Lanlan Andromeda Cube

LanLan Andromeda Cube

The Andromeda Cube was designed by David Pitcher, a well-known creator of jumbling puzzles. LanLan brought it into mass production in 2021. The LanLan Andromeda Cube looks like an ordinary cube, but inside it works completely differently from a 3x3 cube. It has 24 axes of rotation, and every move changes the shape of the puzzle and moves pieces in unexpected ways. We offer the version with a black body.

How this shape-shifting puzzle works

The Andromeda's geometry is based on the pentagonal icositetrahedron, so each axis has a pentagonal shape. According to the designer, an axis can stop in nine positions (eight plus the starting one). In each of them you can make another turn with a neighbouring axis. It is a jumbling-only puzzle. Every move mixes the pieces so that some further turns become blocked (bandaging). Turning one axis can block other axes on the same face, so even scrambling the puzzle takes some practice.

Turning in practice

This is not a speedcube and it has no magnets. Users agree that it is quite stiff out of the box and turns heavily. Lubing it clearly improves its performance. There are also reports of finishing parts coming off during intense turning, so it is better to turn it gently, without force.

Opinions on its difficulty vary. Some people find that, because of the bandaging, the hardest part is getting a good scramble, and solving it afterwards goes fairly smoothly. Others spend the most time on the last few pieces, which have to be swapped by trial and error.

Who is it for?

The Andromeda Cube makes sense for collectors and for people who have already tackled jumbling puzzles, such as the Curvy Copter, and want something more complex. It is not a good choice for a first cube or as a gift for a child who is just starting out. The puzzle is not approved for official WCA competitions.

Specifications

• Type: shape-shifting jumbling puzzle (shape mod)
• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Designer: David Pitcher
• Number of rotation axes: 24
• Size: 58 x 58 x 58 mm
• Weight: approx. 180 g
• Magnets: none
• Adjustment: adjustment screws
• Body colour: black
• Mass-production release year: 2021
• WCA competition legal: no