LinkedIn Crossclimb #858

LinkedIn Crossclimb #858 is the LinkedIn Crossclimb daily for September 5, 2026. 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: Hard. Estimated solve time: 6–10 min. Read the explainer sections below for strategy, or jump straight into play.

The complete word ladder from LUKE to LEIA:

LUKE → LUTE → LATE → LATS → LETS → LEIS → LEIA

Top and bottom share the combo clue: “Two children of Darth Vader.”

1. Middle 1Warm-up clue

   LUTE

   Renaissance string instrument (adding an F to the start forms the name of a wind instrument)

   Clue insight

   "Renaissance string instrument (adding an F to the start forms the name of a wind instrument)" resolves to "LUTE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Warm-up clue: Solve "Renaissance string instrument (adding an F to the start forms the name of a wind instrument)" without peeking at ladder order.

2. Middle 2Cross-check

   LATE

   Not on time

   Clue insight

   "Not on time" resolves to "LATE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Cross-check: Solve "Not on time" without peeking at ladder order.

3. Middle 3Pivot answer

   LATS

   Muscles in the lower back, for short

   Clue insight

   "Muscles in the lower back, for short" resolves to "LATS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Pivot answer: Solve "Muscles in the lower back, for short" without peeking at ladder order.

4. Middle 4Verifier

   LETS

   Allows, or rents out a property

   Clue insight

   "Allows, or rents out a property" resolves to "LETS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Verifier: Solve "Allows, or rents out a property" without peeking at ladder order.

5. Middle 5Final middle

   LEIS

   Flowery garlands used in hula dancing

   Clue insight

   "Flowery garlands used in hula dancing" resolves to "LEIS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer.

   Solving note

   Final middle: Solve "Flowery garlands used in hula dancing" without peeking at ladder order.

1. LUKE → LUTEStep 1

   K→T at the third letter (LUKE → LUTE)

   Teaching link LUKE→LUTE: K→T at the third letter (LUKE → LUTE).

   Rule check 1: Students should reject pairs with 2+ letter differences.

2. LUTE → LATEStep 2

   U→A at the second letter (LUTE → LATE)

   Teaching link LUTE→LATE: U→A at the second letter (LUTE → LATE).

   Rule check 2: Students should reject pairs with 2+ letter differences.

3. LATE → LATSStep 3

   E→S at the fourth letter (LATE → LATS)

   Teaching link LATE→LATS: E→S at the fourth letter (LATE → LATS).

   Rule check 3: Students should reject pairs with 2+ letter differences.

4. LATS → LETSStep 4

   A→E at the second letter (LATS → LETS)

   Teaching link LATS→LETS: A→E at the second letter (LATS → LETS).

   Rule check 4: Students should reject pairs with 2+ letter differences.

5. LETS → LEISStep 5

   T→I at the third letter (LETS → LEIS)

   Teaching link LETS→LEIS: T→I at the third letter (LETS → LEIS).

   Rule check 5: Students should reject pairs with 2+ letter differences.

6. LEIS → LEIAStep 6

   S→A at the fourth letter (LEIS → LEIA)

   Teaching link LEIS→LEIA: S→A at the fourth letter (LEIS → LEIA).

   Rule check 6: Students should reject pairs with 2+ letter differences.

Teach students to test pairs: LUTE → LATE → LATS → LETS → LEIS works because LUKE→LUTE, LUTE→LATE, LATE→LATS, LATS→LETS, LETS→LEIS, LEIS→LEIA each differ by one letter only.

Endgame: combo clue "Two children of Darth Vader." describes both LUKE and LEIA. Unlock only after ladder ordering passes every one-letter check.

The combo clue "Two children of Darth Vader." describes both end words together — "LUKE" and "LEIA" 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 LUTE, LATE, LATS, LETS, LEIS. Middle 1: "Renaissance string instrument (adding an F to the start forms the name of a wind instrument)" → LUTE. "Renaissance string instrument (adding an F to the start forms the name of a wind instrument)" resolves to "LUTE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 2: "Not on time" → LATE. "Not on time" resolves to "LATE" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 3: "Muscles in the lower back, for short" → LATS. "Muscles in the lower back, for short" resolves to "LATS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 4: "Allows, or rents out a property" → LETS. "Allows, or rents out a property" resolves to "LETS" once you read the clue as a 4-letter crossword answer. Middle 5: "Flowery garlands used in hula dancing" → LEIS. "Flowery garlands used in hula dancing" resolves to "LEIS" 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: LUTE → LATE → LATS → LETS → LEIS. Ladder step: K→T at the third letter (LUKE → LUTE) (connects to a combo end). Ladder step: U→A at the second letter (LUTE → LATE). Ladder step: E→S at the fourth letter (LATE → LATS). Ladder step: A→E at the second letter (LATS → LETS). Ladder step: T→I at the third letter (LETS → LEIS). Ladder step: S→A at the fourth letter (LEIS → LEIA) (connects to a combo end). Phase 3: Unlock combo ends — top "LUKE" and bottom "LEIA" share the clue: Two children of Darth Vader..

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 LUKE to LEIA. The top and bottom rows share one combo clue: Two children of Darth Vader. The solution path is LUKE → LUTE → LATE → LATS → LETS → LEIS → LEIA, changing exactly one letter between each rung. Middle clues include Renaissance string instrument (adding an F to the start forms the name of a wind instrument), Not on time, and Muscles in the lower back, for short, and others — solve these before reordering. Correct middle order: LUTE → LATE → LATS → LETS → LEIS. The combo clue "Two children of Darth Vader." describes both end words together — "LUKE" and "LEIA" 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.