| CLOSURE | Changes, or clues, used in final manoeuvre |
| LACROSSE | One type of clue used in the French game |
| ATACTIC | Attila's final manoeuvre is uncoordinated |
| SEWED | Me: "How about the clue 'Used needles,' Ella?" Ella: "No, new needles. You have to use them because it affects the fabric more than you expect." |
| TRAIL | Beaten or blazed path in the wilds; or, a series of signs or clues such as footprints, spoor or line-shaped vaporous clouds marking the passage of a person, quarry or aircraft (5) |
| PEAL | From "summons to prayer", word for a set or ring of bells; a chime or carillon; a series of campanological changes; or, a loud volley of cannon fire, laughter, thunder or other noise (4) |
| NOTELET | Old phone used in final brief communication (7) |
| LEAST | Smallest amount of energy used in final |
| ENDGAME | Space Madge used in final stage (7) |
| FORTYNINERS | Old rush participants ... or a three-part hint to what can be found in this puzzle's grid or clues |
| LEADS | Cables, flexes or wires; chief roles or clues; or, tethers for dogs (5) |
| KEYS | Samaras or "helicopters" of ashes, maples and sycamores; fret patterns; spanners; or, clues (4) |
| LIGHTS | Word for animals' lungs, so called for their imponderousness; candles, chandeliers, Chinese lanterns, fairy bulbs, lustres, pharoses, windows or other sources of lux or, clues, hints and tips towards |
| ALTERS | Changes or makes different in some respect |
| DEDUCE | To infer from e.g. premises or clues (6) |
| HINTS | Small amounts; or, clues (5) |
| REISSUE | Publication printed again without changes or editing (7) |
| GRADATION | Scale of successive changes or stages |
| CONSORTIA | Financial groups make changes or actions (9) |
| ADJUST | Make small changes or improvements to (6) |
