Anomalies

Anomalies can appear randomly in Hidden Object Locations as you play the *Seekers Notes: Hidden Mystery* game. Anomalies do not affect Puzzles.

There are 4 types of anomalies in the game. Each one adds its own unique challenge to the Location.

Exploring a Location with an Anomaly will cost more Energy points than exploring the same Location without the Anomaly, but winning that game will also give extra Experience points, Coins and potentially extra rewards such as Fixers needed to combine Artifacts. Anagram mode always appears in a Location as the next mode after winning the Location with an Anomaly.

Anomalies can also be Summoned or Dispelled. It is possible to Dispel the Anomaly from the Location before you play using special tools you can win in the game. Dispelling the Anomaly will remove it from the Location and give you rewards. The rewards are the same items that could have been won from playing the Location with the Anomaly. Anagram mode always appears in a Location as the next mode after Dispelling an Anomaly.

## Types of Anomalies

These are the Anomalies that can appear in Locations in the game. Each anomaly has its own unique effect designed to make the hidden object game more difficult.

 Gargoyle |      | Allows only one object from the list to be viewed at a time since stone wings hide the search list.
 Reflection |      | The Location is a mirror image and the objects in the list are spelled backwards
 Time Shift |      | Makes time run faster. Less time to play.

### Dark Entities

The Dark Entities Anomaly is the location in Text mode with moving dark smoke clouds that partially obscure the photo of the location.

The regular Tools, Talismans and Artifacts can be used as normal when playing a Location with the Reflection Anomaly. Magical Lanterns may not be used.

The Flask of Fireflies item is used to Dispel the Dark Entities Anomaly from a specific location prior to playing, and the Sphere of Darkness item can be used to Summon the Dark Entities Anomaly to a specific location prior to playing.

### Gargoyle

The Gargoyle Anomaly allows only one object from the list to be viewed at a time since stone wings hide the search list. You must find the current listed item before another item is listed.

The regular Tools, Talismans and Artifacts can be used as normal when playing a Location with the Reflection Anomaly. Magical Lanterns may not be used.

The Rock Crusher item is used to Dispel the Gargoyle Anomaly from a specific Location prior to playing, and the Stone Heart item can be used to Summon the Gargoyle Anomaly to a specific location prior to playing.

### Reflection

The Reflection Anomaly is a mirror image of the location in Text mode. The image of the Location itself is inverted, and the names of the items you must find are spelled backwards.

The regular Tools, Talismans and Artifacts can be used as normal when playing a Location with the Reflection Anomaly. Magical Lanterns may not be used.

The Head Mirror item is used to Dispel the Reflection Anomaly from a specific location prior to playing, and the Cracked Mirror item can be used to Summon the Reflection Anomaly to a specific location prior to playing.

### Time Shift

The Time Shift Anomaly makes the time run faster while playing the location in Text mode. The timer starts at 3 minutes, but runs fast making the actual time available 2 minutes. The location is in text mode in the Time Shift Anomaly.

The regular Tools, Talismans and Artifacts can be used as normal when playing a Location with the Reflection Anomaly. Magical Lanterns may not be used.

The Metronome item is used to Dispel the Time Shift Anomaly from a specific location prior to playing, and the Time Violator item can be used to Summon the Time Shift Anomaly to a specific location prior to playing.

## Exploring Locations with Anomalies

When a Location has an Anomaly in it, you will see a symbol representing the Anomaly in the photo of the location on your Darkwood Town Map.

Dark EntitiesGargoyleReflectionTime Shift

Pressing a location will bring up the 'Explore Window' for that Location. The Anomaly symbol will appear in the upper right corner of the photo of the Location in the Explore Window.

As you open the Explore Window, you will see the Energy required to play listed in the Costs section increase from the normal amount required to play. This is a percentage increase, so the more Energy points that the Location normally requires, the bigger the increase you will see. The more advanced the Location's Rank is, the more energy points it normally takes to play, so the more Energy points will be added if an anomaly is present.

In the example above, Ballroom at the current rank would normally cost 34 Energy points to play. With the Gargoyle Anomaly it costs 52 Energy points to play instead of 34.

In addition to costing more Energy points, Locations with Anomalies in them will also award additional Experience points and coins when you win the game. The extra Experience points and coins earned are listed after the '+' signs next to the normal amount awarded in the Explore Window. This is a percentage increase, so the more Experience points or coins that the Location normally awards, the bigger the increase you will see. If there are any other boosters active, then the total amount added will show after the '+'. The boost from the Anomaly is 25% (the amount will be rounded up when the percentage increases are added).

To play the Hidden Object Location with the Anomaly in it, simply press the green 'Explore' button.

After you successfully win the game of the Location with the Anomaly in it, you will be given a random set of items from the 'You Can Find' list as a reward, in addition to the Experience points and Coins listed in the Explore Window before the game. The next mode in that picture will always be Anagram mode.

## Dispelling Anomalies

Instead of playing the Location with the Anomaly present you can Dispel the Anomaly from the Location.

In the Explore Window for a Location with an Anomaly in it, there will be a 'Dispel' button next to the 'Explore' button. To Dispel an Anomaly simply press the Dispel button. A confirmation Window will appear.

If you do not have the right item to Dispel the Anomaly in your Inventory you will be offered to buy it with Rubies. If you do have the right item to Dispel the anomaly in your Inventory, the anomaly will be removed from the Location and you will be given a random set of game items from the 'You Can Find' list as a reward.

When you Dispel an Anomaly from a Location, the next mode in that Location will always be Anagram mode.

### Dispelling items

Below is a list of the Anomalies currently available in the game; the item required to Dispel that Anomaly; the Chests where that item can be found and some Collections that reward that item when combined.

 Gargoyle     | Rock Crusher     | Exorcist's, Dark Servants', Fire Guardian, Full Moon, Medusa, Gremlin
 Reflection     | Head Mirror     | Exorcist's, Dark Servants', Fire Guardian, Full Moon, Medusa, Gremlin
 Time Shift     | Metronome     | Exorcist's, Dark Servants', Fire Guardian, Full Moon, Medusa, Gremlin

## Summoning Anomalies

Anomalies are triggered by game play and appear in random locations as you play. New anomalies do not appear while the game is at rest or closed - the anomalies present when you close will still be there when you re-open.

It is also possible to summon an Anomaly with a Summoning Item. To summon an anomaly, open the Inventory, go to the Anomalies section (Gargoyle symbol).

Find and tap on a Summoning item to bring up an Information Window about that item. There are two options in the Information Window - 'Use' or 'Cancel'. Pressing the green 'Use' button will use the item. The Window will close and one of the item will disappear from your inventory. If you only had one of that item, its entry will disappear altogether from the Inventory.

When you close the Inventory and return to the Darkwood Town Map, the locations available to use the Summoning Item will be in color.

**Anomalies can not be summoned to Locations in the rank of Novice, those already containing an Anomaly, those in Anagram mode, or the current Event Location.**

 Time Shift |      |     Time Violator

There are three situations where it may be desirable to summon an anomaly. These are:

(1) A quest such as "Explore the Cafe with the Time Shift anomaly," where the anomaly must be present to get the desired collectable and proceed to the next quest.

(2) A quest such as "Explore the Ballroom with the Anagram Curse." The Anagram curse is a consequence of Dispelling an anomaly. It does not appear in the normal rotation of Modes.

(3) A series of quests in a room requiring access passes, where these are in short supply AND there is a Dispel item available. Dispelling an anomaly is equivalent, in terms of rewards, to playing the location. However, you do not need to have access passes for that room to Dispel. This means it is possible to, for instance, repeatedly Summon and Dispel for the Ship to get Ship collectables, despite not having any Pirate Coins, if you have Summon and Dispel items available.

With the Flower of Memories Update 2.4 released on November 4, 2020, it became possible to choose the location where an anomaly is summoned.

**Anomalies can not be summoned to Locations in the rank of Novice, those already containing an Anomaly, those in Anagram mode, or the current Event Location.**

Previously, when summoning an Anomaly, the location would be chosen at random (see Summoning History).

Anomalies also do not affect Puzzles, such as Treasure Box or Ancient Cards.

It is possible to play quests requiring Anomalies or the Anagram Curse without Summon and Dispel tools. Playing the Location repeatedly will eventually result in the required state, and you can play the Location with the anomaly present to dispel it as an alternative to a Dispel tool. However, users in the forum report often playing a location a great many times to do so. The first anomaly to arrive is often not the one the quest requires. The decision of whether to play until the anomaly arrives or Summon will be dictated by the availability of Summoning and Dispel items, and the costs of playing as an alternative (in the form of time, energy, and access passes).

### Summoning Items

Below is a list of the anomalies currently available in the game; the item required to Summon that Anomaly and some collections which reward that item. You can buy the Summoning items in the Store for 12 Rubies each.

 Gargoyle     | Stone Heart     | Witch's Travel Guide (+3); Johnny's Children's Box (+3); Evidence Against the Seekers (+3); School Days (+2); Gift Set (+2); Delacroix's Amusements (+2); Under the Guise of a Gremlin (+2); Locating Crystals (+2); Feast of Renewal (+3)
 Reflection     | Cracked Mirror     | Gordon's Rescue (+3); Lifeboat Equipment (+3); Agent's Questioning (+2); Spawn of the Curse (+2), Mysterious Fragments (+2); Battle Between Worlds (+3)
 Time Shift     | Time Violator     | Foreign Treasures (+3); Lost Memories (+2); Stories of the Monster (+2); The Scientist's Conclusions (+2); In Search of Truth (+3); Trial by Combat (+2)

### Summoning History

However, in practice, summoning a particular Anomaly to appear in a specific location requires many Summoning and Dispelling items. This is because when you Summon an Anomaly, you cannot directly choose which Location it appears in. It will choose a Location at random, from all open rooms *except* those in Novice mode, those already with an anomaly, and those in Anagram mode. (Anomalies also do not affect Puzzles, such as Treasure Box or Ancient Cards). These constraints mean that you can force the anomaly to appear in a Location by using other Anomalies or Anagram mode to block it from other Locations.

In brief, the method is to look at your town map, and see how many rooms could take an anomaly. Next, check your inventory to be sure you have more than that number of Summoning items available. Summon repeatedly until there are no possible Locations left for one (indicated by the message "You can't create an anomaly right now"). You will probably not get your desired anomaly in your desired Location initially, due to the random nature of Summoning. The next step is to Dispel from the desired room and play once to remove Anagram mode. (Anagram mode is the result of Dispelling an anomaly). The Location will now be the only Location able to take an anomaly, so the next anomaly you Summon will appear in that room.

## Anomalies and Anagram Mode

Anagram mode is unique in the Hidden Object Modes available in the game, as it does not appear in normal rotation as you play a Hidden Object Location. The only way to get Anagram mode in a Location is to successfully Explore that Location when it has an Anomaly in it, or to Dispel the Anomaly.

The next mode to appear in that Location after will be the Anagram mode (symbol blue 'Cba' on white background).

You cannot Summon Anomalies to Locations that are in Anagram mode.

## Hints and Tips

### Triggering Anomalies During Game Play

It is not possible to force a certain anomaly to appear in a certain Location at a certain time. However, in order for anomalies to appear in any Location, you must be playing the game. If you are not playing any Locations at all, no new anomalies will be triggered in your game.

But, the more you play a certain Location, the more Anomalies will appear there. If you need an anomaly in a certain Location, keep playing that Location and Anomalies will start to appear in that Location.

Anomalies may also appear in other Locations as you play the one Location, as playing the game will Trigger Anomalies. You can choose to either leave those Anomalies in those Locations or Dispel them, but continuing to play the Location that you want the Anomaly in is the best way to trigger it there.

The easiest way to get an Anomaly in a Location is to play that Location over and over. The more you play the Location, the more Anomalies will appear in it. Eventually, the right Anomaly will appear.

When you use Anomaly Summoning items you cannot choose which Location the Anomaly will be summoned to. It will appear at random. However, Anomalies cannot be summoned to Locations that already have Anomalies or to Locations that are currently in Anagram mode. If you want to use Anomaly summoning items to get a certain Anomaly in a certain Location, you must make sure that the Location is not in Anagram mode and does not already have an Anomaly present before using the Summoning item, or the Anomaly will definitely not appear in that Location.

You can also use this fact to force the Anomaly you are trying to Summon into the Location you need it in. If all other Locations already have Anomalies (or if they are in Anagram mode), then the Anomaly you Summon will not be able to appear in them. The Anomaly will have to go to the one Location that does not already have an Anomaly (or is not in Anagram mode). Playing all other Locations until they have anomalies before using the Summoning item will make sure that the Summoned Anomaly will appear in the Location you want it in.

## April Fool's Flip Anomaly

Most likely during April Fool's, there may also be a humorous anomaly called the Flip anomaly. While it's active, a location will be reflected vertically (upside down). You can only dispel it after successfully exploring the location.

### Fun Thingy Anomaly

The Fun Thingy item summons the Flip anomaly to a random location. You can only get the item by participating in a time-limited event, such as April's Fool.

### Fun Prank Anomaly

The Fun Prank item summons the Flip anomaly to a random location. You can only get the item by participating in a time-limited event, such as April's Fool.

## History

Update 1.31 Legend of the Alchemist, released on September 5, 2018, started giving Event Access Passes when dispelling anomalies.

Text Mode mode always appears in the Location after you Dispel an Anomaly from it.

Previous Anomaly symbols

 Gargoyle
 Reflection
 Time Shift

### Hoarfrost (Note: No longer available)

When Hoarfrost is in a Location, the whole picture is hidden under a layer of Hoarfrost. Press down on any area of the location to remove the frost to find all the items listed in the banner at the bottom of the screen within a 3 minute time limit. Hoarfrost will start covering a cleared area again after a short time passes.

The regular Tools, Talismans and Artifacts can be used as normal when playing a Location with the Hoarfrost Anomaly. Using the Magical Lantern will clear the Hoarfrost for 1 minute.

The Sunshine item is used to Dispel the Hoarfrost Anomaly from a specific Location, and the Frosty Box item can be used to Summon the Hoarfrost Anomaly.

Dispelling Items

Summoning Items