List of common oscillators
This is a list of the most common oscillators in the Game of Life, specifically Catagolue's B3/S23/C1 census, as of February 28, 2022, comprising nearly 2 quadrillion object occurrences. Names for objects are taken from Catagolue where applicable; the apgcode of the object is substituted otherwise.
The relative frequency column gives an estimate of the fraction of all randomly-occurring oscillators that will be of the given type. However, the first three in the list comprise nearly 100% of all natural occurrences. The rest of the objects in the list are very uncommon. For this reason, the list only includes the first 86; after that, the frequency of each object is less than 1 in 100 billion of all oscillator occurrences and the numbers are too small for any order to be meaningful.
Note: a tilde (~) has been used in lieu of leaving a cell blank when it is useful for that cell to sort at the bottom of the collating sequence.
| Rank | Pattern | apgcode | Period | Heat | Minimum # of cells |
Glider cost | Relative frequency | Rotor | Bushing type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blinker | xp2_7 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0.9898377 | Pole 2 | Dot |
| 2 | Toad | xp2_7e | 2 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 in 132.41 | Toad | Toad |
| 3 | Beacon | xp2_318c | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 in 423.43 | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 4 | Pulsar | xp3_co9nas0san9oczgoldlo0oldlogz1047210127401 | 3 | 42.7 | 48 | 3 | 1 in 4109.8 | Pulsar | Pulsar |
| 5 | Pentadecathlon | xp15_4r4z4r4 | 15 | 22.4 | 12 | 3 | 1 in 381776 | Pentadecathlon | - |
| 6 | Clock | xp2_2a54 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 in 654985 | Clock (rotor) | Clock |
| 7 | Bipole | xp2_31ago | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 1 in 3.130 million | Pole 2 | Bipole |
| 8 | Quadpole | xp2_0g0k053z32 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 1 in 3.500 million | Pole 4 | Quadpole |
| 9 | Great on-off | xp2_g8gid1e8z1226 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 5.081 million | Diagonal on-off | Cavity |
| 10 | Figure eight | xp8_gk2gb3z11 | 8 | 16.5 | 12 | 4 | 1 in 10.66 million | Figure eight | - |
| 11 | Spark coil | xp2_rhewehr | 2 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 1 in 15.53 million | Orthogonal on-off | Spark coil |
| 12 | Mold | xp4_37bkic | 4 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 1 in 18.64 million | Mold | Loaf |
| 13 | Quadpole tie ship | xp2_31a08zy0123cko | 2 | 8 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 45.35 million | Pole 4 | Quadpole |
| 14 | Tripole | xp2_g0k053z11 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 1 in 92.25 million | Pole 3 | Tripole |
| 15 | Mazing | xp4_ssj3744zw3 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 1 in 97.85 million | Mazing | - |
| 16 | Blocker | xp8_g3jgz1ut | 8 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 1 in 140 million | Blocker | Blocker |
| 17 | Jam | xp3_695qc8zx33 | 3 | 14.3 | 13 | 5 | 1 in 186 million | Jam | Loaf |
| 18 | Trans-queen bee shuttle | xp30_w33z8kqrqk8zzzx33 | 30 | 17.9 | 20 | 5 | 1 in 324 million | Queen bee | Blocks |
| 19 | Cis-queen bee shuttle | xp30_w33z8kqrqk8zzzw33 | 30 | 17.9 | 20 | 5 | 1 in 330 million | Queen bee | Blocks |
| 20 | Trans-beacon on table | xp2_wbq23z32 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 1 in 390 million | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 21 | Cis-beacon on table | xp2_318c0f9 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 1 in 398 million | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 22 | Cis-beacon on dock | xp2_j1u062goz11 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 4 | 1 in 418 million | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 23 | Test tube baby | xp2_31egge13 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 499 million | Orthogonal on-off | Test tube baby |
| 24 | Achim's p4 | xp4_8eh5e0e5he8z178a707a871 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 5 | 1 in 518 million | 1-2-3-4 | ? |
| 25 | Cis-beacon on anvil | xp2_0c813z255d1e8 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 5 | 1 in 536 million | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 26 | Octagon 2 | xp5_idiidiz01w1 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 621 million | Octagon 2 | n/a |
| 27 | Unix | xp6_ccb7w66z066 | 6 | 11.3 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 630 million | Unix | Unix |
| 28 | 1 beacon | xp2_ca9baiczw32 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 642 million | Diagonal on-off | 1 beacon |
| 29 | Tub test tube baby | xp2_25a88gz8ka221 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 1 in 688 million | Orthogonal on-off | Test tube baby |
| 30 | Trans-beacon on dock | xp2_03lk453z6401 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 907 million | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 31 | Tumbler | xp14_j9d0d9j | 14 | 10.3 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 944 million | Tumbler | - |
| 32 | Block on griddle | xp2_c8b8aczw33 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 1 in 1.01 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 33 | Fore and back | xp2_ca1n0brz330321 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 5 | 1 in 1.48 billion | Pole 2 | Snake pit |
| 34 | Cis-beacon up on long bookend | xp2_3hu0og26 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 1.56 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 35 | Cis-beacon on cap | xp2_318c0f96 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 1.67 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 36 | Cis-beacon down on long bookend | xp2_318c0fho | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 1.87 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 37 | Trans-block on candlefrobra | xp3_025qzrq221 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 2.06 billion | Candlefrobra | Candlefrobra |
| 38 | Mango with beacon on dock | xp2_wgj1u0og26z25421 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 5 | 1 in 2.30 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 39 | Trans-beacon down on long bookend | xp2_w8o0uh3z32 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 3.77 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 40 | Caterer | xp3_4hh186z07 | 3 | 14.7 | 12 | 5 | 1 in 3.97 billion | Caterer | n/a |
| 41 | Coe's p8 | xp8_wgovnz234z33 | 8 | 12.5 | 17 | 5 | 1 in 4.27 billion | Coe's p8 | Coe's p8 |
| 42 | Trans-beacon on cap | xp2_318czw3553 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 4.95 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 43 | xp2_8e1t2gozw23 | xp2_8e1t2gozw23 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 5.64 billion | Diagonal on-off | 1 Beacon |
| 44 | Beehive on griddle | xp2_4k1v0ciczw11 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 6 | 1 in 5.67 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 45 | Boat tie spark coil | xp2_xrhewehrz253 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 5 | 1 in 5.90 billion | Orthogonal on-off | Spark coil |
| 46 | Cis-block on candlefrobra | xp3_025qz32qq1 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 5 | 1 in 5.94 billion | Candlefrobra | Candlefrobra |
| 47 | xp2_69b8baiczx32 | xp2_69b8baiczx32 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 5 | 1 in 6.00 billion | Diagonal on-off | 1 beacon |
| 48 | Trans-beacon up on long bookend | xp2_03lk46z6401 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 6.29 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 49 | Bipole tie ship | xp2_xoga13z653 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 5 | 1 in 7.26 billion | Pole 2 | Bipole |
| 50 | Boat tie bipole | xp2_xoga13z253 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 5 | 1 in 7.85 billion | Pole 2 | Bipole |
| 51 | Boat on griddle | xp2_c8b8acz0253 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 1 in 10.9 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 52 | Four boats | xp2_8ki1688gzx3421 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 6 | 1 in 11.3 billion | ~ | ~ |
| 53 | Boat tie quadpole | xp2_256o8gzy120ago | 2 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 1 in 11.6 billion | Pole 4 | Quadpole |
| 54 | Monotub spark coil | xp2_gbhewehrz01 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 1 in 15.1 billion | Orthogonal on-off | Spark coil |
| 55 | Unnamed | xp2_og2t1e8z6221 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 15.3 billion | Diagonal on-off | 1 beacon |
| 56 | xp2_caabaiczw32 | xp2_caabaiczw32 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 16.3 billion | Diagonal on-off | 1 beacon |
| 57 | Eater plug | xp2_wo44871z6221 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 1 in 17.1 billion | Diagonal on-off | Cavity |
| 58 | Odd test tube baby | xp2_03544oz4a511 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 1 in 17.3 billion | Orthogonal on-off | Test tube baby |
| 59 | Trans-beacon on bookend siamese table | xp2_09v0c813z321 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 1 in 17.7 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 60 | G and spark coil | xp2_mlhewehrz1 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 6 | 1 in 19.6 billion | Orthogonal on-off | Spark coil |
| 61 | xp2_69b8b9iczx32 | xp2_69b8b9iczx32 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 1 in 21.5 billion | Diagonal on-off | 1 beacon |
| 62 | Cis-beehive on candlefrobra | xp3_4a422hu0696 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 1 in 24.9 billion | Candlefrobra | Candlefrobra |
| 63 | xp2_33gv1og26 | xp2_33gv1og26 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 5 | 1 in 27.8 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 64 | Beacon on cover | xp2_wbq2sgz32 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 1 in 28.4 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 65 | Blocks on griddle | xp2_rb88brz0103 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 1 in 36.1 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 66 | Open cuphook | xp3_6a889b8ozx33 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 1 in 37.3 billion | Cuphook | Cuphook |
| 67 | Cis-boat down on candlefrobra | xp3_4a422hu06a4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 1 in 41.5 billion | Candlefrobra | Candlefrobra |
| 68 | xp2_6a88baiczx32 | xp2_6a88baiczx32 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 41.8 billion | Diagonal on-off | 1 beacon |
| 69 | Beacon on inflected clip | xp2_0318cz259d1d96 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 6 | 1 in 42.0 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 70 | xp2_gk2t2sgzw23 | xp2_gk2t2sgzw23 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 1 in 44 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 71 | Griddle and table | xp2_4k1v0f9zw11 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 6 | 1 in 44 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 72 | Racetrack and ortho-beacon | xp2_04aab96zc813 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 46 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 73 | Fox | xp2_g45h1sz03 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 1 in 47 billion | ~ | ~ |
| 74 | Cis-bipole on dock | xp2_31agozca22ac | 2 | 2 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 47 billion | Pole 2 | Bipole |
| 75 | Fumarole | xp5_3pmwmp3zx11 | 5 | 12.8 | 18 | 6 | 1 in 56 billion | ~ | ~ |
| 76 | Beacon on racetrack | xp2_0318cz69d552 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 1 in 63 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 77 | Beehive test tube baby | xp2_03544ozcid11 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 1 in 69 billion | Orthogonal on-off | Test tube baby |
| 78 | Cis-beacon down on trans-mango-with-long-leg | xp2_gwci96zh15dz11 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 1 in 69 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 79 | Unnamed | xp2_og2t1acz6221 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 1 in 62 billion | Diagonal on-off | 1 beacon |
| 80 | Cis-boat up on candlefrobra | xp3_2530fh884a4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 1 in 73 billion | Candlefrobra | Candlefrobra |
| 81 | Loaf on griddle | xp2_04a96z31d153 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 5 | 1 in 76 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 82 | Lightbulb and cis-hook | xp2_03lkmzojc0cjo | 2 | 3 | 24 | 6 | 1 in 79 billion | V triplet | Lightbulb |
| 83 | Trans-boat test tube baby | xp2_03544ozca511 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 1 in 82 billion | Orthogonal on-off | Test tube baby |
| 84 | Pond on griddle | xp2_06996z31d153 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 6 | 1 in 84 billion | Flutter | Griddle |
| 85 | Cis-beacon up on tub-with-long-leg | xp2_c813z3115a4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 1 in 88 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
| 86 | Cis-beacon up on beehive-with-long-leg | xp2_c813z311dic | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8 | 1 in 97 billion | Diagonal on-off | Beacon |
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