2026-01-17
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Case file format — middle clues, ladder order, combo ends, and strategy notes.
Overview
Crossclimb Level 17 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.
Answer
The complete word ladder from SOLD to BOAT:
SOLD → MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT → BOAT
Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Vessel bought at auction”
Analysis
Case file Crossclimb Level 17: 4-letter ladder, 5 middle exhibits, combo prompt "Vessel bought at auction". Endpoints: SOLD (top) and BOAT (bottom).
Middle phase answers: "Fungus growth" = MOLD; "Freezing temperature" = COLD; "Brave and daring" = BOLD; "Metal fastener" = BOLT; "Footwear" = BOOT.
Ordering phase: the valid middle chain is MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT. Note: reverse order also steps one letter at a time, but only this orientation matches the stored top and bottom slots.
Evidence link: SOLD → MOLD. S→M at the first letter (SOLD → MOLD).
Evidence link: MOLD → COLD. M→C at the first letter (MOLD → COLD).
Evidence link: COLD → BOLD. C→B at the first letter (COLD → BOLD).
Evidence link: BOLD → BOLT. D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT).
Evidence link: BOLT → BOOT. L→O at the third letter (BOLT → BOOT).
Evidence link: BOOT → BOAT. O→A at the third letter (BOOT → BOAT).
Verdict: SOLD → MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT → BOAT satisfies every one-letter constraint. The combo clue "Vessel bought at auction" describes both end words together — "SOLD" and "BOAT" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.
Middle clues
Fungus growth
Clue insight
Exhibit A — "Fungus growth" → MOLD. "Fungus growth" resolves to "MOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Freezing temperature
Clue insight
Exhibit B — "Freezing temperature" → COLD. "Freezing temperature" resolves to "COLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Brave and daring
Clue insight
Exhibit C — "Brave and daring" → BOLD. "Brave and daring" resolves to "BOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Metal fastener
Clue insight
Exhibit D — "Metal fastener" → BOLT. "Metal fastener" resolves to "BOLT" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Footwear
Clue insight
Exhibit E — "Footwear" → BOOT. "Footwear" resolves to "BOOT" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.
Solving note
A plausible wrong answer often differs in length or cannot one-letter-link to other middles — verify before reordering.
Ladder steps
S→M at the first letter (SOLD → MOLD)
Link A: S→M at the first letter (SOLD → MOLD).
Combo-adjacent link — confirms end word placement.
M→C at the first letter (MOLD → COLD)
Link B: M→C at the first letter (MOLD → COLD).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
C→B at the first letter (COLD → BOLD)
Link C: C→B at the first letter (COLD → BOLD).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT)
Link D: D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
L→O at the third letter (BOLT → BOOT)
Link E: L→O at the third letter (BOLT → BOOT).
Middle chain link — ordering constraint.
O→A at the third letter (BOOT → BOAT)
Link F: O→A at the third letter (BOOT → BOAT).
Combo-adjacent link — confirms end word placement.
Ordering
The evidence supports middle order MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT. Alternative permutations break the one-letter adjacency rule unless an answer is wrong.
Combo
Final exhibits: SOLD (top combo) and BOAT (bottom combo). Shared prompt: "Vessel bought at auction".
The combo clue "Vessel bought at auction" describes both end words together — "SOLD" and "BOAT" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt.
Solve path
Phase 1: Solve the 5 middle crossword clues to unlock MOLD, COLD, BOLD, BOLT, BOOT. Middle 1: "Fungus growth" → MOLD. "Fungus growth" resolves to "MOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Freezing temperature" → COLD. "Freezing temperature" resolves to "COLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Brave and daring" → BOLD. "Brave and daring" resolves to "BOLD" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Metal fastener" → BOLT. "Metal fastener" resolves to "BOLT" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Footwear" → BOOT. "Footwear" resolves to "BOOT" 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: MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT. Ladder step: S→M at the first letter (SOLD → MOLD) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: M→C at the first letter (MOLD → COLD). Ladder step: C→B at the first letter (COLD → BOLD). Ladder step: D→T at the fourth letter (BOLD → BOLT). Ladder step: L→O at the third letter (BOLT → BOOT). Ladder step: O→A at the third letter (BOOT → BOAT) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "SOLD" and bottom "BOAT" share the clue: Vessel bought at auction.
Pattern
The middle chain works in forward or reverse order — both orientations step one letter at a time, but only one matches the stored top and bottom slots.
Learn more in Crossclimb Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Chain MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT is the only order matching one-letter steps and the stored SOLD/BOAT slots.
Reverse middle order may ladder-valid but swaps which end word belongs top vs bottom.
Reversible middle order — 4-letter rungs, 5 middles, combo "Vessel bought at auction".
Solution
This Crossclimb is a 4-letter word ladder from SOLD to BOAT. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Vessel bought at auction. The solution path is SOLD → MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT → BOAT, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Fungus growth, Freezing temperature, and Brave and daring, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: MOLD → COLD → BOLD → BOLT → BOOT. The combo clue "Vessel bought at auction" describes both end words together — "SOLD" and "BOAT" each differ by one letter from their adjacent middle rungs and satisfy the shared top+bottom prompt. The middle chain works in forward or reverse order — both orientations step one letter at a time, but only one matches the stored top and bottom slots. 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.