Dayan Master Skewb Cube

DaYan Master Skewb Cube

The name suggests a classic Master Skewb, but the DaYan Master Skewb Cube is a different puzzle. DaYan calls it a 4-axis 5-rank cube. It turns around four axes running through the corners, just like a regular Skewb, but its cuts are not symmetrical. It's easy to mistake it for a Master Skewb at first glance, yet it turns and solves differently. We offer the Stickerless Bright version, made of colored plastic with no stickers.

How it differs from the classic Master Skewb

The corners of this cube fall into two groups. Four opposite corners have shallow cuts, so they turn much like on a Dino Cube. The other four have deeper Master Skewb-style cuts and small movable tips. You orient these separately, similar to the tips on a Pyraminx. Not all corner tips turn, which also sets this model apart from the symmetrical Master Skewbs made by other manufacturers.

How to solve it

In practice, it's a combination of several corner-turning puzzles. Some steps resemble the Skewb and Dino Cube, while others are reminiscent of the Rex Cube or FTO. To solve it, you'll benefit from knowing the Skewb and Dino Cube and being comfortable with simple commutators and setup moves. You don't need to come up with advanced algorithms, though. At first, it's harder to get used to the two types of corners turning differently. This model has no magnets and is not a WCA event, so you buy it for fun solving and for your collection rather than for times.

Who is it for?

For those who have already mastered the Skewb, Pyraminx and Dino Cube and want another non-WCA puzzle of medium difficulty. It will also nicely complement a collection of DaYan corner-turning puzzles. For a first puzzle of this kind, including for a child, a regular Skewb is a better choice, because without knowing how to solve it, it's hard to get started with the DaYan Master Skewb.

Specifications

• Type: Skewb-type puzzle, 4-axis 5-rank, asymmetric cuts
• Manufacturer: DaYan
• Corners: 4 with shallow (Dino-type) cuts, 4 with deep Master Skewb-type cuts and movable tips
• Magnets: none
• Weight: approx. 102 g (cube only)
• Color version: Stickerless Bright