Crossclimb 871 Answer & Solution Guide
Answer: WEST WIND 🌟
🎮 Puzzle Overview
Crossclimb 871 starts with WEST at the top and ends with WIND at the bottom. The theme clue asks for a two-word phrase for an easterly current considered mild and favorable.
That phrase is WEST WIND. The warning that the first word may be at the bottom is useful in many Crossclimb puzzles, but here the phrase reads naturally from top to bottom: WEST + WIND.
The five middle answers are BEST, BENT, RENT, REND, and RIND, each changing one letter while moving steadily from the top word to the bottom word.
🪜 Complete Word Ladder
| Position | Word | Clue or Role | Letter Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | WEST | First word of the final phrase | Starting word |
| 1 | BEST | The tops, quality-wise | W → B |
| 2 | BENT | Out of shape or crooked | S → N |
| 3 | RENT | Monthly apartment payment | B → R |
| 4 | REND | Tear apart | T → D |
| 5 | RIND | Outer part of a lemon | E → I |
| Bottom | WIND | Second word of the final phrase | R → W |
🧠 Player Solution Walkthrough
Step 1: Understanding the Puzzle
The clue describes a favorable easterly current. With WEST and WIND as the anchor words, the answer phrase is WEST WIND.
Step 2: Starting from the Top
"The tops, quality-wise" points to BEST. It fits neatly under WEST because only the first letter changes.
Step 3: Solving the Middle
"Out of shape or crooked" gives BENT, and "Monthly apartment payment" gives RENT. Those two answers keep the ladder moving with single-letter changes: BEST → BENT → RENT.
Step 4: Connecting to the Bottom
"Tear apart" is REND, then "Outer part of a lemon" is RIND. From RIND, changing the first letter gives WIND, completing the ladder.
Step 5: Final Answer
The full ladder is WEST → BEST → BENT → RENT → REND → RIND → WIND, so the final answer is WEST WIND.
📚 Word Reference
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| WEST | A compass direction; the first word of the answer phrase. |
| BEST | The highest in quality. |
| BENT | Crooked, curved, or out of shape. |
| RENT | A regular payment for using an apartment or other property. |
| REND | To tear something apart. |
| RIND | The outer skin or peel of fruit, such as a lemon. |
| WIND | Moving air; the second word of the answer phrase. |
❓ FAQ
Q1: What is the answer to Crossclimb 871?
The final answer is WEST WIND.
Q2: What is the complete word ladder?
The ladder is WEST → BEST → BENT → RENT → REND → RIND → WIND.
Q3: How many middle answers are there?
There are five middle answers: BEST, BENT, RENT, REND, and RIND.
Q4: Why does WEST WIND solve the theme clue?
A west wind is a wind or current coming from the west, and the clue describes it as mild and favorable.
Q5: What is the trickiest part of Crossclimb 871?
The ladder uses several close-looking words, especially RENT, REND, and RIND, so it is easy to swap a letter in the wrong position if you do not check each step.
🎯 Strategy Tips
- Use the top and bottom words to test likely phrase order.
- Solve the easiest clue first, then check whether it connects by one letter.
- Watch similar words carefully when the ladder changes only one vowel or ending consonant.
- Confirm every adjacent pair differs by exactly one letter before submitting the final answer.