XJ Curvy Face-Turning Rhombic Triacontahedron (Plus)

XJ Curvy Face-Turning Rhombic Triacontahedron (Plus)

This puzzle is shaped like a rhombic triacontahedron, a solid with 30 rhombus-shaped faces. Every one of these faces can be turned. The XJ Curvy Face-Turning Rhombic Triacontahedron (Plus) was designed by Kairis Puzzles and is manufactured by the Chinese company XJ (XinJia). It is the first Kairis puzzle to be mass-produced, since designs like this were previously made mostly as one-off 3D prints. It comes with a black body and stickers.

How the puzzle works

The name describes its construction. "Face-turning" means you turn the faces of the solid, and "curvy" refers to the curved cuts that divide each rhombus into several types of pieces. With 30 axes of rotation, the layers intersect in many places, so a single move shifts pieces on several neighbouring faces. You can't simply apply algorithms from a 3x3 cube or a Megaminx here. You have to build your own solution from commutators or follow a step-by-step tutorial.

Plus version vs. standard version

In the standard version, some pieces are permanently joined together (bandaging), which limits the number of possible moves. The Plus is the unbandaged version with deeper cuts. More pieces move independently, so it is harder to solve and takes more time. If this is your first puzzle of this type, the standard version may be a gentler introduction. Choose the Plus version if you already have experience with unusual puzzles and want the full, unrestricted mechanism.

Build quality and turning

The body is made of ABS plastic. Buyers say it turns well for such a complex mechanism, and the stickers hold up fine straight out of the box. However, this is not a puzzle for speedsolving. What matters most here is aligning the layers precisely before the next move, not TPS.

Who is it for?

For collectors and anyone who enjoys rare, unusual puzzles and has already solved a few harder models. Once solved, it also looks great on a collection shelf. For a child's first puzzle, it's better to pick something simpler.

Specifications

• Type: face-turning puzzle shaped like a rhombic triacontahedron (30 faces)
• Design: Kairis Puzzles
• Manufacturer: XJ (XinJia)
• Version: Plus (unbandaged, with deeper cuts)
• Material: ABS
• Body colour: black, with stickers