Rubik's Cube Solver
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Medium Difficulty

Mirror Cube Solve By Shape, Not Color

The Mirror Cube (also called Bump Cube) is a 3×3 Rubik's Cube where all stickers are the same color (usually silver or gold), but each piece is a different size. Instead of solving by color, you solve by shape — restoring the cube from a scrambled, irregular mass back into a perfect rectangular block.

Pieces 26 (same as 3×3: 8 corners, 12 edges, 6 centers)
Permutations 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 (same as 3×3)
God's Number 20 (same as 3×3)
World Record ~15s (unofficial — not a WCA event)
Inventor Hidetoshi Takeji
Year 2006

Interactive 3D Mirror Cube

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

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History & Background

Designed by Japanese puzzle designer Hidetoshi Takeji in 2006. The Mirror Cube was one of the first popular "shape mod" puzzles. It demonstrated that a 3×3 mechanism could create an entirely different solving experience just by changing piece dimensions. It remains one of the most visually striking puzzles in any collection.

Notation Guide

The Mirror Cube uses identical notation to the standard 3×3 Rubik's Cube — R, L, U, D, F, B with prime (') for counter-clockwise and 2 for 180°. The only difference is how you recognize pieces.

R Right layer clockwise (same as 3×3)
R' Right layer counter-clockwise
U Upper layer clockwise
U' Upper layer counter-clockwise
F Front layer clockwise
L' Left layer counter-clockwise
D Down layer clockwise

Visual Guide & Cheat Sheet

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

Mirror Cube Visual Guide Infographic

Step-by-Step Solving Guide

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Step 1: Identify the Cross Pieces

Since all stickers are the same color, you must identify pieces by their SIZE and SHAPE. Find the 4 edge pieces that belong to one face — they'll all be the same thickness. Build a cross by matching these edges to the center piece of that face.

Standard 3×3 cross algorithms
The center piece of each face has a unique height. Use centers as your shape reference — they're your "color" equivalent on this puzzle.
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Step 2: First Layer Corners

Match corners by their unique 3D shape — each corner has 3 different-sized faces making every corner geometrically unique. Insert them using standard 3×3 techniques.

R U R' U' U R U' R'
Each corner has a completely unique shape signature. Once you learn to read shapes quickly, this becomes natural.
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Step 3: Middle Layer Edges

Insert middle layer edges using standard F2L techniques. You're looking for edges that have different thickness proportions than the first layer edges — each middle edge has its own unique dimensions.

U R U' R' U' F' U F U' L' U L U F U' F'
Feel the piece heights with your fingers — developing tactile recognition dramatically speeds up this step.
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Step 4: Last Layer (OLL + PLL)

Orient and permute the last layer using standard 3×3 OLL and PLL algorithms. The challenge here is recognizing OLL and PLL cases by piece shape and height instead of sticker color.

Standard 3×3 OLL/PLL algorithms
OLL recognition is harder on the Mirror Cube because you need to feel which pieces are correctly oriented by their protruding height rather than seeing a color pattern.

Key Algorithms

Name Algorithm Use Case
Cross Insert Same as 3×3 Build the cross by shape matching
F2L Insert R U R' U' Insert corner-edge pairs
Sune R U R' U R U2 R' Orient last layer corners
T-Perm R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F' Permute last layer

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Trying to solve by sticker color — ignore the reflective surface entirely. Shape and size are everything.
Misidentifying edge vs corner pieces in the scrambled state — count the exposed faces (corners have 3, edges have 2).
Putting pieces in the wrong layer — check the thickness of each piece against its neighbors to ensure proper fit.
Giving up when the scrambled shape looks chaotic — trust the process. Every 3×3 algorithm works identically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need different algorithms for the Mirror Cube?
No! Every algorithm from the 3×3 works identically. The Mirror Cube is mechanically identical to a 3×3 — only the recognition system changes from color-based to shape-based.
Is the Mirror Cube harder than a 3×3?
For experienced 3×3 solvers, it's a fun challenge because recognition is completely different. For beginners, it can be harder because you can't easily "see" which pieces go where. Most intermediate solvers adapt within a few solves.
Can I speedcube with a Mirror Cube?
Yes! Some people do speed-solve Mirror Cubes, though it's not a WCA event. Expect times roughly 2-3× slower than your 3×3 times due to harder recognition.
Why does the Mirror Cube look so weird when scrambled?
Each piece has a unique size, so when pieces are in wrong positions, the cube becomes an irregular shape. The more scrambled it is, the more chaotic it looks — but it always returns to a perfect block when solved.

Pro Tips & Tricks

  • The Mirror Cube uses EXACTLY the same algorithms as a 3×3. The only difference is recognition — shape instead of color.
  • Practice solving a regular 3×3 with your eyes closed to develop tactile recognition skills that transfer to the Mirror Cube.
  • The center piece heights tell you which face is which — learn to identify all 6 centers by their unique thickness.
  • A scrambled Mirror Cube looks like modern art — don't be intimidated! It's still just a 3×3 underneath all that geometry.
  • The ShengShou Mirror Cube and QiYi Mirror Cube are affordable and excellent quality for your first shape mod.
  • Try solving it blindfolded after mastering sighted solving — it's a natural progression since you're already solving by feel!

Related Cubes

3×3 Rubik's Cube Same mechanism and algorithms — master this first Void Cube Another 3×3 modification with a twist Square-1 Another puzzle where shape matters

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