Crystal

Crystal is a fragile part type used in shapes. Crystals are produced by the Crystal Generator and appear as a Part Type with code c in Shape Codes. Crystals can have colors, but once a crystal is created its color is fixed: passing a crystal through a Painter or another Crystal Generator does not change its color. Crystals behave differently from regular parts because they shatter under several common operations, which affects connected crystal pieces as well as whole shape groups during gravity processing.

Crystals are considered connected when they are directly adjacent on the same layer (corners and diagonals do not count) or when they are directly above or below each other. Connection rules apply regardless of color or creation time: differently colored crystals or crystals created at different moments still count as connected if they meet the adjacency or vertical rules. When a crystal shatters, all crystals in its connected set shatter as well.

A crystal shatters if it falls. Falling can happen when a crystal becomes the top part of a Stacker and is dropped, or when gravity causes it to fall after an operation (for example, when groups fall during Shape Gravity Rules processing or when a Cutter operation creates floating pieces). The game’s process for resolving layers treats horizontally connected groups per layer; if a group begins to fall, all crystals inside that falling group are destroyed. Crystals will also shatter if they are separated from another crystal they were connected to — for example, by a Cutter or a Half Destroyer operation. By contrast, non-crystal parts can safely fall onto crystals without shattering the crystal.

A crystal part can be safely separated from a connected non-crystal part: separating a crystal from a regular shape piece does not by itself cause the crystal to shatter, provided the crystal remains supported and does not fall or lose connection to other crystals in a way that triggers shattering. Pins and empty parts do not have color; pins are replaced by Crystals when passed through a Crystal Generator.

• Crystal Generator: crystals are generated specifically by the Crystal Generator and will replace pins (and other generator-appropriate inputs) as specified by scenario rules.
• Shatter propagation: when one crystal breaks, all crystals connected by direct adjacency or vertical stacking break too.
• Falling rules: crystals shatter when they fall; other parts may fall onto crystals without breaking them.
• Separation rules: crystals shatter when disconnected from connected crystals (for example, by a Cutter), but separating a crystal from a non-crystal piece is safe.
• Color immutability: crystals do not change color after creation; Painters and further Crystal Generators do not alter a crystal’s color.
• Shape Codes: crystals use the code c in Shape Codes and follow the same layer and part ordering conventions as other part types.

Handle crystals with care in production lines that use Stackers, Cutters, or any operation that can produce gravity-induced falling or separation. Designing supports and avoiding operations that create unsupported crystal groups prevents accidental mass shattering.