Pin

Pins are a special part type in Shapez 2 that act as supports in place of empty parts. They appear as part type P and cannot have a color (their shape code uses the color character "-" for the color position). Pins are generated by the Pin Pusher and are treated differently from regular parts in several gameplay systems.

Pins count as supported parts for gravity and validity checks when they replace empty parts that are not the topmost part in their column, which allows building shapes that would otherwise contain floating pieces. The Vortex accepts shapes that contain pins in place of otherwise-empty parts, provided those pins are not the topmost part in their column. Conversely, a shape with empty parts replacing pins is also accepted by the Vortex when those empty parts are not the topmost in their column. Shape Gravity Rules apply to pins the same as to other parts: pins can prevent vertical falls when they provide vertical support, and operations that apply the gravity rules (for example cutters or other machines that can create floating pieces) will consider pins according to those rules.

Pins do not connect horizontally with other shape parts. They do not create horizontal connections and therefore will not support adjacent parts that would otherwise be supported via horizontal connection. A part adjacent to a pin will fall if it lacks other vertical or horizontal support; however, pins do support parts directly above them.

Pins do not have color and remain unchanged by Painters. When shapes are represented with Shape Codes, pins are encoded with their shape character and a "-" for color, consistent with the rule that part types that cannot have color use "-". Pins can be replaced by crystals when processed by a Crystal Generator, behaving similarly to empty parts in that context.

Practical notes and implications:

• Part code: P; color character in Shape Codes: "-".
• Pins are produced by the Pin Pusher and can be turned into crystals by the Crystal Generator.
• Pins provide vertical support (they support parts directly above them) but do not provide horizontal connectivity; horizontal connection rules explicitly exclude pins.
• Pins are unaffected by Painters because they have no color.
• When applying Shape Gravity Rules or validity checks, treat pins as supports for vertical support but do not count them for horizontal connections.