Zol's Swords & Shields Two symbols, three simple rules, one answer.

The rules

• Every cell ends up a sword or a shield. Tap a cell to cycle it: empty, sword, shield, back to empty.
• Each row and each column must hold the same number of swords as shields.
• No three of the same symbol may sit next to each other, across or down.
• Break a rule and the offending cells flag red; fill the grid legally and it's solved. Each board has one guaranteed solution.

Pick your challenge

• Easy — a 6×6 grid to learn the rhythm.
• Medium — 8×8.
• Hard — the same 8×8, but with fewer starting clues, so you lean on the rules more than the givens.
• Zolified — the hard ruleset, even fewer clues, and a 30-second metronome that fills a correct cell for you if you stall, at a rising cost.

You rarely guess a symbol. You prove it — the other one would break a rule.

Three ways to play

The Daily is one shared board. Free Play is unlimited fresh puzzles. And Versus races you and a friend on the same grid — first to fill it legally wins.

Play it

Play Zol's Swords & Shields in your browser — nothing to download. Creating an account is free, and new players get a 30-day preview with full access to every game in the catalogue. After the preview, a rotating set of games is free to play each day.

More logic grids: Zol's Suds, a speed sudoku, Zol's 64, place crowns with no two touching, or Zol's Math Path, build a route to a target number.