SengSo 3x3 Corner-Turning Megaminx

SengSo 3x3 Corner-Turning Megaminx

It looks like a regular Megaminx, but its faces don't turn. The SengSo 3x3 Corner-Turning Megaminx is a dodecahedron puzzle from ShengShou (SengSo is this manufacturer's brand) in which the corners turn instead of the faces. In practice, it takes the idea behind the Redi Cube and applies it to the Megaminx shape, which is why this puzzle is sometimes called the Rediminx. The puzzle is stickerless with a bright colour scheme.

How it differs from a classic Megaminx

On a standard Megaminx, every move turns a face around its centre. Here, the axis of rotation is a corner, the point where three faces meet. This kind of move shifts pieces in different patterns than a regular face turn, so once scrambled, the puzzle looks completely different and needs a different approach. Algorithms from the classic Megaminx won't work here. General experience with minxes does help, though, and knowing the Redi Cube helps most of all, because the principle is very similar.

Despite its looks, this isn't a puzzle at the very top of the difficulty scale. If you've already solved a Megaminx or a Redi Cube, it will feel more like a fresh challenge you can figure out on your own than an impossible wall.

Mechanism and finish

The puzzle is non-magnetic and has no UV coating. Turning is smooth, and shops that sell it don't report problems with catching or lockups. As with most non-magnetic ShengShou puzzles, the mechanism usually breaks in after some solving. Lube can also improve smoothness. This isn't a WCA event, so the puzzle wasn't designed for timed speedsolving. What matters here is mainly the solving itself.

Who is it for?

For those who have already mastered classic cubes and the Megaminx and are looking for something new, and for twisty puzzle collectors. For a child's first puzzle, it's better to choose a simpler model. This one calls for a bit of experience or patience.

Specifications

• Type: corner-turning Megaminx (corner-turning, Rediminx)
• Manufacturer: ShengShou (SengSo brand)
• Size: 74.5 mm
• Weight: approx. 130 g (puzzle only)
• Magnets: none
• Finish: no UV coating
• Colour scheme: stickerless bright
• WCA event: no