Swampy Boots

Swampy Boots.

Swampy Boots (Formally known as swamp panel Swamp Green Tile 3-4 on IGN) is the 23rd mandatory puzzle on the swamp area of The Witness. This particular puzzle is infamous within The Witness community for a trick present in the panel.

Traits of Swampy Boots

Name: Swampy Boots Panel/Swamp Green Tile 3-4

Area: Swamp/Marsh

Required to solve for laser: Mandatory

Which panel in the sequence: 23rd panel/48 mandatory panels

Panel/Object Linkages: Activated when the 22nd mandatory panel is solved, Unlocks door to the 24th-27th mandatory panels

Mechanics used: Polyminos

Approximate Color of Puzzle Background: #595f09

Approximate Color of Puzzle Line: #c1bc5f

Input system: Draw Directly On Panel

Approximate Color of Puzzle Cell: #98a800

Puzzle Dimensions: 4 by 4

Approximate Color of Drawn Line: #fdfeaa

Possible Starting Point(s): Vertex R5C1

Possible Ending Point(s): Vertex R1C5

Approximate Color of Successful Line: #ffef1b

Symbol 1: R1C1, Polymino, Approximate Color: #fabf01, Non-rotatable, 3 by 3 Matrix.

Matrix Representation of Symbol 1:

1 1 1

0 0 1

0 0 1

Symbol 2: R2C4, Polymino, Approximate Color: #fabf01, Non-rotatable, 3 by 1 Matrix.

Matrix Representation of Symbol 2:

1

1

1

Symbol 3: R3C2, Polymino, Approximate Color: #fabf01, Non-rotatable, 2 by 4 Matrix.

Matrix Representation of Symbol 3:

1 0 0 1

1 0 0 1

Approximate Color of Failed Line: #1b1c0c

Approximate Line Fade Time Limit: 7 Seconds

Symbol Flashing: Yes

Panel Shutdown on Wrong Solution: No

Panel Shutdown on Time Limit: No

Visual Distortions: None

Solution(s)

Spoilers For Swamp Green Tile 3-4

There is exactly one solution to this puzzle, URDRURRUULUR.

Analysis

Swampy Boots Analysis (Spoilers)

While the puzzle is innocuous and actually easy to solve, the reason for its infamy is the fact that symbol 3 is easily misinterpreted as a 3*2 matrix rather than a 4*2 matrix (possibly due to seeing the path of least resistance as appealing according to Kate's Witness Design Guide). Moreover, the fact that misinterpreting the symbol as a 3*2 matrix also gives exactly one solution (RURRRUULUR) makes the solver think that the solution should work. The apparent contradiction to the established rules causes people to think that the puzzle is broken (when it was in fact consistent), causing people to post to Reddit about the confusion, since Reddit is a common place for community hints on games. The name Swampy Boots comes from a combination of the swamp area where the panel is originally from, and the Minecraft boot recipe.

History

??/??/????: Oldest instance of the Swampy Boots problem is posted on Reddit.

June 27, 2020: /u/Ripuru-kun and /u/ultimatt42 coined the term "Swampy Boots"

June 27, 2020: First instance of the "reset the clock" is used on Reddit regarding Swampy Boots.

July 11, 2020: r/swampyboots is created.

February 13, 2025: Thinky Puzzle Games made an article about the Swampy Boots.