Step 1: The Perfect Opener (More Than Just a Guess)

Your first word is the most important move you'll make. Don't just throw out a random five-letter word. Your goal is to maximize information. A strong starting word should include:

• Three to four unique vowels (A, E, I, O, U).
• Common consonants like R, S, T, L, N.
• No repeated letters.

See our curated list of starting words below for top-tier choices like ARISE or SLATE.

Step 2: The Analytical Second Guess

Your second guess should never be a blind attempt at the answer. Its purpose is to eliminate or confirm the remaining high-frequency letters.

• If your first guess, ARISE, yielded a yellow 'A' and gray 'R', 'I', 'S', 'E', don't try to solve it yet.
• Your best second move is a word with completely different letters, like CLOUT.
• In just two moves, you've now tested 10 different, common letters and gathered a huge amount of data for your third guess.

Step 3: Navigating Greens and Yellows

Once you have green (correct position) and yellow (correct letter, wrong position) tiles, it's time to deduce.

• Lock in the Greens: Any subsequent guess must use the green letters in their exact spots.
• Shift the Yellows: The yellow letters must be used, but not in any of the positions where they previously appeared as yellow.
• Avoid the Grays: This is a cardinal rule. Never re-use a letter that has been grayed out. Your keyboard will track these for you.

Advanced Tip: The Double-Letter Dilemma

Words with repeated letters like SKILL or APPLE are common traps. If you're running out of unique letters and are struggling to form a word, start considering doubles. If you have an 'L' and are stuck, could the answer have two 'L's?

What is "Wordle 2"?

While many players look for a "Wordle 2," the official game is the single, daily puzzle owned by The New York Times. The term "Wordle 2" is often used by players looking for more advanced strategies or a fresh take on the classic game, which is exactly what this guide provides!

What is "Hard Mode" in Wordle?

In Hard Mode, any revealed hints (green and yellow letters) must be used in subsequent guesses. This prevents you from using a "burner" second word like CLOUT if your first guess already revealed letters. It's a true test of deductive skill.

Has Wordle gotten harder?

According to The New York Times, the difficulty has not changed. The list of possible solutions is fixed and is not curated to be intentionally harder on any given day. However, the random selection can sometimes result in more obscure words, making it feel more challenging.