Crossclimb Level 15

Crossclimb Level 15 is part of our exclusive Crossclimb level track. Crossclimb is LinkedIn's word-ladder game: solve 5 middle crossword clues, order the rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter, then unlock the top and bottom combo words. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Medium. Estimated solve time: 4–6 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

The complete word ladder from MINT to BOAT:

MINT → MIND → MILD → MOLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOAT

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Fresh deck on a vessel”

1. Middle 1Clue 1

   MIND

   Brain or intellect

   Clue insight

   "Brain or intellect" resolves to "MIND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 1: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

2. Middle 2Clue 2

   MILD

   Not spicy

   Clue insight

   "Not spicy" resolves to "MILD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 2: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

3. Middle 3Clue 3

   MOLD

   Fungus growth

   Clue insight

   "Fungus growth" resolves to "MOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 3: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

4. Middle 4Clue 4

   BOLD

   Brave and daring

   Clue insight

   "Brave and daring" resolves to "BOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 4: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

5. Middle 5Clue 5

   BOLT

   Metal fastener

   Clue insight

   "Metal fastener" resolves to "BOLT" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Clue 5: A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.

1. MINT → MINDStep 1

   T→D at the fourth letter (MINT → MIND)

   MINT and MIND are adjacent in the solved ladder — T→D at the fourth letter (MINT → MIND).

   Step 1: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; this step touches a combo end.

2. MIND → MILDStep 2

   N→L at the third letter (MIND → MILD)

   MIND and MILD are adjacent in the solved ladder — N→L at the third letter (MIND → MILD).

   Step 2: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

3. MILD → MOLDStep 3

   I→O at the second letter (MILD → MOLD)

   MILD and MOLD are adjacent in the solved ladder — I→O at the second letter (MILD → MOLD).

   Step 3: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

4. MOLD → BOLDStep 4

   M→B at the first letter (MOLD → BOLD)

   MOLD and BOLD are adjacent in the solved ladder — M→B at the first letter (MOLD → BOLD).

   Step 4: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

5. BOLD → BOLTStep 5

   D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT)

   BOLD and BOLT are adjacent in the solved ladder — D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT).

   Step 5: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; middle-to-middle link.

6. BOLT → BOATStep 6

   L→A at the third letter (BOLT → BOAT)

   BOLT and BOAT are adjacent in the solved ladder — L→A at the third letter (BOLT → BOAT).

   Step 6: Valid only if exactly one letter differs; this step touches a combo end.

After solving middles (MIND, MILD, MOLD, BOLD, BOLT), only the order MIND → MILD → MOLD → BOLD → BOLT satisfies the one-letter rule between every adjacent pair. Each step changes exactly one letter: T→D at the fourth letter (MINT → MIND); N→L at the third letter (MIND → MILD); I→O at the second letter (MILD → MOLD); M→B at the first letter (MOLD → BOLD); D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT); L→A at the third letter (BOLT → BOAT). Wrong permutations fail when two middles differ by two or more letters.

The combo clue "Fresh deck on a vessel" describes both end words together — "MINT" and "BOAT" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Top "MINT" connects to MIND via T→D at the fourth letter (MINT → MIND). Bottom "BOAT" connects from BOLT via L→A at the third letter (BOLT → BOAT).

The combo clue "Fresh deck on a vessel" describes both end words together — "MINT" and "BOAT" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.

Phase 1: Solve the 5 middle crossword clues to unlock MIND, MILD, MOLD, BOLD, BOLT. Middle 1: "Brain or intellect" → MIND. "Brain or intellect" resolves to "MIND" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Not spicy" → MILD. "Not spicy" resolves to "MILD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Fungus growth" → MOLD. "Fungus growth" resolves to "MOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Brave and daring" → BOLD. "Brave and daring" resolves to "BOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Metal fastener" → BOLT. "Metal fastener" resolves to "BOLT" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Phase 2: Order the middle rungs so adjacent words differ by one letter — valid chain: MIND → MILD → MOLD → BOLD → BOLT. Ladder step: T→D at the fourth letter (MINT → MIND) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: N→L at the third letter (MIND → MILD). Ladder step: I→O at the second letter (MILD → MOLD). Ladder step: M→B at the first letter (MOLD → BOLD). Ladder step: D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT). Ladder step: L→A at the third letter (BOLT → BOAT) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "MINT" and bottom "BOAT" share the clue: Fresh deck on a vessel.

Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer.

This Crossclimb is a 4-letter word ladder from MINT to BOAT. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Fresh deck on a vessel. The solution path is MINT → MIND → MILD → MOLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOAT, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Brain or intellect, Not spicy, and Fungus growth, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: MIND → MILD → MOLD → BOLD → BOLT. The combo clue "Fresh deck on a vessel" describes both end words together — "MINT" and "BOAT" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. Only one middle permutation forms a valid ladder from top to bottom — if ordering feels stuck, recheck a middle answer. Use the Solution tab above for a three-phase walkthrough (middles → order → combo ends), or the Solved board tab for the complete ladder at a glance.