Introduction
If you are new to the world of speedcubing, this blog will help you understand the different types of puzzles recognized by the WCA as official speedsolving events. Along with that, I will give my recommendations on the best cubes you can buy for each event.
There are two types of puzzles in the WCA, the cubic NxN puzzles (2x2-7x7) and the side events. Let’s have a look at them.
NxN Puzzles
3x3:
The iconic Rubik’s Cube. This is the first puzzle you will encounter on your cubing journey. Learning how to solve this cube opens up the door to learning every other puzzle easily because the concepts carry over.
- I would recommend the Drift 3M plus v2, the newest in the Drift line, if you are looking for a smooth and high-performance 3x3 as your first magnetic speedcube.
- And here is a tutorial if you don’t know how to solve it yet!
2x2:
This cube is essentially a 3x3 without the edge and center pieces , and only has corner pieces. It is very easy to understand and solve if you already know 3x3.
4x4:
While the 2x2 is not really a challenge, the 4x4, on the other hand, is quite a big one. Solving this cube will have you exploring and figuring out things on your own, learning how the pieces move and improving your visualization across all puzzles. The Yau method is the most popular speedsolving method used to solve the 4x4.
- I would recommend the YJ MGC or VIN 4x4 to all levels of solvers. You can also check out the MoYu Aosu v7.
Big Cubes (5x5-7x7):
To complete your NxN journey, you can pick up a 5x5, 6x6 and 7x7. These are fairly easy to learn if you know how to solve a 4x4, and you only need to learn a few new algorithms to get going.
Here are my recommendations for these events.
- 5x5: YJ MGC 5x5 , GAN 562, MoYu Aochuang v6
- 6x6: Drift M (Beginners), YJ MGC 6x6, MoYu Aoshi WRM
- 7x7: Drift M (Beginners), YJ MGC 7x7, MoYu Aofu WRM
While there are NxNs bigger than 7x7, they exist purely for recreational and collection purposes as they are not recognized by the WCA as official speedsolving events.
Side events
Pyraminx:
The Pyraminx is the most popular non-cubic puzzle in the WCA. It is shaped like a triangular pyramid and has three types of pieces: centers with one colour on each piece, edges with two and tips with three. It is very easy to learn and fun to solve.
- Some good Pyraminxes for beginners are the Drift M and Twist M, while the best ones on the market are the GAN and MoYu Pyraminxes.
Skewb:
The newest addition to the list of WCA events, this eccentric-looking cube quickly grew in popularity due to its weird yet simple-to-solve nature. You might even find it hard to figure out how it turns, but once you get past that, it becomes fun. All you have to do is learn the sledgehammer and hedge-slammer algorithms, a few finger tricks, and the beginner’s method.
Megaminx:
With 12 faces, 50 pieces and a total of 132 stickers, the Megaminx might look like a big and intimidating puzzle. However, the method to solve it is very similar to and easy to translate from 3x3. You can even challenge yourself to get to the last step, which is the last layer of the puzzle, without using a tutorial.
- I would recommend the Drift M Megaminx for beginners and pros alike, as it performs really well for its price. There are some other good options too like the DaYan Pro M and the GAN Megaminx, but those come at a hefty price.
Rubik’s Clock:
This puzzle is entirely different from all the colourful twisty puzzles we have seen so far. The mechanism relies on gears and pins and the goal is to align each of the 18 individual clocks on this puzzle to the 12 o’clock mark.
While learning how to solve this puzzle with the beginner’s method is extremely easy, the challenge lies in learning the best method - 7simul.
- Look no further than the QiYi Magnetic Clock if you are planning to buy a Clock.
Square-1:
The Square-1 is one of the hardest events to learn. This shape-shifter will have you scratching your head for a good while, but gives you sweet satisfaction when you overcome it. Be ready to challenge yourself to learn a bunch of algorithms along with a complex solving method for this puzzle.
- If you want a new square-1, you cannot go wrong with the YJ MGC.
Conclusion
I hope this blog helped you understand the puzzles you will encounter on your cubing journey. Each one of these puzzles has its own unique challenges that you will enjoy overcoming, be it turning speed, finger tricks, or harder-than-usual solving methods.
That’s all for this blog.
Happy Cubing!
