Puzzle #386 · Sep 4, 2026
Poople #386 Answer: RACK to POOP
Poople #386 was the puzzle for Friday, September 4, 2026. The starting word was RACK, and the shortest ladder to POOP takes 5 steps. We found 11 different shortest paths with our word list. Open the hints below one at a time if you want a nudge, or reveal the full ladder at the end.
Poople #386 hints
Hint 1: Which letter changes first
The first move changes the 1st letter of RACK, the R.
Hint 2: The next word starts with …
The word after RACK starts with H. Halfway down, the ladder passes through a word that starts with H.
Hint 3: Show me the full ladder
RACK → HACK → HOCK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
5 steps
Step count computed with our word list (ENABLE + SCOWL); the official game uses its own list.
| Step | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RACK | HACK | 1st letter R to H |
| 2 | HACK | HOCK | 2nd letter A to O |
| 3 | HOCK | HOOK | 3rd letter C to O |
| 4 | HOOK | HOOP | 4th letter K to P |
| 5 | HOOP | POOP | 1st letter H to P |
Play this puzzle
All shortest paths from RACK
Our word list allows 11 shortest ladders from RACK to POOP, each 5 steps. They are folded so they don't give the answer away.
Show all 11 paths
- RACK → HACK → HOCK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
- RACK → LACK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → COCK → COOK → COOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → HOCK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → LOCK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → ROOK → COOK → COOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → ROOK → HOOK → HOOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → ROOK → LOOK → LOOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → ROOK → ROOF → POOF → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → ROOK → GOOK → GOOP → POOP
- RACK → ROCK → ROOK → ROOD → POOD → POOP
Words one letter away from RACK
These 17 words differ from RACK in one letter. Common words are in SCOWL size 35; rare words are only in the ENABLE list, and the official game is more likely to reject them.
- BACK common
- HACK common
- JACK common
- LACK common
- MACK rare
- PACK common
- RACE common
- RACY common
- RANK common
- RECK rare
- RICK rare
- ROCK common
- RUCK rare
- SACK common
- TACK common
- WACK rare
- YACK rare
How hard was Poople #386?
By our count it rates Hard: fewest 5 steps. That makes #386 harder than 13% of the 420 puzzles so far.
More Poople puzzles
- Previous: #385 PERM (Sep 3, 2026)
- Next: #387 TINS (Sep 5, 2026)
- Same difficulty: #380 CAPE, #383 NAPS, #385 PERM
- Every puzzle: Poople archive · Today: today's answer · Random practice: Poople Unlimited
How many steps is Poople #386?
Poople #386 takes 5 steps. We count the fewest steps from RACK to POOP with a breadth-first search over our four-letter word list (ENABLE + SCOWL), and the official game uses its own word list, so its count can differ from ours.
What was the starting word for Poople #386?
The starting word for Poople #386 was RACK, on Friday, September 4, 2026. Every Poople puzzle ends at POOP, so the start word is the only thing that changes from day to day. With our word list this one rates Hard. Hints for it are at the top of this page.
Can I replay Poople #386?
Yes. Press Play this puzzle on this page and the board loads with RACK as the start word, with Undo, Restart and three levels of hints. You can also play unlimited random puzzles on the home page, or pick any other past puzzle from the archive.