Rung #44: HAVEN to ROCKY — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 27, 2026: HAVEN to ROCKY, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 7: the shortest climb there is takes 6 rungs, and par gives you one to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from HAVEN to ROCKY. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 6 rungs; par is one more, so the shortest route comes in under it. The leap does not shorten this one: 6 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 23 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. HAVEN → HAVES — the fifth letter, N becomes S.
2. HAVES → RAVES — the first letter, H becomes R.
3. RAVES → RACES — the third letter, V becomes C.
4. RACES → RACKS — the fourth letter, E becomes K.
5. RACKS → ROCKS — the second letter, A becomes O.
6. ROCKS → ROCKY — the fifth letter, S becomes Y.

Other routes as short: HAVEN · RAVEN · RAVES · RACES · RACKS · ROCKS · ROCKY; HAVEN · RAVES · RACES · RACKS · ROCKS · ROCKY; HAVEN · HAVES · HACKS · RACKS · ROCKS · ROCKY; and more.

The answer

HAVEN · HAVES · RAVES · RACES · RACKS · ROCKS · ROCKY — 6 rungs.

Previous: Rung #43 (Sat, Sep 26) · Next: Rung #45 (Mon, Sep 28) · All Rung solutions

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: five letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.