FangShi Trefoil Tetrahedron (Face-4 Colors)

FangShi Trefoil Tetrahedron (Face-4 Colors)

From the outside it looks like a Pyraminx: a tetrahedron with one colour on each face. FangShi Trefoil Tetrahedron (Face-4 Colors), however, works in a completely different way. This puzzle from the LimCube series combines the cuts of a Pyraminx with the cuts of a Pyramorphix, which is a 2x2 in the shape of a tetrahedron. That's why after just a few moves it no longer resembles a regular pyramid. It is a shape-shifting puzzle in a stickerless version, so the colours come from the plastic itself, not from stickers.

How the Trefoil Tetrahedron works

Here, moves don't simply swap corners and edges the way they do on a Pyraminx. Two cut systems overlap. As you turn, pieces of different types get mixed together and the puzzle twists into irregular forms. While solving, you have to keep track not only of the colours but also of the shape. It is usually solved by reduction, and along the way you may run into parities typical of this puzzle family. Experience with the Pyraminx helps you find your way around, but Pyraminx algorithms alone won't be enough here.

Face-4 Colors, Corner-4 Colors or 12 Colors?

All three versions of the Trefoil Tetrahedron share the same mechanism. They differ in colour scheme and therefore in difficulty.

• Corner-4 Colors: each corner has a different colour. This is the easiest version, because the corners have no orientation and some of the edges are interchangeable.
• Face-4 Colors (this version): one colour per face, just like a classic Pyraminx. In terms of difficulty it sits in the middle. The pieces are easy to recognise, so you can focus on the solution itself.
• 12 Colors: the largest number of colours, with almost every piece being different. This is the hardest of the three versions.

Who is it for?

For those who have already solved the Pyraminx and other basic puzzles and are now looking for something unusual. Collectors of shape-shifting puzzles will also love it, because it looks great on a shelf when scrambled. This is not a speedcubing puzzle or a first puzzle for a child. Solving it takes patience and working out the mechanism on your own. If you'd like to start the Trefoil family with something easier, choose the Corner-4 Colors version.

Specifications

• Type: tetrahedron-shaped shape-shifting puzzle
• Manufacturer: FangShi (LimCube series)
• Mechanism: combination of Pyraminx and Pyramorphix cuts
• Colour scheme: stickerless bright, 4 colours (one colour per face)
• Weight with packaging: approx. 190 g