QiYi QiCheng Skewb

QiYi QiCheng Skewb

QiYi QiCheng Skewb is an affordable skewb for anyone just getting started with this puzzle. It was designed by Kai Zhang and is made by QiYi, the company that also owns the brands and series MoFangGe, The Valk and X-Man Design. The model came out in 2018, and many people still buy it as their first skewb because it is inexpensive and you can train on it properly.

The mechanism is very similar to the first MoFangGe skewb. It has a two-layer design, and all the surfaces that rub against each other during a turn are flat. The difference lies in the stabilizing balls. These balls drop into small dimples and make sure the layer stops in the right place. In the QiCheng, the fixed corners and centers have extra cutouts, so the ball touches the plastic only in the dimples and not throughout the whole turn. As a result, turning is smooth and you don't feel any friction along the way.

In the hand, the QiCheng turns smoothly, with moderate resistance and a very distinct click on every move. The click helps you feel when the layer has stopped, so it is easier to control your turns and you overshoot less often. Out of the box the puzzle is rather stiff but stable. Once broken in and lubed, it usually starts to turn more lightly. Tension is changed with adjustment screws, so you can set it looser or tighter depending on how you turn.

Who is it for? As a first skewb, for learning the beginner method or as an affordable puzzle for practice. It also makes a great gift for a child who can already solve a 3x3 and wants to try something new. Advanced speedcubers chasing times at competitions more often choose pricier magnetic skewbs. Compared with those, the QiCheng has a simpler mechanism and a smaller tension adjustment range.

The puzzle is available in four color versions: Black, White, Stickerless Bright and Jelly color. It is legal for official competitions.

Specifications

Dimensions: 56 x 56 x 56 mm
Weight: approx. 95 g
Adjustment: adjustment screws
Release year: 2018

The set includes:

1. the puzzle
2. solving instructions