Hard Difficulty

Megaminx The 12-Sided Beast

The Megaminx is a dodecahedron-shaped puzzle with 12 pentagonal faces. Despite looking intimidating, if you can solve a 3×3 Rubik's Cube, you already know most of the techniques needed! The Megaminx uses the same intuitive cross, F2L, and last layer concepts — just with 5 sides per layer instead of 4.

Pieces 62 (12 centers, 20 corners, 30 edges)

Permutations 1.01 × 10⁶⁸

God's Number Unknown

World Record 27.22s (Juan Pablo Huanqui)

Inventor Multiple (Christoph Bandelow et al.)

Year 1982

Interactive 3D Megaminx

Interactive 3D Megaminx Solver — scramble the puzzle and watch the step-by-step solution.

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History & Background

The Megaminx was independently invented by several people around 1982, including Christoph Bandelow, Kersten Meier, and Uwe Mèffert. It was commercially produced by Mèffert's company. The puzzle became a WCA event and is popular for its visual appeal and satisfying solve.

Notation Guide

Megaminx uses a unique notation. R/D moves turn 144° (two clicks of a pentagonal face). ++ = clockwise, -- = counter-clockwise. U/U' turns the top face 72° (one click).

R++ Right face 144° clockwise (2 pentagonal clicks)

R-- Right face 144° counter-clockwise

D++ Down-right face 144° clockwise

D-- Down-right face 144° counter-clockwise

U Upper face 72° clockwise (1 pentagonal click)

U' Upper face 72° counter-clockwise

U2' Upper face 144° counter-clockwise (2 clicks)

F Front face 72° clockwise

Visual Guide & Cheat Sheet

A complete visual guide illustrating the puzzle's structure, standard layer movements, and key solving stages.

Step-by-Step Solving Guide

Step 1: Solve the Star (White Cross)

Just like a 3×3 cross, place the 5 white edge pieces around the white center, matching the adjacent face colors. Each face is a pentagon with 5 edges, so you're building a 5-pointed star instead of a 4-edge cross.


                                                Intuitive — same as 3×3 cross

The "star" shape is the Megaminx equivalent of a cross. Work intuitively — the same logic applies.

Step 2: First Layer Corners

Insert the 5 white corners using the same technique as a 3×3 first layer. Hold white on the bottom and use R U R' type moves to slot each corner.


                                                R U R'


                                                R U2 R' U' R U R'

Corners have 3 stickers each. Make sure all 3 colors match their adjacent faces before inserting.

Step 3: Middle Layers (F2L × 5)

Solve the middle layers one at a time, working upward from the solved white face. Each layer is like a 3×3 F2L insert but with 5 slots instead of 4. This is the longest and most repetitive step.


                                                U R U' R'


                                                U' L' U L

Solve each layer completely before moving to the next. Don't skip layers — it creates unsolvable situations.

Step 4: Last Layer Star (Edge Orientation)

Orient the edges of the last pentagonal face to form a 5-pointed star shape. This is equivalent to 3×3 OLL edge orientation.


                                                F R U R' U' F'

Apply the same algorithm multiple times, rotating the top face between applications, until all 5 edges are oriented.

Step 5: Last Layer Corners (Orient & Permute)

Orient all 5 last layer corners so their top-color stickers face up, then permute them into their correct positions around the pentagon.


                                                R U R' U R U2 R'


                                                R U R' U' R' F R F'

The Sune algorithm works exactly like on a 3×3 — just with a pentagonal face. You may need to apply it more times.

Step 6: Last Layer Edges (Permute)

Finally, cycle the last layer edges into their correct positions. This may require multiple applications of the edge-cycle algorithm since there are 5 edges instead of 4.


                                                R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2

Some cases require cycling edges around the pentagon multiple times. Be patient!

Key Algorithms

Name	Algorithm	Use Case
Sune (OLL)	`R U R' U R U2 R'`	Orient last layer corners
Anti-Sune	`R U2 R' U' R U' R'`	Orient corners (mirror case)
Edge Insert Right	`U R U' R' U' F' U F`	Insert edges during F2L
F Sexy F'	`F R U R' U' F'`	Last layer edge orientation
Edge Cycle	`R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2`	Cycle 3 last layer edges

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing similar colors (like dark blue vs purple, or light green vs lime) — learn your cube's color scheme first.

Trying to solve too many layers at once — stick to one layer at a time for beginners.

Not fully inserting corner pieces — make sure all 3 colors align with their adjacent centers.

Rotating the entire puzzle excessively — keep the white face on bottom and rotate the top layer instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 3×3 algorithms on the Megaminx?

Yes! Most standard 3×3 algorithms (R U R', Sune, T-Perm, etc.) work directly on the Megaminx. The main difference is that pentagonal face rotations are 72° instead of 90°.

How long does it take to solve a Megaminx?

Beginners: 15-30 minutes. Intermediate: 3-5 minutes. Advanced: 1-2 minutes. World class: under 30 seconds.

Is the Megaminx harder than the 4×4?

Different kind of hard. The Megaminx is more intuitive (like a big 3×3), while the 4×4 requires learning parity. Many find the Megaminx easier conceptually but longer to solve due to more layers.

How many algorithms do I need to learn?

Surprisingly few! If you already know basic 3×3 CFOP, you only need to learn the edge cycle algorithm for the last layer. Everything else transfers directly from your 3×3 knowledge.

Pro Tips & Tricks

If you know CFOP for 3×3, you essentially know how to solve a Megaminx. The same algorithms work!
The Megaminx has no parity issues — it behaves like a "big 3×3" with more faces.
Color recognition is key — with 12 colors, learn to quickly identify where each piece belongs.
Practice the middle layers patiently. The F2L stage accounts for the majority of solve time.
The DaYan Megaminx V2 M and GAN Megaminx M are top choices for speedcubers.
Use a color scheme chart for your first few solves until you memorize the 12-color arrangement.

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