Polarity (10x10)
(Published on 8. March 2023, 15:42 by M.K.)
Rules:
- Every row and column must be filled with the digits 0 to 9 once each.
- The grid is partially covered with fog. Correctly placed digits will clear the fog around that cell. No guessing is required.
- Digits separated by a white dot are consecutive. Digits separated by a black dot are in a 1:2 ratio. Not all dots are given.
- Digits in a cage cannot repeat and sum to the given total. A cage total always appears in the leftmost cell of the top row of its cage.
- Symbols outside the grid are magnets. A magnet attracts and repels digits along the row/column it's looking at. A plus (+) attracts even digits and repels odd digits. A minus (-) attracts odd digits and repels even digits.
- Digits swap their positions depending on their weight and the magnetic force affecting them.
Example: If r3c3 was a 6, it would swap its position with the given 4, as the 6 is pulled to the left and weighs more. If r3c1 was a 5, the digits would swap because the 5 is pushed to the right.
- Cages are magnetic shields, ie magnets cannot see digits inside or behind a cage. Each magnet sees at least two digits.
- All possible magnets are given.
Link: SudokuPad
Solution code: Row 6 + Column 9
Comments
on 20. May 2026, 20:40 by QuiltyAsCharged
Fun puzzle, and honestly not too difficult once you understand the magnets rule. (And so long as you don't forget about zeroes!) I'd call it 3* difficulty at most.
However, I was really confused about the magnet rule at first because of the example given. I wondered how can a digit swap places with a given digit? Do the digits stay in place but swap their values?
The answer is simpler than that. The magnet puts all the digits it can see into their proper order. Since the given 4 cannot move, r3c3 could never be a 6.
on 19. March 2026, 22:45 by M.K.
Removed the bulb and slightly rephrased the rules.
on 13. March 2023, 10:07 by e-dur-sarabande
Brilliant puzzle. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
on 10. March 2023, 10:01 by Ormstunge
Please remember that column 9 is the second outer column on the right and not the furtherst out like in a ordinary sudoku. Spent litteraltt 5 minutes checking and double checking that my digits in the solution code was corresponding with the last column before realizing I had to take column 9 instead. Very enjoyable puzzle, probably one of the hardest I have ever solved on my own in here.
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Playing with expectations is an ongoing theme in my puzzles, e.g. the first cage discovered here has the purpose to remind the solver that it's not a normal sudoku. This can be mean sometimes, but that's the challenge. I'm glad you enjoyed it. (M.K.)
on 8. March 2023, 19:50 by M.K.
Typo fix.
