LanLan Clover Octahedron Cube

LanLan Clover Octahedron Cube

Despite its name, the LanLan Clover Octahedron Cube is not a cube. It is an octahedron-shaped puzzle: the Clover Cube transferred onto an eight-sided shape. You turn it around its edges (edge turning), not around the face centers like a regular 3x3 cube. After just a few moves the octahedron loses its regular shape, so it is a typical shape mod. LanLan released it in 2020 in black plastic, without magnets.

Jumbling: why it is so hard

The Clover Octahedron jumbles. Some moves rearrange the pieces so that the puzzle no longer resembles an octahedron, and further layers can only be turned once the cuts line up. As a result, solving it is no longer about memorizing algorithms. You need to understand which moves are possible at any given moment and how to get back to the original shape. This raises the difficulty considerably. The manufacturer does not recommend it for beginners.

How it turns

According to user reviews, the mechanism is a bit stiff but smooth at the same time. This is not a puzzle for fast turning or setting times. What counts here are precise, deliberate moves. Some users point out that, unlike the Sunflower Cube, for example, you do not run into parity here. You can change the turning resistance with the adjustment screws.

Who is it for?

For advanced solvers who already know classic cubes and regular shape mods and are now looking for a puzzle that makes you think about geometry. It is also a good pick for collectors of twisty puzzles and LanLan's Clover series. For a first puzzle, including one for a child, it is better to choose something simpler.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Type: shape-shifting puzzle, octahedron, edge turning, jumbling
• Color: Black
• Weight: approx. 167 g
• Magnets: none
• Adjustment: adjustment screws
• Release year: 2020
• Allowed in official WCA competitions: no
• In the box: puzzle