Brain Test 5 Level 33

Overview

A bandit and a cowboy face off across the scene, and a cactus is the object that can stop the incoming bullet. The solution is to grow or move the cactus so it sits directly between the two shooters, forming a barrier that blocks the bullet before it reaches its target.

• Difficulty: Regular
• Estimated moves: 2

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Read the standoff: the bandit on one side and the cowboy on the other are aimed at each other, and the cactus is the only large plant available to intercept a shot.
2. Locate the cactus in the scene and check whether it can be moved or grown in place, depending on the interaction the board offers.
3. Position the cactus along the line between the two shooters, so its body stands squarely in the path the bullet would travel.
4. If the cactus starts too small, grow it until its height and bulk fill the gap between the bandit and the cowboy, rather than leaving a gap above or beside it.
5. Once the cactus blocks the firing line, the bullet is stopped in the middle and the checkmark appears over the barrier.
6. Check the height of the cactus once it is in position; its top must reach above the firing line so the bullet cannot pass over its spiny bulk.
7. If the shot still gets through, the cactus is either off to the side of the line or too short to fill it; re-center the plant between the two shooters and let it grow before the next firing.

Strategy & Reasoning

The level uses the cactus as a living shield instead of a human or man-made barricade. A bullet travels along a straight line between the shooters, so the protective object has to be placed on that exact line; a cactus off to the side does not intercept anything. The two interactions the solution allows are moving the plant sideways into position or growing it upward to fill the barrier height, either of which aims to put dense spiny matter between the gun and the target.
This rules out stepping a person between them or looking for a shield prop on the ground, because the supplied object is the plant. The cactus also needs enough bulk to block the shot; a tiny sprig leaves a clear line over its top, which is why growth can be part of the step if the plant starts small. The finished board shows the cactus standing in the firing gap, with the bullet stopped against it rather than passing through.

Tips & Common Mistakes

• Place the cactus directly on the line between the two shooters; a barrier to the side will not block the bullet.
• Grow or stretch the cactus enough to fill the gap; a small plant leaves a shot path above it.
• Do not search for a man-made shield or push a character between them; the cactus is the intended barrier.