Arrow Sudoku: Rules & How to Solve
The circled digit equals the sum along its arrow. A clean variant with surprisingly deep deductions.
The rule
The digit in the circle equals the sum of the digits along the attached arrow. A digit may repeat along an arrow unless a row, column, or box forbids it. Normal sudoku rules apply.
How to solve arrow sudoku
Mind the minimum
A two-cell arrow needs a sum of at least 3 (1+2), so its circle is 3 or more. Longer arrows push the circle higher fast.
Two-digit pills
When the circle spans two cells it forms a number 10–99, letting long arrows sum to large totals — read the pill direction carefully.
Shared cells
Arrows that cross thermometers, cages, or other arrows let you substitute one constraint's value into another.
Frequently asked questions
- Can digits repeat along an arrow?
- Yes, unless the cells share a row, column, or box. Only the standard sudoku rules restrict repeats along the shaft.
- What does the circle mean in arrow sudoku?
- It holds the total of every digit the arrow passes through.
- What is a pill in arrow sudoku?
- A two-cell circle that reads as a two-digit number, used so long arrows can reach sums above 9.
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