Shengshou Dino Cube

ShengShou Dino Cube

The ShengShou Dino Cube is a cube-shaped puzzle, but it turns differently from a 3x3 cube. It has 8 axes of rotation that pass through the corners, so you turn a corner instead of a whole face. The mechanism belongs to the same family as the Skewb. The Dino Cube is made up of 12 edges only: there are no centers or corners, and every turn moves three edges at once. The rules are easy to understand, and solving it is a good first step beyond the 3x3.

How the ShengShou Dino Cube turns

The cube comes factory-lubed and turns without resistance right out of the box. According to users, once the tension is evened out it feels smooth and is even a little forgiving with corner cutting: a slightly misaligned corner doesn't always block the next move. Reverse corner cutting is practically non-existent because the cut angles are too sharp.

You should also know its limitations. Lockups are natural on the Dino Cube because of the way the layers intersect, and they will happen during fast solving. Some people also report catching. The tension of individual axes can be uneven straight out of the box. On a corner-turning puzzle this matters more than usual: a looser axis can turn slightly when you turn a neighboring one. That's why it's worth evening out the setup before longer solving sessions.

Color versions

• Black: black plastic with stickers.
• Stickerless Bright: pieces made of colored plastic, stickerless, so there is nothing to replace and nothing to wear off.

The mechanism works the same in both versions, so the choice mainly comes down to which look and surface you prefer.

Who is it for?

For people who can solve a 3x3 and want to try something different. The Dino Cube is not a WCA event, so people buy it mainly for fun, for their collection or as a light change from everyday solving. It's also an inexpensive way to find out whether you enjoy corner-turning puzzles before you take on the Skewb or harder modifications. The cube has no magnets and is a simple design. If you're after the fastest possible times, expect lockups, which can't be completely eliminated in this type of puzzle.

Specifications

• Type: Dino Cube, corner-turning puzzle (8 axes)
• Manufacturer: ShengShou
• Construction: 12 edges, no centers or corners
• Magnets: none
• Lubrication: factory-lubed
• Weight: approx. 97 g (cube only)
• Variants: Black (with stickers), Stickerless Bright