Starting from Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, throughout the series there are three Puzzle Battles. These are very similar to puzzles as they are brainteasers in which you are trying to find a single correct answer, but are usually depicted as being solved against an opponent. They are all found in the main storyline of the game, but do not appear in the Puzzle Index.
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future[]
Future Luke vs. Professor Layton[]
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Puzzle Battles are small battles of wits between Professor Layton and couple of other intellectuals Layton comes across. The first Puzzle Battle is against the Future Luke in Chapter 2, when Layton and Luke first meet him at the Gilded 7 Casino. Claiming to suspect the Layton before him to be an impostor, Future Luke challenges Layton to a simple puzzle.
- US Version
Four cards sit in a line.
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The location of the spade.
- A heart is next to a diamond.
- A club is not next to a spade.
- A heart is to the immediate right of a club.
Tap the spade.
- UK Version
Four cards sit in a line:
- A heart is next to a diamond.
- A club is not next to a spade.
- A heart is directly to the right of a club.
Can you work out which one is the spade, Professor? Touch that card.
After successfully finding the spade, Layton requests to present Future Luke with his own puzzle, based on the same rules.
- US Version
Four cards sit in a line.
- A club sits directly to the right of a heart.
- The end card on the far left or far right is a diamond, and next to it is a heart.
- The end card on the far left or far right is a club.
Can you find the spade, Luke?
- UK Version
Four cards sit in a line:
- A club sits directly to the right of a heart.
- One of the cards on the far left or far right is a diamond, and next to it is a heart.
- The other card on the far left or far right is a club.
Can you find the spade, Luke?
As it turns out, Professor Layton's puzzle is impossible, as the stated conditions prevent there being a spade. Layton explains he had based his puzzle on Future Luke's incomplete ruleset; Future Luke had failed to specify in his puzzle that each card was of a different suit, potentially making his puzzle unsolvable. Noticing this was in fact the true test, convincing Future Luke that the Professor is the genuine article.
Dimitri Allen vs. Professor Layton[]
The next Puzzle Battle occurs in Chapter 9, when Professor Layton encounters the mysterious Future Professor Layton in the Towering Pagoda. Future Layton is revealed to be Dr. Stahngun, who is actually Dimitri Allen, a scientist who worked on a time machine 10 years ago. Dimitri threatens to dispose of Layton and company with his personal guard, using a wall relief to illustrate the situation.
- US Version
The winning formation.
Each troop will engage one troop from the other side in one-on-one combat. Pair each of your red troops against one from the opposing gray forces. Your troops are marked with an icon of Professor Layton. The strength of each troop is represented by the number of stars on its banner.
Arrange your forces so that the red side avoids defeat. When you're ready to submit your answer, tap OK! to proceed.
- UK Version
Each soldier will engage one soldier from the other side in combat. Pair each of your red troops against one of the opposing white troops. Your troops are marked with an icon depicting Professor Layton. The strength of each soldier is represented by the number of stars on his banner.
Arrange your forces so that the red side avoids defeat.
Touch OK! to submit your answer.
Professor Layton is able to find a way to tie with Dimitri's seemingly unstoppable setup. After the Puzzle Battle is won, it is learned that Professor Layton is actually Don Paolo in disguise, as he made a deal with the real professor some time beforehand.
Dimitri Allen vs. Professor Layton (2)[]
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The third and final Puzzle Battle takes place at the Thames Arms in Chapter 12, as Professor Layton exposes the truth behind the mysteries of Future London. Revealing himself as the bartender in disguise, Dimitri claims that he has rigged the Thames Arms with multiple explosives, all set to go off upon any of the bombs being stepped on. Knowing the locations of the bombs, Dimitri would escape unscathed while leaving everyone else behind. Dimitri hands Layton a chart of the Thames Arms's layout, allowing Layton to work out where the bombs have been planted.
Find all the sensors.
The numbers written above and to the left of the map indicate the number of sensors present in each column and row, respectively.
Derive the location of all sensors using the information provided, and mark them on your map.
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It spells "LIE" when upside down.
After working out the locations, however, Layton noticed that on flipping the chart, the marked spots spelled out the word "LIE". The information on the chart was false, meaning that as soon as they got up they would trigger the explosives, unless, as Layton suspected, there were no bombs to begin with. The bomb threat was simply a ploy by Dimitri to distract Layton and company while he made his escape. Caught out of his escape, Dimitri is forced to explain the motives behind his grand scheme.
European version[]
The European version of the game has a different version of the third Puzzle Battle. It has the same concept, but has a slightly different design and wording. In this version, Dimitri claims he knows exactly how much time is left before the bombs detonate.
Find all the bombs.
The numbers written above and to the left of the map indicate the number of bombs in each column and row. Red dots indicate people and squares indicate tables. There are no bombs in these squares.
Derive the location of all bombs using the information provided, and mark them on your map.
The puzzle is solved differently as there is a different design. Instead of the word "LIE", the chart shows the symbol for infinity (∞), depicting how much time is really left before the supposed bombs explode; i.e., infinite time. Luke at first mistakes this for the number 00, meaning the bombs would explode immediately.
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Professor Layton and the Last Specter[]
Bridge to the Manor[]
While Hershel and Emmy Altava are on their way to the Triton Estate, they find the bridge leading to the estate's part of town tied off with a rope. Emmy suggests to hack and slash their way through, while Layton suggests one cut (which he already figured out).
There are five places where the rope can be cut: top-left, top-right, middle-left, bottom-left, and bottom-right. Cutting the top-left rope will make the entire barrier fall apart.
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask[]
Layton and Co. VS. Frankie and Connor[]
The first Puzzle Battle in Miracle Mask begins during Layton and co.'s confrontation with Frankie on the road to the Ledore estate. Conner steps in to settle the dispute peacefully, proposing a simple cup-and-ball puzzle to decide whether the three would continue or not.
Both Luke and Emmy try first, and both lose to Frankie. Layton, working out the trick behind the puzzle, takes his turn and asks to pick his choice before Frankie, and wins. Both Frankie and Connor storm off in a rage.
When Luke and Emmy ask how he did it, Layton explains that the trick behind the puzzle was that Connor would subtly point at the tumbler that the ball was underneath, hence why Frankie kept picking the correct one.
Police Meeting[]
After visiting Alphonse Dalston, the trio head up to the Monte d'Or police station where they attend a meeting. Layton must answer the questions given by each police investigator (Bloom, Grosky and Sheffield in order to find out how the Masked Gentleman's miracles happen. Once solved, they can continue with their investigation
Spoilers end here