Block Blast tips and strategies
Simple habits that keep your board open for longer and help you score more, explained with example boards.
Look at all three pieces first
The most useful habit in Block Blast takes only a second: before you place anything, look at all three pieces in the tray and think about where each one can go. New pieces only arrive when the tray is empty, so you have to find room for all three you have now. A spot that is perfect for the first piece may be the only spot for the third one.
Place the most difficult piece first, usually the largest one or the one with the most awkward shape. Small pieces such as the single block or the line of two fit almost anywhere, so keep them for last. They are also the pieces that can finish a row or a column that is missing only one or two squares.
Build along the edges, keep the center open
A piece placed in the middle of an empty board splits the free space into smaller areas, and large pieces need large areas. Start by placing pieces against the edges of the board and fill the board from the outside in. The center then stays open for as long as possible, and you can still fit the big shapes there.
In this board almost every block touches an edge. The open middle still has room for any piece in the game, including the 3×3 square and the line of 5.
Always keep room for the 3×3 square
The 3×3 square is the largest piece, and it is the one that ends most games. When the board starts to fill up, check that there is still at least one free area of 3 by 3 squares. If your next move would close the last such area, look for another spot for that piece.
Here the player has kept the top-right corner free. The see-through blocks show that a 3×3 square still fits there, even though the rest of the board is busy.
Keep a lane for the line of 5
The straight line of 5 blocks is long and thin, and it can only go where five squares in a row, or five in a column, are free. Try to keep at least one row or column with a long empty stretch. A row that is half empty is often more valuable than a row that is almost full but has gaps in several places.
The two open rows in the middle can take a horizontal line of 5 at any moment. A vertical line of 5 would not fit anywhere on this board, so the open rows are what keeps it safe.
Do not rush into the corners
A corner square can be reached by fewer shapes than a square in the open. That makes corners easy to spoil. Fill a corner only with a piece that covers it cleanly, such as a 2×2 square, a 3×3 square or a corner shape that matches. A T, S or Z shape placed next to a corner often leaves one empty square that only a single block can fill.
In the top-left corner, the T shape has left one empty square closed in on two sides by blocks and on the other two by the edge of the board. In the bottom-right corner, the 2×2 square fits cleanly and leaves no gaps.
Avoid single holes
A hole is an empty square with blocks or the edge of the board on every side. Only the single block can fill it, and the single block does not come often. Every hole also blocks its row and its column: neither can clear until the hole is filled. Before you place a piece, check the squares around it. If the piece would leave a hole, try moving it by one square or using a different piece.
Narrow gaps of one square in width are almost as bad. Only straight lines of the right length, standing or lying, can fill them. Wider gaps of two or three squares can take many more shapes.
Clear two or more lines at once when it is safe
Points for clearing lines grow quickly with the number of lines: one line gives 10 points, two lines with one piece give 40, and three give 90. So it pays to fill two rows, or a row and a column, so that one piece can finish both. Rows that cross a nearly full column are a good place to set this up.
Do not take too much risk for it, though. Holding back two almost full rows for a long time fills the rest of the board, and a game that ends early scores less than a long game with single clears. When in doubt, clear the line you can clear now.
Keep your combo going
A combo continues as long as you clear at least one line with one of every three pieces you place. Each clearing move in a combo multiplies its line points: two times for the second clear in a row, three times for the third, and so on up to eight times. The safest way to keep a combo alive is to have one or two lines that are almost full at all times, so that at least one of your next pieces can finish one of them.
The tray holds three pieces, which helps: when you look at a new tray, plan which of the three pieces will make the next clear.
Look for a board clear
If a clear leaves the whole board empty, you get a bonus of 300 points. This happens most often early in a game or right after a big clear, when only a few blocks are left. When the board is nearly empty, take a moment to check whether one of your pieces can complete every line that still has blocks in it.
Take your time
There is no timer in Block Blast, so a slow, careful move is always better than a fast one. If you need a break, press pause; the board is hidden and your game is saved. In the Daily Challenge, every attempt on the same day starts with the same pieces, so you can try again and use what you learned in your first game.
A short checklist for every tray
- Is there room for all three pieces, one after another? Find a spot for the hardest one first.
- Will this move leave a hole or a gap of one square?
- Is there still room for a 3×3 square and a line of 5?
- Can one piece finish two lines at once?
- Will one of the next three pieces clear a line, so the combo goes on?
The rules behind these tips are explained on the How to Play page, and every point value is listed in the scoring guide.