LanLan 12-Axis Rhombic Dodecahedron

LanLan 12-Axis Rhombic Dodecahedron

This puzzle is shaped like a rhombic dodecahedron and has 12 axes of rotation. Among collectors it is known as the Crazy Comet. It was designed by Oskar van Deventer, and LanLan has been mass-producing it since 2016. At first this was done without the designer's permission, but production was legalized later that same year. The LanLan 12-Axis Rhombic Dodecahedron is a jumbling puzzle. With the right moves it changes shape, and pieces end up in places they could never reach in a regular puzzle.

How this dodecahedron works

Each of the 12 rhombic faces turns around its own axis. The axes are arranged the same way as in the Helicopter Cube, and you can think of the mechanism as a Curvy Copter turned into a dodecahedron in which whole faces rotate. If you scramble using only 180° turns, the puzzle keeps its shape and is fairly approachable. It gets harder with partial face turns. The edges of the turned face then line up with neighbouring faces, which can be turned in that position. The dodecahedron shape breaks apart, pieces leave their standard paths, and solving it mostly takes intuition, because ready-made algorithms don't help much here.

Turning

This is a collector's puzzle, not a speedcube, so don't expect the feel of a flagship 3x3. Users report that it can be tight out of the box, but it breaks in quickly. With so many axes, lockups do happen, especially when a face is not perfectly aligned. A bit of lube and breaking in the mechanism clearly improve the turning. The puzzle has no magnets, so aligning the faces depends entirely on the precision of your moves.

Not to be confused with other LanLan dodecahedrons

LanLan offers several similarly named rhombic dodecahedrons. The LanLan Rhombic Dodecahedron is a modified 4x4 cube and solves almost like a 4x4. The LanLan 12-Axis Dodecahedron Diamond has different cuts and an elongated shape (approx. 98 mm long). The model described here is the 70 mm version, i.e. the Crazy Comet.

Who is it for?

For people who have already tackled unusual puzzles, e.g. the Helicopter Cube or Curvy Copter, and want to take on a jumbling puzzle. For someone who has only just mastered the 3x3, it is usually too big a leap.

Specifications

• Type: rhombic dodecahedron, 12 axes of rotation, jumbling puzzle
• Design: Oskar van Deventer (Crazy Comet)
• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Dimensions: 70 x 70 x 70 mm
• Weight: approx. 134 g
• Magnets: none
• Body colour: black, with stickers