What Problem COLL Solves

In standard CFOP, you solve the last layer in two steps:

1. OLL (Orientation of Last Layer): Orient all pieces correctly
2. PLL (Permutation of Last Layer): Swap pieces into correct positions

COLL combines these steps for corners. After solving F2L (First Two Layers), if your last layer corners are already oriented correctly, COLL can solve both corner orientation AND permutation in one algorithm, leaving only edge permutation (EPLL) to finish.

Key Benefit: When COLL is applicable, you skip PLL entirely and only need one of four simple EPLL algorithms to complete the solve.

COLL vs OLL + PLL: Comparison

When Should You Learn COLL?

Prerequisites (MANDATORY):

• You can solve the cube consistently using standard CFOP
• You know all 57 OLL cases and all 21 PLL cases
• Your average solve time is under 30 seconds
• You understand F2L well enough to recognize when corners are already oriented
• You're committed to learning advanced optimization techniques

Honest Assessment: If you're still learning OLL or PLL, COLL will only confuse you. Master the fundamentals first.

Why Most Cubers Don't Need Full COLL

COLL has 42 cases, but you don't need to learn all of them. Here's why:

• Subset Learning: Most cubers learn COLL in subsets (Sune, Antisune, T, U, etc.) based on the OLL case they recognize
• Frequency: Some COLL cases appear much more often than others
• Diminishing Returns: Learning all 42 cases may save 0.5-1 second, but requires months of practice
• Recognition Overhead: Full COLL requires recognizing corner patterns, which can slow down recognition

Recommended Approach: Learn COLL subsets gradually. Start with the most common cases (Sune, Antisune, T, U) and expand as needed.

Learning Strategy: Subset-Based Approach

Instead of memorizing all 42 COLL cases, learn them in logical subsets:

Note: These four subsets cover the most common COLL cases. You can expand to other subsets (L, Pi, H, etc.) as you progress.

Relation to ZBLL

COLL is a stepping stone to ZBLL (Zborowski–Bruchem Last Layer). Here's the progression:

1. Standard CFOP: OLL (57 cases) → PLL (21 cases)
2. COLL: COLL (42 cases) → EPLL (4 cases) - when corners are oriented
3. ZBLL: One algorithm solves entire last layer - when edges are oriented

COLL teaches you to think about solving corners and edges separately, which is essential for understanding ZBLL. However, ZBLL is significantly more complex (~493 cases) and is only recommended for elite speedcubers.

If you're interested in the ultimate last-layer optimization, check out our ZBLL guide after mastering COLL.

Scope Notice

LearnCube focuses on understanding-first learning.

Full algorithm dumps (e.g., all 42 COLL cases) are intentionally avoided to protect learning quality, SEO clarity, and beginner safety. We provide educational content and strategic subsets to help you learn effectively.

Continue Your Learning