Lee 5x5 Shield Cube

Lee 5x5 Shield Cube

A 5x5 shape mod from Lee in a black colour version. When solved, the Lee 5x5 Shield Cube has a shape close to a cube. Once scrambled, it loses its regular form and the individual pieces no longer line up with each other. This puzzle is for people who already know the regular 5x5 cube and want to solve it in a harder version.

How to solve a 5x5 shape mod

Mechanically, it is still a 5x5, so the same moves and the same method apply. Most often you will use reduction: centers first, then edge pairing, and finally solving it like a 3x3. The difference is that after a scramble the cube changes shape, so it is harder to tell where a given piece is and how it is oriented. You have to track not only the colors but also the geometry of the pieces. Until the cube gets its shape back, it is easy to get lost during the centers and edge pairing stages. You may also run into the parities known from the regular 5x5.

This is a puzzle for relaxed solving, not a cube for speed. With shape mods, what matters is understanding how each piece moves. Speed, TPS and the feel of a speedcubing 5x5 are not the main point here.

Lee puzzles

Lee makes unusual modifications of classic cubes. Their range includes, among others, Mirror, Ghost, Fisher and Axis versions based on the 5x5. The Shield Cube is another puzzle in this series. The black body highlights its unusual form, so it also looks great on a collection shelf.

Who is it for?

For cubers who can solve a 5x5 on their own and want to try something different from yet another speedcube. It is also a good choice for collectors of shape mods and shape-shifting puzzles. For a first cube, including for a child, it is better to choose a regular 3x3 and then a classic 5x5. The Shield Cube is more satisfying once you know the 5x5 method well.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Lee
• Type: 5x5 shape-shifting puzzle (shape mod)
• Color: Black