Rung #86: LATEX to FALLS — the solution

The Rung ladder from November 8, 2026: LATEX to FALLS, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 7: the shortest climb there is takes 5 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from LATEX to FALLS. 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 5 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 6 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 9 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. LATEX → BATES — the leap: L becomes B and X becomes S, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. BATES → BALES — the third letter, T becomes L.
3. BALES → BALLS — the fourth letter, E becomes L.
4. BALLS → FALLS — the first letter, B becomes F.

Other routes as short: LATEX · MATES · MALES · MALLS · FALLS; LATEX · FATES · FARES · FARLS · FALLS; LATEX · GATES · GALES · GALLS · FALLS; and more.

The answer

LATEX · BATES · BALES · BALLS · FALLS — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #85 (Sat, Nov 7) · Next: Rung #87 (Mon, Nov 9) · 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.