Looking for today's Connections answer for puzzle #399 from July 14, a little harder than yesterday's answer, the Connections companion rated this puzzle 2.6 out of 5 for difficulty.

We update our Connections clues and hints daily. And if the hints aren't enough, you can see all four solutions along with the category title and related words. In addition, for those of you reading this in a different time zone, I have included a reflection on yesterday's puzzle 398.

There are spoilers for Connection 399. Only those who want to know the answer to today's connection should read on.

Alternatively, see our NYT Connections How to Play Guide for tips on how to solve the puzzle without our help.

While today's wordle solution guide recommends the best wordle starting words as a strategy, the Connections solution depends on identifying the categories that are connected from the 16 words. The difficulty of each category is represented by a color, with yellow being the easiest grouping and purple the most difficult. Hints are helpful as the answer is displayed after four wrong guesses.

If you need a hint to help you solve the groupings, here are each theme in order of difficulty:

If you read these hints, you should at least find the answer to today's connection. If not, please continue reading for larger hints. Also, if you only want the answer, scroll down further.

There is a bigger clue. Today's puzzle is all about getting the best out of your cards.

So, the answer to today's connection in game #399 is.

Drum roll please.

Today's puzzle was easy. I started by getting the purple category: but when I saw that Brazil and Pineapple were close together, I immediately recognized the connection.

The green category was a bit trickier because I had to pull out the dictionary to figure out what Tine meant. Not only did it add a new word to my vocabulary, but the connection to prong and tip became painfully clear. And while Point had several different meanings (especially given today's business-like blue category), this was the only option left that was close to the other meanings.

Blue came next; chewing on the word Business brought to mind the line of work, and Line jumped out, followed by Field and Trade.

With only four words left, the green category was now rote, and I blamed myself for not realizing its relevance sooner. I grew up around Pokémon cards long enough to recognize that the terms denoted grades of collectibles.

You are reading this in a late time zone. According to Connections Companion, the difficulty level was 2.5 out of 5.

After the "school"-based shenanigans of the past few days, it was a relief over the weekend that this word was not near yesterday's puzzle.

This puzzle was still disappointing.

I found the green category first, with avatars, characters, and figures. It took me a little longer to find the figures, but I ended up with that color.

While assembling the green, I saw the beginning of the blue category with partial APPEAR and LOOK. After that it was a matter of finding SEEM and SOUND.

Part of my personal disappointment with the puzzle was that I wished it were something it wasn't. I got a little excited when I saw the Giant and the Monster, and I wanted the puzzle to have more of a mythical creature connection. I didn't want to acknowledge the connection between the mammoth and the Titanic.

No submission was made, but categories included giants, witches, castles, and monsters. This is desirable. Instead, we get a silent "T". Ugh.