Lanlan SunFlower

LanLan SunFlower

LanLan SunFlower is a cube-shaped collector's puzzle. It turns around its edges (edge turning) rather than around its faces like a classic 3x3 cube. In terms of mechanism, it is a clover octahedron transferred onto a cube. The name comes from the pattern on the faces, which resembles a sunflower. This is not a speedcubing cube. SunFlower has no magnets, and it is a puzzle where thinking matters, not TPS.

How this puzzle works

Each move rotates part of the puzzle around an axis passing through an edge. After a few moves, the cube loses its regular shape and turns into a form that has little in common with a cube. That is why it belongs to the shape-shifting puzzle category.

Jumbling is another important feature. With some piece arrangements, you can turn layers by an angle other than the standard one. Pieces then end up in places they could never reach with a regular move. The number of possible states grows dramatically, and solving becomes much harder. If you know the Helicopter Cube or the Curvy Copter with jumbling, you know what to expect.

Who is SunFlower for

This puzzle is for advanced cubers and collectors. Experience with other edge-turning puzzles and the ability to find your own algorithms will come in handy. Without them, solving a scrambled, jumbled cube can take a very long time. If you are looking for your first puzzle after the 3x3 cube, a simpler model such as the Skewb or Pyraminx is a better choice. SunFlower also looks great on a shelf, so it is a nice addition to a collection of LanLan's unusual puzzles.

This puzzle is not approved for official WCA competitions.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: LanLan
• Type: edge-turning, shape-shifting puzzle with jumbling
• Size: approx. 57.5 mm
• Weight: approx. 183 g
• Magnets: none
• Adjustment: adjustment screws
• Body colour: black
• Release year: 2020
• In the box: puzzle