MF8 & Greg DeCETH

MF8 & Greg DeCETH

The name DeCETH stands for Deeper Cut Edge Turning Hexahedron. It is an edge-turning cube with cuts that go deeper than in the Helicopter Cube. The design dates back to 2012. It was created by Grégoire Pfennig, hence the "Greg" in the name. For years the puzzle was not mass-produced. Mass production only started with MF8 in 2024. MF8 & Greg DeCETH is a shape-shifting puzzle for collectors and anyone who enjoys figuring out unusual puzzles. It is not a speedcubing puzzle.

How this puzzle works

Just like in the Helicopter Cube, every move is a turn around an axis that passes through an edge of the cube. The deeper cuts create more types of pieces than in the Helicopter, and after a few moves the puzzle loses its cube shape. DeCETH also features jumbling, which means turns by an angle other than 180 degrees. These moves send pieces to positions that regular moves could never reach. After such a move some layers may become blocked, which makes returning to the cube shape much harder.

To solve it you will need commutators and setup moves. You will often have to work out your own sequences for the individual piece types as well. That is why DeCETH is probably not a good choice for your first non-standard puzzle. It is better suited to people who have already solved the Helicopter Cube or similar edge-turning puzzles.

What to watch out for

The mechanism is complex, and according to user reviews it turns rather stiffly. Turn the puzzle calmly and without force. The internal pieces are fragile and may crack if you force a blocked move. Fast, aggressive turning is a bad idea. For this reason DeCETH is not suitable as a toy for children. It is a puzzle for your collection and for calm, slow solving.

Specifications

• Type: shape-shifting puzzle, edge-turning cube with jumbling
• Manufacturer: MF8
• Designer: Grégoire Pfennig (2012)
• Size: approx. 63 mm
• Weight: approx. 158 g
• Body colour: Black