Cascade mode

Cascade mode is a mode that uses recursive gravity instead of naive gravity.

Clearing over four lines

Drop Z or T

In Quadra, a player can clear over half the screen this way:

Drop Z

General Tips

• Avoid creating empty columns that are over ten rows high. There will be no room above the platform to place any more than one or two I tetrominoes.
• Many cascade games use the traditional randomizer. Create the platform early to minimize the threat of an I drought.

Creating the platform

In Quadra, a player is encouraged to create the platform over the far left/right column as early as possible. Since duplicate I tetrominoes need to be placed above the platform, it's better to place them while stacking than to place them after you have stacked high enough. The best way to create a platform would be to build up the second to last column from the left/right wall. In Quadra, a player would often use the starting tetromino as a base, place an I on that tetromino, and then place a tetromino above the I to create the platform.

Bases

J Base

Z Base

LZ Base

Platform

Dedicated platforms

Dedicated platforms are solely used to create the overhang above the empty column.

Cascading platforms
Cascading platforms contribute to clearing the empty column.

Safety platforms
If a player were to build a column too high, there are still a few countermeasures.

S and Z cascade

In games with cascade modes that reward for cascade complexity, such as Tetris Worlds, Tetris Mania, and Tetris Evolution, a simple way to rack up a big cascade is by using the S or Z tetrominoes.

Tetris Worlds allowed for up to nine cascades before clearing the last levels, so players would fit an extra one in.

Unorthodox line clears

In cascade mode, certain line clears discouraged in naive gravity become favorable.