Shengshou Mirror Tower

ShengShou Mirror Tower

ShengShou Mirror Tower is a pyramid puzzle from the Mirror family. Its mechanism is similar to a pyraminx, but all the faces are the same silver colour and the pieces come in different sizes. Instead of matching colours, you match shapes. Once scrambled, it no longer looks like a tetrahedron. When solved, it returns to its tower shape: a regular, pointed pyramid.

How do you solve it?

If you know the pyraminx, you will quickly get the hang of how it turns. Shops abroad describe this model as a mirror version of Jing's Pyraminx with uneven layers. On top of a regular pyraminx solve, you also need to orient the centers, similar to the Pyraminx Duo. You have to recognise everything by shape, because colours won't help you. Even if you know the algorithms, it's easy to mix up pieces of similar size. That's why recognition, not the moves themselves, takes the most time.

User reviews often mention that the puzzle can feel stiff and tight out of the box. After lubing it and slightly loosening the tension screws, it turns noticeably better. This is a puzzle for fun and brain-teasing, not for speedsolving. It has no magnets and is not allowed in official competitions.

Who is it for?

Mirror Tower is a great choice if you can already solve a pyraminx and want to try something different from yet another speed cube. Collectors of shape mods and Mirror puzzles will like it too. It looks great on a shelf, because the silver surface strongly reflects light. For a child who is just starting out, it's better to get a classic pyraminx first. Here you have to handle both the mechanism and shape recognition at the same time, which can be discouraging for a beginner.

Specifications

• Type: Mirror pyramid (shape mod), solved by shape
• Manufacturer: ShengShou
• Colour: Silver
• Size: approx. 83.5 mm
• Weight: approx. 62 g
• Magnets: none
• Adjustment: tension screws
• Official WCA competitions: no
• In the box: puzzle, solving instructions