16 Pieces Solution

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How it works

The 16 Tetris-shaped pieces fit together to form an 8x8 grid. Matching the paths of the encrypted phrases printed on the pieces helps to decide which piece fits where.

Pieces arranged into grid

Assembled grid

You will now find 19 phrases in the grid as follows, in alphabetical order:

  • DPYT DO DER DGIS DTIW DHGIE DEDIS
  • EOODS BHEWEDS ZS RECONDS SIMES ZSS ZS BOWS LIGHTS
  • GOOSEERS FEATHERERS ORERS THEERS OPPOSITEERS OFERS UPERS
  • JRIPED JIMAL JAT JRAYS JUL JELLING JQUID
  • JWEES JELLOS JLUIS JADS JROS JECTAS JS JEES
  • KSIHTINE KSIINE KEHTINE KLANIFINE KLAOGINE KNIINE KSSEHCINE KROINE KGNITADINE
  • LASM IN FIRSM OUM DAMA SMRUCMURE MYPE
  • MROTOMK VELCIHEVK WHTIWK FRUOFK WSLEEHWK
  • NEON NRPESON NOSHRT NOF NA NAQURTET
  • NOILSTAL WOSN ERTI RO ESNO NOITADECOR
  • NUROT SUECEIP FUO DULO GUNIHTOLC
  • OTIIS OFIUIT OII ODIIED OTI OMIKE OA OPIUNE
  • OWWLB YPPET HAATT NDDSE HEET FLLN EAASONS
  • RMUSMR RDIAPDR RRORR RDEGRAHCDR RROFRR RECIVRESER
  • TLLU MRSHN GASSH OP EGLISHF HRNI PECEQ
  • UOYE DNIFE SAEPE NIE ENOE FOE ESEHTE
  • VIARMIMORED VIWAMIR VIVEMIHICLE VITHMIAT VIDRMIIVES VIONMI VITWMIO VITRMIACKS
  • WSAT TSE SSOTTISH CSLL A YSUNG MSN
  • YHESSE FRRE KEMMALE KIGGURE GOOOSTING LARRMENTS

Decipher each of the phrases in the assembled grid. Each word of a particular phrase has been mangled in a consistent manner. Each decoded phrase is a crossword-style clue:

  • DPYT DO DER DGIS DTIW DHGIE DEDIS

    Reverse each word; then replace the first letter with D

    TYPE OF RED SIGN WITH EIGHT SIDES

  • EOODS BHEWEDS ZS RECONDS SIMES ZSS ZS BOWS LIGHTS

    Shift the first letter in the word back one place in the alphabet; add S to the end

    FOOD CHEWED A SECOND TIME AS A COW MIGHT

  • GOOSEERS FEATHERERS ORERS THEERS OPPOSITEERS OFERS UPERS

    Add ERS to the end of each word

    GOOSE FEATHERS OR THE OPPOSITE OF UP

  • JRIPED JIMAL JAT JRAYS JUL JELLING JQUID

    Replace the first two letters with J

    STRIPED ANIMAL THAT SPRAYS FOUL SMELLING LIQUID

  • JWEES JELLOS JLUIS JADS JROS JECTAS JS JEES

    Replace first letter with J; replace last letter with S

    SWEET YELLOW FLUID MADE FROM NECTAR BY BEES

  • KSIHTINE KSIINE KEHTINE KLANIFINE KLAOGINE KNIINE KSSEHCINE KROINE KGNITADINE

    K + word in reverse + INE

    THIS IS THE FINAL GOAL IN CHESS OR DATING

  • LASM IN FIRSM OUM DAMA SMRUCMURE MYPE

    Replace all Ts with Ms

    LAST IN FIRST OUT DATA STRUCTURE TYPE

  • MROTOMK VELCIHEVK WHTIWK FRUOFK WSLEEHWK

    Take first letter of word, the entire word in reverse, and then K

    MOTOR VEHICLE WITH FOUR WHEELS

  • NEON NRPESON NOSHRT NOF NA NAQURTET

    Move 3rd letter of word to the front; add N to the front of word

    ONE PERSON SHORT OF A QUARTET

  • NOILSTAL WOSN ERTI RO ESNO NOITADECOR

    Split word in half; reverse second half, followed by first half

    STALLION SNOW TIRE OR NOSE DECORATION

  • NUROT SUECEIP FUO DULO GUNIHTOLC

    Reverse word; insert U into the second position

    TORN PIECES OF OLD CLOTHING

  • OTIIS OFIUIT OII ODIIED OTI OMIKE OA OPIUNE

    Replace 2nd letter of word with I; add O to the front

    THIS FRUIT IS DRIED TO MAKE A PRUNE

  • OWWLB YPPET HAATT NDDSE HEET FLLN EAASONS

    Move first letter to the end; double the second letter

    BOWL TYPE THAT ENDS THE NFL SEASON

  • RMUSMR RDIAPDR RRORR RDEGRAHCDR RROFRR RECIVRESER

    Reverse the word; add first letter to the end; wrap word with Rs

    SUM PAID OR CHARGED FOR SERVICE

  • TLLU MRSHN GASSH OP EGLISHF HRNI PECEQ

    Delete 2nd letter; Add the letter after the first (alphabetically) to the end

    TALL MARSH GRASS OR ENGLISH HORN PIECE

  • UOYE DNIFE SAEPE NIE ENOE FOE ESEHTE

    Reverse the word; add E to the end

    YOU FIND PEASE IN ONE OF THESE

  • VIARMIMORED VIWAMIR VIVEMIHICLE VITHMIAT VIDRMIIVES VIONMI VITWMIO VITRMIACKS

    Add VI to front; insert MI after the 4th letter

    ARMORED WAR VEHICLE THAT DRIVES ON TWO TRACKS

  • WSAT TSE SSOTTISH CSLL A YSUNG MSN>

    Replace 2nd letter with S

    WHAT THE SCOTTISH CALL A YOUNG MAN

  • YHESSE FRRE KEMMALE KIGGURE GOOOSTING LARRMENTS

    Shift first letter forward 5 places in alphabet; double letter after the first vowel

    THESE ARE FEMALE FIGURE BOOSTING GARMENTS

Answer each decoded phrase to get a single word. Mangle each word using the same transformation as its phrase originally used. This results in a final answer word or phrase. Each of the final words is a street slang for a type of drug.

  • DPYT DO DER DGIS DTIW DHGIE DEDIS

    Reverse each word; then replace the first letter with D

    TYPE OF RED SIGN WITH EIGHT SIDES

    STOP -> DOTS

  • EOODS BHEWEDS ZS RECONDS SIMES ZSS ZS BOWS LIGHTS

    Shift the first letter in the word back one place in the alphabet; add S to the end

    FOOD CHEWED A SECOND TIME AS A COW MIGHT

    CUD -> BUDS

  • GOOSEERS FEATHERERS ORERS THEERS OPPOSITEERS OFERS UPERS

    Add ERS to the end of each word

    GOOSE FEATHERS OR THE OPPOSITE OF UP

    DOWN -> DOWNERS

  • JRIPED JIMAL JAT JRAYS JUL JELLING JQUID

    Replace the first two letters with J

    STRIPED ANIMAL THAT SPRAYS FOUL SMELLING LIQUID

    SKUNK -> JUNK

  • JWEES JELLOS JLUIS JADS JROS JECTAS JS JEES

    Replace first letter with J; replace last letter with S

    SWEET YELLOW FLUID MADE FROM NECTAR BY BEES

    HONEY -> JONES

  • KSIHTINE KSIINE KEHTINE KLANIFINE KLAOGINE KNIINE KSSEHCINE KROINE KGNITADINE

    K + word in reverse + INE

    THIS IS THE FINAL GOAL IN CHESS OR DATING

    MATE -> KETAMINE

  • LASM IN FIRSM OUM DAMA SMRUCMURE MYPE

    Replace all Ts with Ms

    LAST IN FIRST OUT DATA STRUCTURE TYPE

    STACK -> SMACK

  • MROTOMK VELCIHEVK WHTIWK FRUOFK WSLEEHWK

    Take first letter of word, the entire word in reverse, and then K

    MOTOR VEHICLE WITH FOUR WHEELS

    CAR -> CRACK

  • NEON NRPESON NOSHRT NOF NA NAQURTET

    Move 3rd letter of word to the front; add N to the front of word

    ONE PERSON SHORT OF A QUARTET

    TRIO -> NITRO

  • NOILSTAL WOSN ERTI RO ESNO NOITADECOR

    Split word in half; reverse second half, followed by first half

    STALLION SNOW TIRE OR NOSE DECORATION

    STUD -> DUST

  • NUROT SUECEIP FUO DULO GUNIHTOLC

    Reverse word; insert U into the second position

    TORN PIECES OF OLD CLOTHING

    RAGS -> SUGAR

  • OTIIS OFIUIT OII ODIIED OTI OMIKE OA OPIUNE

    Replace 2nd letter of word with I; add O to the front

    THIS FRUIT IS DRIED TO MAKE A PRUNE

    PLUM -> OPIUM

  • OWWLB YPPET HAATT NDDSE HEET FLLN EAASONS

    Move first letter to the end; double the second letter

    BOWL TYPE THAT ENDS THE NFL SEASON

    SUPER -> UPPERS

  • RMUSMR RDIAPDR RRORR RDEGRAHCDR RROFRR RECIVRESER

    Reverse the word; add first letter to the end; wrap word with Rs

    SUM PAID OR CHARGED FOR SERVICE

    FEE -> REEFER

  • TLLU MRSHN GASSH OP EGLISHF HRNI PECEQ

    Delete 2nd letter; Add the letter after the first (alphabetically) to the end

    TALL MARSH GRASS OR ENGLISH HORN PIECE

    REED -> REDS

  • UOYE DNIFE SAEPE NIE ENOE FOE ESEHTE

    Reverse the word; add E to the end

    YOU FIND PEASE IN ONE OF THESE

    POD -> DOPE

  • VIARMIMORED VIWAMIR VIVEMIHICLE VITHMIAT VIDRMIIVES VIONMI VITWMIO VITRMIACKS

    Add VI to front; insert MI after the 4th letter

    ARMORED WAR VEHICLE THAT DRIVES ON TWO TRACKS

    TANK -> VITAMIN K

  • WSAT TSE SSOTTISH CSLL A YSUNG MSN>

    Replace 2nd letter with S

    WHAT THE SCOTTISH CALL A YOUNG MAN

    LAD -> LSD

  • YHESSE FRRE KEMMALE KIGGURE GOOOSTING LARRMENTS

    Shift first letter forward 5 places in alphabet; double letter after the first vowel

    THESE ARE FEMALE FIGURE BOOSTING GARMENTS

    BRAS -> GRASS

Enter the drug terms into the grid, following the paths used by their phrases, one letter per cell. When multiple phrases cross the same cell, the answers share the letter in that cell.

Read along one of the diagonals in the completed grid to discover the final answer.

Completed grid

Solution

DRUG MULE

Design notes

This clue was inspired by a couple of puzzles published by Foggy Brume, who releases a new edition of Panda Magazine every couple of months. We solved his versions to build lists of cheeses and fish, and had a blast doing so. I knew I wanted to build a puzzle using this formula, and just needed to find the right theme for the set of items to encode. When I stumbled on the extensive list of drug terms on Wikipedia, I knew I had my set.

At first, I was worried about selecting terms that would transform into other clue-able words. This turned out to be not a problem at all. Depending on how evil I wanted to be, any word can be transformed into pretty much anything else. With such a large pool to cull from, it just became a matter of picking what would fit into the grid and selecting transformations that were actually decipherable.

Over the course of generating the phrases, I got familiar enough with the encodings that I could often just read them straight out without thinking about the transformation process too much. For a bit, this had me worried that the puzzle was too trivial.

The first iteration of this clue was just a sanity check that the encoded phrases were solvable. It also had no spaces between words (much like Foggy's versions). That's fine if that's the only step, and you have plenty of time to puzzle over them. Decoding just the raw list on its own took well over two hours for a team of strong solvers, so I quickly discovered I had to drastically scale back the difficulty.

GC notes

During the RC, a couple of our test teams commented on the nice tie-in between this puzzle and the location. Since we had dropped this puzzle at the site largely at random, almost purely based on timing, those of us sitting around in GC at the time had no idea what the teams were talking about. When one of them finally pointed out the Jimi Hendrix / drug connection, our response was along the lines of, "oh yeah... we totally planned that."