Goliath
(Published on 25. July 2023, 16:03 by Jay Dyer)
Another deconstruction puzzle, this time with the slingshot ruleset. Note for those who have solved other slingshot puzzles: the arrows look different from usual purely for practical reasons, to make them easier for me to implement, and to allow a pair of overlapping arrows that doesn't work quite so well with the usual design. Apart from the addition for handling empty cells, the ruleset is much the same.
Rules
- Place nine non-overlapping 3x3 square regions in the grid. Each region contains the digits 1-9 once each, and no digit repeats in any row or column. Cells outside regions do not contain digits.
- If a cell with an arrow contains the digit N, then the cell a distance N away in the direction of the arrow, and the cell beside the arrow, are equal (two empty cells are considered equal).
- If a cell with an arrow does not contain a digit, then no cell in the direction of the arrow is equal to the cell beside the arrow.
- For example, if r2c6 were a 3, then r1c6 and r2c9 would be equal (either both empty or both the same digit). If r2c6 were empty, then no cell from r2c7 to r2c11 would be equal to r1c6.
On a side note, I have a Patreon page as well, if you are interested in supporting my puzzle-making there. I also post patron-exclusive puzzles of various genres there each month.
Solution code: Column 6 (use X for empty cells).
Comments
on 18. February 2024, 10:45 by redgecko
My head is sore from too much scratching but so glad i persevered with this. Took a few sittings but well worth the effort. Thankyou Jay for a wonderful puzzle.
on 24. November 2023, 13:59 by Snookerfan
Exceptional puzzle! Very hard, but so beautiful. Thank you
on 4. November 2023, 20:32 by Martijn314
It seems that the arrow in R4C6 is missing in both penpa and sudokupad
Edit: it seems that for the solve this arrow is not needed. Great puzzle! But one of my longest solves so far
on 15. August 2023, 09:49 by CrazyCrypticC
This puzzle is incredible! It took me an embarassing amount of hours to solve this because I'm not very practiced with some of the skills required, but I know Jay Dyer is phenomenal, so I stuck with it just to see what cool logic was involved, and I was not disappointed! I cannot say enough goood things about this puzzle!
on 25. July 2023, 19:32 by bodemeister
Very creative design. Had fun solving! Thanks for the puzzle!
on 25. July 2023, 16:53 by bodemeister
In rule 2 "the cell beside the arrow..."
Is this referring to the cell whose border is parallel and closest to the arrow?
Edit: Sorry I just saw the example that clarified my question.
