Lee 2x2 Shield Cube

Lee 2x2 Shield Cube

Lee 2x2 Shield Cube is a 2x2 shape mod from the Lee puzzle series, which many shops list together with the Calvin's Puzzle brand. Inside, it uses a regular 2x2 mechanism, while the extra outer pieces give this puzzle its unusual shape. This model has no magnets. We offer it in the Black version, which means black plastic with stickers.

How to solve it

The cube solves just like a regular 2x2, so the methods you already know will do. The challenge lies elsewhere. After a few moves, the Shield Cube changes shape and stops looking like a cube, so it's easy to lose your orientation. You also need to know the colour scheme, because the shape itself gives you few clues. One foreign shop rates this puzzle at difficulty level 4 on a five-star scale. So at first, the cube can be a confusing challenge even for someone who solves the 2x2 with ease.

Handmade: what you should know

This is a handmade puzzle, not a mass-produced injection-moulded model. Keep this in mind:

• the plastic is rough, and the pieces rub against each other quite loudly,
• the parts are cut by hand, so they don't fit together as evenly as in machine-made cubes,
• the stickers may peel off and sometimes need to be pressed back down.

This is not a speedcubing cube, and there's no point comparing its turning to typical 2x2 speed cubes. If the cube falls apart (popping), you can usually put it back together by hand. However, don't twist the corners to "fix" their orientation. On 2x2 cubes, you can break a piece this way.

Who is it for?

For puzzle collectors and for cubers who can already solve the 2x2 and want to take it on in a different form. The Shield Cube also makes an interesting piece for your shelf. For a child's first cube, it's better to choose a regular magnetic 2x2, as the handmade build and changing shape may discourage someone who is just learning.

Specifications

• Type: 2x2 shape mod, shape-shifting puzzle
• Manufacturer: Lee
• Mechanism: standard 2x2
• Magnets: none
• Build: handmade
• Plastic colour: Black, with stickers