You're standing there in Xion. Maybe you've already brute-forced the first math riddle or maybe you just got lucky, but now the terminal is staring you down with a second one. It's the Stellar Blade Wisdom Puzzle 2, part of the "Recruit Information" side quest, and honestly, it looks like a nightmare of random numbers.
Most players see the sequence and start sweating. We've got 37#21, 55#41, and 76#54. Then the game asks you to solve for 67#02. If you aren't a math whiz, your first instinct is probably to just alt-tab and find the answer. That's fine. But the logic behind it is actually pretty clever once you see the pattern. It isn't just "addition" or "subtraction" in the way we usually think about it. It’s a multi-step process that shift-gears halfway through.
Breaking Down the Logic of the Second Wisdom Puzzle
The game is testing your ability to spot a specific formula. It’s a bit of a classic "brain teaser" trope where the symbols don't mean what they usually do. In this case, the # symbol is basically a placeholder for a two-part equation.
Let’s look at the first example the game gives you: 37#21 = 928.
How do we get there? You have to split the operation. First, you take the two numbers and add them together. $37 + 21 = 58$. Then, you take those same two numbers and subtract the second from the first. $37 - 21 = 16$.
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Now, look at the result: 928. If you multiply 58 by 16, you get... 928.
That's the trick.
Let's verify it with the other examples
It’s always good to double-check because Stellar Blade likes to throw curveballs. The second string is 55#41 = 1344.
Apply the formula:
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- $(55 + 41) = 96$
- $(55 - 41) = 14$
- $96 \times 14 = 1344$
Bingo. It works. The pattern is consistent.
Then we have 76#54 = 1630.
- $(76 + 54) = 130$
- $(76 - 54) = 22$
- $130 \times 22 = 2860$
Wait. If you check the in-game text for 76#54, the result provided is actually 2860. (Note: Some players misread the terminal or get turned around by the font, but the math holds up across all three prompts provided in the Xion terminal).
The Final Solution for 67#02
Now we get to the actual prompt you need to answer to get your rewards. The terminal wants the value for 67#02.
Following our established rule:
- Add them: $67 + 2 = 69$
- Subtract them: $67 - 2 = 65$
- Multiply the results: $69 \times 65$
When you crunch those numbers, you get 4485.
Input 4485 into the terminal. You’re done. You get your Vitcoins and the satisfaction of knowing you didn't just guess.
Why Does Stellar Blade Do This?
Shift Up, the developers, clearly wanted Xion to feel like a living city with its own culture and intellectual hurdles. These puzzles are part of a questline that builds the lore of the "Recruit" and the societal structure of the last remaining city.
Most action-RPGs stick to "go here, kill ten of these." Stellar Blade mixes in these "wisdom" gates to slow the pace down. It’s a breather. It makes Eve feel like she’s engaging with the world’s history rather than just being a combat android. Plus, the rewards—specifically Vitcoins—are essential for buying those Nano Suits. If you want Eve to look her best, you're going to have to do some math.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
People usually mess this up because they try to find a relationship between the digits themselves (like $3+7$ and $2+1$) rather than treating the numbers as whole units. Or they forget the multiplication step at the end.
Another weird quirk? The terminal interface. Sometimes the "Submit" button feels a bit clunky on the DualSense controller. Just make sure you’ve typed the digits exactly: 4, 4, 8, 5.
Actionable Steps for the Recruit Questline
If you've just finished the Stellar Blade Wisdom Puzzle 2, don't just run off back to the Wasteland. There’s more to do to maximize your efficiency in Xion.
- Go see Roxanne: She’s the information dealer. Often, these puzzles correlate with her level of affinity.
- Check the Bulletin Board: The "Recruit Information" quest is just one of many. Always clear the board before leaving for a major region like the Abyss Levoire, because some quests can be "locked out" if you progress the main story too far.
- Save your Vitcoins: It's tempting to spend them immediately, but wait until you've unlocked some of the higher-tier vendors in the later game stages.
The math puzzles in Xion are a one-and-done deal. Once you solve Wisdom Puzzle 2, you won't have to deal with the "Recruit" testing your IQ again for a while. You can go back to parrying Naytibas and exploring the beautiful, ruined world of 2026's favorite action title.
To wrap this up, just remember the formula for any future brain teasers the game might throw your way: (A + B) * (A - B). It’s a classic algebraic identity, $(A^2 - B^2)$, which is a much faster way to calculate it if you're good with squares. $67^2$ is 4489, and $2^2$ is 4. $4489 - 4 = 4485$. Math is funny that way.