DianSheng 36-Block Magic Snake Transparent

DianSheng 36-Block Magic Snake Transparent

The classic Magic Snake: a chain of 36 wedges shaped like triangular prisms, permanently connected to each other. DianSheng 36-Block Magic Snake Transparent has pieces made of transparent plastic. The manufacturer calls this version jelly color, and its model number is DS-285. A finished shape looks great in your hand and on the shelf.

How it works

Each wedge rotates 90 degrees relative to its neighbour. This means you can turn a straight snake into a ball, animals, geometric shapes or letters, and then take everything apart again. Unlike a 3x3 cube, the snake has no single "solved" state. The fun lies in recreating a specific shape from a diagram or coming up with your own. It trains spatial imagination and planning your next moves, and you don't need to know any algorithms.

24, 36 or 48 wedges?

The number of pieces determines what you can build. The 24-piece version is shorter and simpler, so it's a good choice for your first snake. 36 wedges is a sensible middle ground: the snake is long enough to build more elaborate shapes, yet still easy to handle. Longer snakes, such as 48-piece ones, offer even more possibilities, but building a specific shape with them takes longer. If you prefer classic, non-transparent colours, check out the DianSheng 36 Blocks Snake. The Hollow version, on the other hand, has openwork wedges.

Who is it for?

For kids and adults who enjoy puzzles to twist in their hands but don't want to start with cubes and algorithms. You can twist the snake aimlessly like a fidget toy, recreate shapes from instructions or design your own. Cubers will enjoy it as a break from cubes, and it also makes a great gift. It's a recreational puzzle that is not part of WCA events.

Specifications

• Type: Magic Snake, manipulation puzzle
• Manufacturer: DianSheng
• Manufacturer model: DS-285
• Number of pieces: 36 wedges
• Colour: Transparent (jelly color version)
• Product dimensions: 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.7 cm
• Packaging: box
• WCA legal: no