The best Wordle starting words, ranked by 10,000 games
We ran every popular opener against the full answer list. The winner isn't ADIEU.
- SLATE is the best all-round starter, averaging 3.42 guesses in our simulation.
- Consonant-heavy openers beat vowel-heavy ones like ADIEU and AUDIO by about 0.3 guesses.
- In hard mode, TRACE edges ahead because its letters stay flexible.
- Picking one starter and sticking with it matters more than finding the perfect word.
Every Wordle player has an opinion about their first guess. Some swear by ADIEU for its four vowels, others rotate a different word each morning. We wanted to know which choice actually matters, so we simulated 10,000 games for each of 40 popular starters and measured the average number of guesses needed to solve.
The full ranking
The table below shows the top ten openers from our test. "Solved in 3" is the share of games finished on or before the third guess.
| # | Word | Avg guesses | Solved in 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLATE | 3.42 | 52% |
| 2 | CRANE | 3.43 | 51% |
| 3 | TRACE | 3.44 | 51% |
| 4 | SLANT | 3.46 | 49% |
| 5 | CRATE | 3.47 | 49% |
| 6 | CARTE | 3.48 | 48% |
| 7 | STARE | 3.50 | 47% |
| 8 | ROAST | 3.52 | 46% |
| 9 | RAISE | 3.53 | 46% |
| 10 | ARISE | 3.54 | 45% |
How we tested
For each starter, we played 10,000 games against randomly drawn answers from the historical Wordle answer list. After the opener, a solver chose each next guess to remove as many remaining candidates as possible, the same approach used by tools like WordleBot. That keeps the comparison fair: the only variable is the first word.
Results are averages, so a lucky day can beat any of them. What the numbers show is which opener gives you the best chance over weeks and months of play.
Why ADIEU underperforms
ADIEU tests four of the five vowels in one go, which feels efficient. The problem is that almost every Wordle answer has at least one vowel, so learning which vowels are present tells you less than you'd think. Meanwhile, the consonants that really split the answer list (R, S, T, L, N) go untested until guess two. ADIEU averaged 3.71 guesses against SLATE's 3.42, and the gap widens in hard mode.
Best starters for hard mode
In hard mode, every hint you find must be reused. That rewards openers whose common letters can sit in several positions. TRACE (3.49) and CRATE (3.51) narrowly beat SLATE (3.53) here, because their R and E give you more freedom on guess two.
The best opener is the one you'll use every day. Consistency lets you learn which second word fits each pattern.
The best second words
If your opener comes back mostly grey, a second word with five fresh letters is usually worth more than an early attempt at the answer. These pairings cover ten high-value letters between them: SLATE + CORNY (covers C, O, R, N, Y after a grey opener), CRANE + SPLIT (adds S, P, L, I, T, strong for consonant-heavy answers), TRACE + SOLID (tests the remaining common vowels O and I) and ROAST + GUILE (brings in U, I, L, E with G as a bonus).
How to pick your own starter
If none of these appeal, use three rules: include no repeated letters, use at most two vowels, and include at least two of R, S, T, L and N. Any word that passes all three will land within a tenth of a guess of the top of our table.
Put it to work on today's Wordle, or browse the Wordle archive to replay past puzzles.
FAQ
What is the best Wordle starting word?+
In our simulation of 10,000 games, SLATE had the lowest average at 3.42 guesses, closely followed by CRANE and TRACE.
Is ADIEU a good Wordle starter?+
ADIEU finds vowels quickly but leaves the most common consonants untested. It averaged 3.71 guesses, well behind the top consonant-heavy openers.
Should I use the same starting word every day?+
Using one strong starter consistently makes it easier to learn which second words work best after each pattern. Switching daily adds variety but rarely improves your average.
What is the best starting word for hard mode?+
In hard mode, TRACE and CRATE performed best because they keep useful letters in flexible positions for later guesses.
What is a good second word after SLATE?+
If SLATE turns up all grey, CORNY or COURT test five fresh, high-value letters and are strong follow-ups.
