, Purple, and White. All colors are rarely if ever used in one play.

RedPinkOrangeGreenBlueAzurePurpleWhite
## Yellow Tiles

If your goal is to clear Yellow Tiles (Crystals and Gemstone Vault), these are the tiles that you are trying to clear. You need to match a set of 3 or more crystals adjacent to these tiles in order to clear them.

## Game Tools

These are the tools you might create within any one Match 3 type mini-game.

### Lightning

Combining four of any color of crystals in a row will produce a *Lightning*. The Lightning will be the same color as the crystals that were combined. Matching four crystals in a row horizontally produces a Lightning that aims vertically. Matching four crystals in a row vertically produces a Lightning that aims horizontally. On rare occasion, the game will refer to a Lightning as a "Magic Crystal".

When you combine the Lightning again to make a match of 3 or more crystals, the Lightning will clear one row or one column in the direction of its own arrows.

### Bomb

Combining 3 crystals of the same color, but in multiple directions (a 3x3 'L' or '+' shape) produces a *Bomb*. The Bomb will be the same color as the crystals that were combined.

When you combine the Bomb again to make a match of 3 or more crystals, the Bomb will explode and clear a 3x3 block. It will explode twice.

### Supercrystal

Combining five crystals of the same color in a row or column will produce a *Supercrystal*.

When you combine the Supercrystal with any adjacent crystal, all the crystals on the board that are the same color as the combined crystal will be cleared. For example, if a Supercrystal is combined with a green crystal, all the green crystals will be cleared.

## Combinations

As stated before, the game is more oriented towards the swapping of the crystals. However, you will get significantly more action by combining tools. If possible, leave your tools on the board until you have an opportunity to combine them with another tool.

* Swapping two Lightnings that are adjacent to each other horizontally, will clear one row and two columns.
* Swapping two Lightnings that are adjacent to each other vertically, will clear two rows and one column.
* Swapping a Bomb and a Lightning will clear three rows and three columns. The center will be where you clicked to move either of the tools.
* Swapping a Supercrystal and a Lightning will make every crystal of the same color as the Lightning become a Lightning, which immediately activates. This is powerful enough to singlehandedly win rounds at lower difficulties.
* Swapping a Supercrystal and a Bomb will make every crystal of the same color as the Bomb become a Bomb, which immediately activates.
* Swapping two Bombs makes them both explode in a 5x5 block, twice.
* Swapping two Supercrystals will clear every cell on the entire board one time. This includes breaking obstacles such as Metal tiles which are not affected by a single Supercrystal.

## Tools from your Inventory

You can use several of the "regular" tools that might be in your inventory.

* The Discoverer's Magnifier will clear one tile.
* The Bomb will create a Bomb within the field. It will replace a crystal and adopt the color of the crystal previously there. The Bomb will self-detonate within a second or two.
* The Supercrystal will create a Supercrystal within the field, replacing a crystal.
* The Chronometer will add 45 seconds to the game time if you are playing a round with a timer. It will add 5 moves if you are playing a limited move version of the game.

For the *Discoverer's Magnifier*, *Bomb*, and *Supercrystal* from your inventory, they will all target a *yellow tile* if that is your goal. If *event tokens* is your goal, they will target a tile covering an event token or below the event token on the board.

## Obstacle Tiles

While matching 3 of a kind is generally simple, there may be several tiles on the game board that are detrimental to the player's progress. The board may have stones, chains, ice, metal, or other obstacle tiles. Sometimes you will need to match a set of crystals adjacent to the obstacle (eg. Stone and Ice). Sometimes you will need to match a set of crystals with the same color as the obstacle (eg. Chain). Sometimes you will need to remove the obstacle with a Lightning or Bomb (eg. Metal and Pearls). Sometimes you have to work around the obstacle (eg. Holes).

## Strategy

* Look at the whole board occasionally.
* Try to work from the top down.
* Try to make tools on the board rather than simple match 3 combinations.
* Crystals 'fall' onto the board. If certain tiles such as Ice do not allow them to fall to a certain area, the player must break the Ice to get more crystals to fall in.
* Lightning and Supercrystals should often be prioritized over Bombs. They have global range, whereas the Bomb is short-ranged and can interrupt other combinations.
* It can be useful to have created many Lightnings in case one hopes to use a Supercrystal tool manually.
* The combination of Lightning and Bomb can also cover a large area (3 rows by 3 columns).
* Because of the way the tools work, it may be better to avoid using them immediately, especially when hoping to swap with a Supercrystal.
* Sometimes a board will only provide the player with four of the colors, giving incentive to create the Supercrystal or 4-of-a-kind combinations.
* Supercrystals cannot remove obstacles such as Pearls and Metal on their own. However, the combinations of Lightning and Supercrystal or Bomb and Supercrystal can cover a large area and remove many obstacles.
* Reminder that Supercrystals are only useful in Match 3 and Dream Kaleidoscope type mini-games, not in locations. It is best to use Supercrystals or Bombs before using the Magnifiers that can help in any location and most mini-games.
* **Note that the tools are individually not very powerful! It is often best to leave them on the field until they can be combined.**

## Trivia

* The Bomb is shown in the game's trailer.
* Originally, if a player used a Bomb from their tools, the Bomb would not immediately detonate. Players needed to make another match of 3 or more crystals with the Bomb. Now, a Bomb used as a tool does immediately detonate.
* Many Collections and the gifts in the center of the city during Events can give many of the tools for the Match 3 type mini-games.
* Several boosters give an extra 1-3 coins per specific color of crystal collected. See Boosters that Give Coin(s) for Particular Color of Crystal
* The Match 3 type mini-games used to have an *amber* color of crystal.

## Related Pages

* Home Page
* Crystals
* Excavations
* Gemstone Vault
* Magical Items
* Mini-Games
* Tools

***Note:*** *This wiki is maintained by fans of the game, and is not affiliated with G5 Entertainment. If you are experiencing technical issues with the game itself, please contact customer support.*