DaYan Octahedron

DaYan Octahedron

DaYan Octahedron is an octahedron-shaped puzzle with 8 triangular faces. You turn it around its corners rather than its faces, which makes it a corner-turning puzzle. This version has a black body. DaYan released it many years ago and it still has no successor, so it's more of a collector's classic than speedcubing gear.

How it solves

At first glance the octahedron looks like some of the puzzles in the Shape Mods category, but it solves differently. Each turn around a corner moves pieces from several triangular faces at once, so you need to stop thinking in terms of flat layers. According to user reviews, solving it feels a bit like a Pyraminx. If you know that puzzle, you can work out the solution on your own, without a tutorial.

Don't expect the feel of a modern magnetic cube. Reviewers say the turning is heavy, some turns are lighter than others, and even scrambling takes patience. On the other hand, the mechanism is solid and, according to the same reviews, popping practically never happens. It's a puzzle for relaxed solving and for learning a new type of move, not for setting times.

Who is it for?

Mainly for collectors and for those who have already mastered the 3x3, Pyraminx or Skewb and are looking for a different challenge. It also makes a good gift for anyone who likes unusually shaped puzzles. For a child's first puzzle, a simpler model that turns more lightly is a better choice, because heavy turning can quickly put them off.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: DaYan
• Type: corner-turning octahedron
• Body colour: black
• Size: approx. 60 mm
• Weight: approx. 125 g