Solving the Megaminx in Under Two Minutes
A new video shows a man solving a 12-sided twisty puzzle called a megaminx in under two minutes. The puzzle is in the shape of a dodecahedron and has 50 movable pieces to rearrange.
Its edge pieces are visually identical, but they are bound in a pairwise parity relationship. The resulting 15 pairs of swapped edges make this puzzle more challenging than the 12-color.
It is a dodecahedron
The Megaminx is a twisty puzzle similar to the classic Rubik’s Cube, but shaped like a dodecahedron with 12 faces. It is often considered to be more difficult than the standard cube, but it can be solved using a few new algorithms. The Megaminx has 50 movable pieces, compared to 20 in the regular cube.
If you’re familiar with the basics of solving the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube, you can learn the algorithms needed to solve the Megaminx in a few hours. The most important step is learning how to build the white star at the bottom layer, and then working on the side edges one by one.
There are several different variations of the Megaminx, including the Holey Megaminx, which has no center pieces (like the Void Cube). It was originally manufactured by LANLAN in 1982 and is still sold today under their brand name. There is also a version with a more cuboid shape, called the Pyraminx Crystal, that has deeper turning planes.
It is a twisty puzzle
The Megaminx is a dodecahedron-shaped twisty puzzle similar to the Rubik’s Cube. It has a total of 50 movable pieces, compared to the 20 in the original Rubik’s Cube. The solution to the Megaminx is almost identical to that of the 33 Rubik’s Cube, and many of the same algorithms can be used on it.
The solution to the Megaminx requires orienting and permuting the last layer’s edge pieces, then reorienting and repermuting the corner and center pieces. The algorithm sets required for this are complex, and there is no shortcut.
Another challenge is that the edge pieces may come in visually identical pairs, but are mathematically bound to each other in a parity relationship. This can result in a behavior inconsistent with the expectations of a solving method, and it is not always possible to resolve these pairwise swaps. These pairwise swaps are known as “corner twists”. These are not a problem on the 6-color Megaminx, but they do occur on the 12-color cube.
It is a 12-color puzzle
The megaminx is a dodecahedron-shaped twisty puzzle that has 12 center pieces, 20 corner pieces and 30 edge pieces. There are two main variations of the puzzle: one uses six colors and the other has a unique color for each face. The 6-color variant is a common choice for people who want to practice solving the cube.
The steps for a beginner are simple: you only need to memorize four or five algorithms that each take three or more moves. These algorithms help you orient and permute the last layer’s edges to build a star, and then solve the white corners.
The other side of the puzzle involves solving the 5 lower edges, similar to building a white cross on the 3×3. Using the same algorithm as in the 3×3, match the target edge with the center piece on the side with the same color. Then execute the appropriate Algorithm to solve it. This is repeated steel until all the sides of the lower layer are solved.
It is a WCA side event
The megaminx is a WCA side event, and top solvers are pushing the limits of this puzzle. It is a fun and unique challenge that requires a good understanding of mechanics and strategy. The megaminx is the only cube with 12 sides and is very different from a regular 3×3. If you want to improve your time at this event, start by practicing and learning corner permutation algorithms. You can also practice last layer cases to get faster.
If you are planning on competing in WCA side events, you should consider getting a magnetic bundle to help you prepare. This bundle includes the YJ YuHu Megaminx V2 M, GAN Skewb M standard, and QiYi Pyraminx. All of these cubes are considered the best for speed cubing and will improve your performance significantly if used properly.