Mastering the Blue Prince Chessboard Puzzle: Step-by-Step Guide

Mastering the Blue Prince Chessboard Puzzle: Step-by-Step Guide

Puzzles play a crucial role in Blue Prince, often requiring players to connect clues from various rooms. Solving the chessboard puzzle can be particularly challenging, but we’re here to guide you through it.

Ultimate Guide to Solving the Chessboard Puzzle in Blue Prince

Blueprints of the house layout in Blue Prince, depicting grids on the screen and drafted rooms
Screenshot by Moyens I/O

One frustrating aspect of the chessboard puzzle in Blue Prince is that there isn’t a singular solution. The correct answer varies based on the rooms you’ve drafted during your gameplay session. However, I can help you understand how to tackle this puzzle.

You’ll need to maneuver six chess pieces: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and Pawn on the chessboard. The exact square for each piece is determined by which rooms you have chosen in your current run. Therefore, you’ll need to draft at least six rooms before you can complete this puzzle.

Typically, chess pieces are located in a limited selection of rooms (with the Pawn being an exception). The placement of the pieces relies significantly on their spawning rooms and the sequence in which you drafted them. For instance, if the Pawn is found in the Storeroom and that is the second room you’ve drafted, you would position the Pawn in the first row of the chessboard on the second square.

When you correctly place a piece, the corresponding square will illuminate, signaling that you’re on the right track.

Complete List of Chess Piece Locations in Blue Prince

A Bishop chess piece resting on a marble slab in the chapel
Screenshot by Moyens I/O

To simplify your puzzle-solving process, I’ve compiled a list of potential room locations for each chess piece below. The Pawn is particularly tricky due to its numerous spawn points, while the other pieces are typically found in just a couple of locations.

Chess Piece Location
King Study, Throne Room
Queen Office, Her Ladyship’s Chamber
Bishop Attic, Chapel, Bookshop
Knight Observatory, Security
Rook Conservatory, Clock Tower, Nook, Vault
Pawn Bedroom, Den, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Freezer, Lost and Found, Secret Passage, Solarium, Walk-In Closet

Rewards for Completing the Chessboard Puzzle in Blue Prince

Upon successfully solving the chessboard puzzle in Blue Prince, you’ll have the opportunity to select one special power to aid your future runs. This power will remain active throughout all subsequent attempts until you decide to change it. Below are the powers available:

Power Effect
Banner of the King Choose a room color daily. Rooms of that color will appear more frequently during drafting.
Gambit of the Queen Each time you draft a room on the Queenside, you lose five steps but gain a key.
Mantle of the Knight Adds the Armory to your draft options.
Piety of the Bishop No Tithes are required; instead, you earn 30 Gold the first time you enter the Chapel daily.
Resilience of the Rook You may draft floor plans up to four times when selecting the four corner rooms of the manor.
Ambition of the Pawn At Rank 8 each day, choose Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen to gain that piece’s power until the day’s end.

Remember, to switch your power, you must redo the chessboard puzzle, which involves redrafting your rooms, identifying each piece’s location, and placing them on the board again. So choose your power carefully!

Choosing the Best Power for Your Playstyle

In my experience, selecting the King, Knight, or Bishop powers is generally advantageous, depending on your objectives for the run. Personally, I often opted for the Bishop initially after discovering the chessboard puzzle. The ability to skip Tithes and gain 30 Gold can be quite beneficial, provided you enter the Chapel at least once during each run.

As my gameplay progressed, I switched to the King for greater control over my drafted rooms, which proved invaluable when tackling some of the more intricate puzzles, including those pesky safes scattered throughout Blue Prince.

The Knight power grants access to the Armory, where you can purchase various essential items like the Knight’s Shield and the Axe. The Knight’s Shield is especially useful as it allows you to ignore all Red Room effects. The Axe, conversely, removes Gem costs from a room, making it an excellent choice for acquiring a lot of items without expenditure when used on the right room.

FAQs About the Chessboard Puzzle in Blue Prince

What does the chessboard puzzle do in Blue Prince?

The chessboard puzzle in Blue Prince is designed to challenge players by requiring them to position various chess pieces based on the rooms they draft. Completing this puzzle allows players to choose special powers for future runs.

How many rooms do I need to draft to solve the chessboard puzzle?

You need to draft at least six rooms to solve the chessboard puzzle in Blue Prince. The locations of the chess pieces depend on the rooms you have chosen.

What rewards do I get for completing the chessboard puzzle?

After solving the chessboard puzzle, you can select one of several special powers that will remain active throughout your future runs until changed. These powers grant various advantages, including increased room color selection and gold bonuses.

Can I change my power after selecting it?

Yes, but to switch powers, you will need to redo the chessboard puzzle by redrafting your rooms and locating the chess pieces again. Be mindful when choosing your initial power!