7 Tips for Becoming a Candy Crush Friends Saga Master

King is back with a new game in his popular Candy Crush series: Candy Crush Friends Saga. The game is available for iOS and Android, and the Facebook integration allows you to save your progress across multiple devices. This means that you can start playing on your iPad and then continue playing on the same account with an Android, or vice versa.

The matching and candy swap mechanics remain intact, but the new game also introduces updated graphics as well as new game modes and integrates the characters from the series.

Franchise veterans shouldn't have a problem understanding the new style of play, but it's had enough changes that new and experienced players alike need a little help getting started. Here are our tips to help you understand the basics and become a Candy Crush Friends Saga pro.

7 Tips for Becoming a Candy Crush Friends Saga Master

1. Start at the bottom

Generally, it is best to eliminate frames from the lower parts of the screen. This ensures your games have the biggest impact on the game board, moving other candies to new positions and bringing important elements like cookies further down. Of course, in some game modes you will have to match candies at the top of the screen, but this is still good practice.

You'll probably notice that as moves become more limited, most of the moves you can make are closer to the top. Stay away from the game at the top unless you are forced to do so.

This is an especially good strategy when you have obstacles blocking your way. As these obstacles often gather at the bottom of the screen, attacking them directly, even with single matches, is much more effective than blasting a queue at the top of the screen.

2. Clear obstacles first

You'll come across many obstacles throughout the game, and it's always a good idea to clear them first. This means that when various obstacles are preventing you from making moves on certain parts of the board, it is imperative that you eliminate them first and foremost. You won't want to use your moves when you're locked somewhere else. This is especially true when you need to drop elements to the bottom of the screen. Eliminating obstacles will bring you much closer to victory in the match.

3. Meet the characters

The Candy Crush Saga series is full of colorful characters, and in Friends Saga they take on more active roles in your quest. You will take Tiffi, Mr. Yeti, Odus, or another character with you when you level up, and their specific abilities will change the way you play. That's why it's important to understand what each character offers you, what your favorite candy color is and how best to use your powers to beat each level.

For example, if you decide to use Tiffi, you can add jellyfish to the game board by matching red candies. Mr. Yeti prefer light blue candies and can create wrapped candies for you. 

Some also offer perks for specific levels thanks to their abilities: For example, the Nutcracker can dismember obstacles when you match blue candies, so he can be especially useful in Dunk the Cookie levels.

4. Match the special candies

Everyone who's played Candy Crush knows about the special candies you can create through matching, but it's important to remember how to craft each one so you know what to expect in the heat of the moment. 

For example, matching four candies in a row creates a candy striped in the direction of your last move. You can make a wrapped candy by matching candies in a T or L formation. Matching four candies in a square creates a jellyfish, and five candies in a row create a colorful bomb.

Special candies can be even more powerful together. Placing a special candy in the way of another does a lot of damage, but when you combine them, things get really crazy. And it's much easier to combine special candies, because you just need to place them side by side, regardless of their color.

For example, if you combine a fish with a striped candy, you create a fish that triggers the effects of a striped candy. Combining a striped candy with a wrapped candy makes the stripe effect hit multiple lines at once. There are many different combinations of special candies. So when you have several combinations available, determine which one will be most effective for the moment.

5. Stay focused

We all like to think that if we make as many special candies as possible, victory is guaranteed, but that's not always the case. In Candy Crush Friends Saga, you sometimes have to ignore those tempting combinations in favor of a simple match that will really win.

The game includes modes that require freeing animals trapped behind icing and octopuses trapped in jelly; you will also have to bury cookies in chocolate. Each game mode requires a different strategy, and has a unique trap that can hurt you if you're not paying attention.

When you need to free an animal, pay attention to which areas have trapped animals and focus on them. It can be difficult at times, but you don't want to waste moves if you don't have to. Meanwhile, making cookies and filling health levels requires you to only scavenge what's directly below the item, so don't worry about anything that doesn't affect them.

6. Manage your lollipops

When you are playing Candy Crush Friends Saga, you can earn and collect special lollipops to use during the game. They can come in handy when you get stuck. Try to hold on to them until you are sure they will make the difference between winning and losing. The last thing you want is to use a lollipop or two and end up losing. And sometimes, it's okay to waste a life to keep your lollipops for a more needed occasion.

7. Pay attention to the score

If you're addicted to Candy Crush Friends Saga, maybe you can get a bit of a perfectionist. If you have special candies, the temptation is great to activate them, but wait. Remember the importance of Sugar Crush. 

At the end of each level, you will receive a bonus based on how many moves you have and how many special candies will remain on the game board. It's a good idea to finish the game with as few moves as possible, and leave lots of special candies for that moment. 

You'll still get credit for creating them, and the Candy Crush bonus can help you go from one star to three. Just focus on fulfilling your objective: The game will give you credit where it's due.