Colony Flow! Level 1987 Walkthrough: Clearing Lanes and Docks

To beat Level 1987 in Colony Flow!, clear the outer perimeter paths first, keep at least two dock slots empty at all times, and avoid tapping central ant groups until their destination lanes are completely free. If ants enter the holding dock, immediately prioritize the matching exit route to empty those slots before opening new intersections.

Step 1: Clear the Outer Rim First

Level 1987 features intersecting tracks where outer columns physically block the exits of inner clusters. Tapping center ants early redirects them into your limited holding dock, quickly causing a board lock.

Clear direct perimeter runs: Scan the corners and outermost edges for ant lines with unobstructed, direct paths to matching colored nests. Route these units out first to establish open lanes.
Remove crossroad guard units: Tap small, exposed ant groups that sit directly across key intersections. Even if this routes one or two ants into the holding dock, do it if it frees a large matching line behind them.
Leave the center untouched: Do not tap the dense central knot during the opening moves. These paths require exit corridors that only open after the outer lanes are fully cleared.

Step 2: Manage Dock Capacity

Holding dock space on Level 1987 is strictly limited. Treating the dock as temporary overflow rather than permanent storage is required to prevent fail states.

Dock Management Rule	Operational Function	Risk if Ignored
Maintain 2 Empty Slots	Preserves buffer space to untangle split-path colors	Causes immediate stage failure when tracks cross
Avoid Mixed Stragglers	Ensures incoming ant groups can clear docks in complete sets	Freezes dock throughput with mismatched units
Prioritize Direct Nest Runs	Bypasses holding docks entirely to maintain space	Fills buffer slots unnecessarily
Empty Docked Units Promptly	Uses the next move to unblock the nest matching parked ants	Stalls consecutive chain reactions across the grid

Whenever ants enter the dock to open a junction, identify and tap the specific path blocker that lets those parked units exit into their nest before touching any secondary colors.

Step 3: Untangle the Central Funnel

Once the perimeter is cleared, focus on the overlapping central tracks. Resolving this area requires clearing blockers in a strict sequence:

Trace the keystone blocker: Trace the paths backward from the receiving nests through the central funnel to identify which ant group blocks multiple routes.
Release the primary line: Tap the keystone group to drain it directly into its nest. In Level 1987, clearing this primary blocker typically frees two secondary color lanes simultaneously.
Trigger liberated secondary lanes: Tap the newly freed secondary paths immediately after the keystone clears the intersection.
Watch column tail ends: Wait until a long column of ants has fully passed through a crossing point before releasing an intersecting line. Releasing too early causes trailing ants to collide and divert into your remaining dock slots.

If you are down to one remaining dock slot, stop making forward progress moves. Backtrack through the board to locate and clear the exact path that empties the ants currently sitting in the dock.