Lanlan Clover Pyraminx Cube

LanLan Clover Pyraminx

LanLan Clover Pyraminx is a pyramid puzzle with a black body, but apart from its shape it has little in common with the classic Pyraminx. The simplest way to describe it is as a cross between the Clover Cube and the Pyraminx. It is a jumbling puzzle, which means it changes shape with every turn. After a few moves the regular pyramid becomes an irregular shape, and solving it means restoring both its shape and its colors. LanLan released this model in 2019.

How this shape-shifting puzzle works

Unlike on a regular Pyraminx, the axes of rotation do not pass through the tips. The axis layout corresponds to a shape called a triakis tetrahedron, and according to available descriptions, each edge of the pyramid has two axes of rotation. The corners technically exist, but they are hidden inside and do not affect the solve. In jumbling puzzles not every move is possible in every position: some turns are blocked until the layers return to the right position. You need to get a feel for this, because classic cubes do not behave this way.

Because of the color scheme, some pieces look identical, which makes solving easier than the scrambled puzzle suggests. Users rate the difficulty as moderate.

Turning and the first few days

Straight out of the box, the Clover Pyraminx can feel stiff or dry. After a few solves the mechanism breaks in and the layers turn noticeably more smoothly. A drop of lube makes it quieter and improves the turning further. Compared with other puzzles of this type, it gets good reviews for corner cutting in the available turning planes.

Clover Pyraminx: LanLan or QiYi?

There is also a QiYi Clover Pyraminx with a very similar name, but it is a different puzzle. The QiYi version is a 3x3 shape mod that is solved with 3x3 algorithms and has one axis on each edge. The LanLan is a true jumbling puzzle with two axes per edge, so it requires a different approach.

Who is it for?

For collectors and for anyone who already knows the regular Pyraminx and is looking for something less obvious. It is a good first step into jumbling puzzles. This is not a model for competitive speedcubing, as it is not a WCA event. For a child who is just starting out, a classic Pyraminx is a better first choice.

Specifications

• Type: shape-shifting jumbling puzzle based on the Pyraminx
• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Size: approx. 90 mm
• Weight: approx. 102 g
• Body color: black
• Adjustment: adjustment screws
• Release year: 2019
• Allowed in WCA competitions: no