dictionary / rules ethereum

[B_Kchurc]

you can use the option --stdout to see "how your rule would work)

hashcat -a 0 --stdout -r rules.txt pw.txt

your examples results in output
appleapple

rules are applied from left to right to the provided word (apple)
d $#$!$^ ] ] ]
so you double apple, after that add # add ! add ^ and then you remove ^, remove ! remove # resulting in
appleapple

for your single approach you could  use the combinator attack with -j -k rules
hashcat -a 1 --stdout -j "$#$!$^" pw.txt pw.txt
apple#!^apple

-j is applied to the left pw.txt containing your apple after that apple from right pw.txt is appendend / combined
for better understanding i changed pw.txt to contain apple and beer, pw1.txt pear and wine

hashcat -a 1 --stdout -j "$#$!$^" pw.txt pw1.txt
apple#!^pear
apple#!^wine
beer#!^pear
beer#!^wine

In my case the first word should be exactly the same as the 2nd. So no apple pear combination. Always apple apple so if two dictionaries are used they should be exactly the same and dynamically follow the sequence of both. I am just not sure about use of additional numbers in text and capitals.
Anyway, will try it out and see how far I will go. Certainly some pointers I can explore. Thanks!