STARTING-WORD GUIDE

BLAT to POOP.

A reusable word-ladder guide, rather than a dated daily puzzle. Every move below changes exactly one letter.

4minimum moves
5shortest routes
Easydistance-based rating

A shortest path from BLAT.

BLAT reaches POOP in 4 moves. The list includes 5 words because the starting position costs no move.

  1. StartBLATThe starting word; no move used
  2. Move 1BLOTReplace A with O in position 3
  3. Move 2BOOTReplace L with O in position 2
  4. Move 3BOOPReplace T with P in position 4
  5. Move 4POOPReplace B with P in position 1
Compare 5 shortest routes
  1. BLAT · BLOT · BOOT · BOOP · POOP
  2. BLAT · BLOT · PLOT · PLOP · POOP
  3. BLAT · BOAT · BOOT · BOOP · POOP
  4. BLAT · PLAT · PLAP · PLOP · POOP
  5. BLAT · PLAT · PLOT · PLOP · POOP

This list contains every shortest route in the checked word list.

Which first moves work?

3 next words keep you on a shortest route from BLAT: BLOT, BOAT, PLAT.

The table lists all 10 accepted one-letter neighbors. “Moves remaining” starts after that first move. “Total via this word” includes it, so you can compare that choice with the 4-move minimum.

Next wordMoves remainingTotal via this wordResult
BEAT45Longer route
BLAB45Longer route
BLAH56Longer route
BLAM56Longer route
BLOT34Shortest route
BOAT34Shortest route
BRAT45Longer route
FLAT45Longer route
PLAT34Shortest route
SLAT45Longer route

Why 4 moves is the minimum.

BLAT differs from POOP in 4 letter positions, so any route needs at least 4 changes. This route meets that lower bound.

The solver searches the checked word graph in distance order. It reaches every word one move away before trying two moves, then continues until it reaches POOP. The minimum applies to this word list; another game or dictionary may accept different connections.

Our Easy label uses distance only: up to 5 moves is Easy, 6 is Moderate, 7 is Tricky, 8 is Hard, and 9 or more is Expert. It does not measure how familiar you will find each word.

Try BLAT with a different target or read the verification method.

More 4-move ladders.

These starting words have the same shortest distance to POOP in the checked list.