DianSheng UFO V2

DianSheng UFO V2 3x3

DianSheng UFO V2 is a 3x3 shape mod cube. Inside, it runs on a standard 3x3 mechanism, but the outer shape is a flattened polyhedron that looks like a flying saucer. After just a few moves the cube loses its shape, so this shapeshifting 3x3 looks much harder than it really is. In the V2 version, DianSheng replaced the stickers with coloured tiles set into the pieces and added a decorative box with a gear mechanism.

How to solve it

If you know a method for the 3x3, you can handle the UFO, because the algorithms are exactly the same. The challenge lies elsewhere: the pieces come in different shapes and sizes, so while solving it is harder to recognise them and judge what is already solved. The cube won't take its proper shape until every layer is back in place. If you have already mastered the 3x3, it's a great first step into shape mods.

This is a puzzle for fun and for collectors, not a cube for setting times. It has no magnets and no UV coating, and with a shape like this, what matters is comfortable layer turning, not TPS.

What's new in V2

• Coloured tiles instead of stickers. The tiles sit in recesses in the pieces, so they don't peel off or wear at the edges the way stickers do.
• Concave anti-stick design. It is meant to reduce pieces sticking to each other while turning.
• Box with a gear mechanism. When you open the box, the mechanism lifts the cube up. It's great for storing and displaying the puzzle, and it also makes a nice gift idea.

Black or Transparent?

Both versions have the same mechanism and shape; only the look is different. The Black version has a black body that makes the coloured tiles stand out. In the Transparent version, the clear plastic shows the mechanism inside, which will especially appeal to collectors of unusual puzzles.

Specifications

• Type: 3x3 shape mod cube (shapeshifting)
• Manufacturer: DianSheng
• Size: approx. 60 mm
• Weight: approx. 60 g
• Magnets: none
• Finish: coloured tiles, no UV coating
• Body colours: Black, Transparent
• Included: box with a gear mechanism