CrossPetrus' Progression Thread (ZB): 48/302 ZBLS

[CrossPetrus]

Hey, so today I tried Roux. Why? Because one, I’ve always been super slow with Roux, but I’ve always been indecisive with methods, so I figured it would be a good addition to the other methods that I can be sub-40 with (CFOP, ZZ, APB). Also, Roux would really help my blockbuilding, which sucks. So I decided to practice it a bit. I’ve never really been able to get sub-50 with it, but today it just clicked. I got a pb roux single of 36.47, and an average of 40.07! I’ve started to really like Roux, and I might try to main it, especially since my turning sucks. I can barely get to 2 tps through a whole solve, and if I do that it would probably be a lucky ZZ solve. So movecount matters more. I’m really hoping for a new 3x3 for Christmas, and maybe it will make me value turning more, or just make me like m slices (which are usually horrible on my 3x3). But for now, I’m sticking with Roux.
I promise I won’t change methods next week
-CrossPetrus

 

[CrossPetrus]

So while trying Roux, I once went back and tried CFOP. I got pb ao5, beating my old ZZ one by less than a second. Then I took a break, but for two days I’ve been off from that break. Now, I’m driven to practice more- a lot more. I’ve started doing way more solves than usual to get more experience and comfortability with cfop. Yesterday, I got really close to my pb with a 33 and several 34s (my pb was 32). But then today, after several missed attempts at pb, I got a new pb ao5: 31.57! It was a 45, 25(!), 32, 31, and a 30. I also got a 35 after that, which kept it like that because it was wpa. Hopefully my hard work will continue to pay off, especially if I get a speedcube for christmas.
-CrossPetrus

 

[CrossPetrus]

Okay, so I got a new cube, and with it some new records. My new ao5 record is 25.05(!). But more importantly, I think I’ve once and flow all decided my final method. It won’t be CFOP, as that is too boring. ZB is nice but there’s no way I’m learning ZBLS. ZZ eocross doesn’t feel natural, and the f2l is too reminiscent of CFOP for me to enjoy. Next option, which may be surprising, was Mehta. I really like Mehta, and I think it is viable, but I don’t like it enough to become color neutral and learn 900 algs (I only consider TDR to be viable at top levels). And that leads us to APB. I haven’t really liked APB, though the more I use it, the more I like it. The main grudge I had with it was building a pair and then doing eopair algs, but of course no one really does that anymore. As far as I can see, with all of the, limited, though present, time I have been a (unsuccessful) method developer, APB is merely perfect. So I have decided to start learning LXS and use APB once and for all (hopefully). My new APB single and ao5 records are 23.41 and 29.14, respectively.
Sorry for the long post,
-CrossPetrus

 

[CrossPetrus]

First sub 20 single with APB, pb by 1.36 seconds, for a 19.99 (with gb perm)!
Edit: I got that to a pb2 ao5: 25.90! With a counting 22! APB is on fire today!!

 

[CrossPetrus]

I have switched back to CFOP for now, but my progress is stagnant and boring, so I’ve decided to get away from normal 3x3 for now. I want to focus more on oh this year, but now I am looking to main 3blind. I already know op and am learning m2. I have trouble with tracing and cycle breaks, though. I have not gotten a success yet, though I haven’t practiced much.

 

[CrossPetrus]

So I was doing so reg 3x3 practice this morning, and I was doing surprisingly well. But I wasn’t expecting this. My old pb was 18.50.
Edit: I GOT A 14!!

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

So I was doing so reg 3x3 practice this morning, and I was doing surprisingly well. But I wasn’t expecting this. My old pb was 18.50.
Edit: I GOT A 14!!

woah

i remember you were averaging 30 seconds 5 months ago

 

[CrossPetrus]

woah

i remember you were averaging 30 seconds 5 months ago

I got a Rs3m for Christmas, and that’s mostly brought my times down. My lookahead and efficiency have gotten better, too. But yeah, today I broke all of my pbs and I now average like 25. Goal is sub20 by the end of the semester. Also, I got like 2 free pairs on the 14, that’s how it was so fast.

 

[CrossPetrus]

Yesterday I got a new pb ao5!
(20.81)
(15.17)
20.72
19.18
15.62
=18.51
On January 26, I got an 18.50 pb single, and now a month later I have an average that fast. Wow. And the 15.17 and 15.62 are both pb2 and pb3, respectively. Plus I got a 20.16 ao12 iirc.

 

[CrossPetrus]

I cooked today!
Generated By csTimer on 2026-03-02
avg of 5: 18.19

Time List:
1. 18.96 U2 L B2 U' F2 D2 B D2 F L B2 R F2 L2 B2 U2 D2 L D2 L2 F2
2. 17.03 B2 R2 B L2 D2 B2 F' R2 F2 U2 F' U B' R' U F' R' U'
3. (23.36) R2 B' F2 L2 B2 D L2 F2 U' B2 D' U' B' D' U2 R' F2 R2 F2 U
4. (16.34) U2 R2 F2 L2 D' F2 L2 U L' B2 U B U2 B2 F' U2
5. 18.59 R D2 B2 R' B R' B D' L2 B2 U2 L2 D F2 D F2 U' L2 F2 R'

I also got a 19.91 pbao12, and a 22.10 ao100!

 

[CrossPetrus]

Spoiler: pbao12

Generated By csTimer on 2026-03-02
avg of 12: 19.53

Time List:
1. (14.48) B2 L' D F L D2 L D F' U F2 B2 U F2 U2 L2 B2 (pb2!!)
2. 21.75 B' D' F' R2 L2 D B U2 R' B R2 F' L2 F' U2 B' R2 D2 B2 U2 B2
3. 18.67 R D' L2 D2 L F2 D2 B2 L2 B2 L' D2 L2 U2 B' D' L D2 U R' F
4. 19.54 B2 D F2 U B2 U L2 B2 U2 R2 L U R F L' F2 R D2 F
5. (27.50) R' D' F R F L' F U L2 U2 R2 F2 R2 B2 U2 F L2 F L2 U2
6. 18.49 R2 B2 L2 D2 R' B2 U2 F2 L F2 U B' D B' L2 U' B' L' U
7. 18.20 R' B' L U' R2 B2 U' B' D2 F' R2 U2 L2 F' R2 L2 F2 R' B'
8. 22.15 L B2 D2 U2 B' R2 B F2 D2 L2 F2 L F D B2 L2 D2 L B' U'
9. 15.34 D' L2 U F2 U B2 L2 F2 D' R2 F' D U' B' F2 L B' U L R
10. 22.37 U L' F' D L B2 R' D U2 L2 U2 F2 R' B2 L' F2 R' F2 R
11. 18.82 F' R F' R2 F' U2 L2 D2 F R2 U2 F2 U2 F D F' R B' L B' R2
12. 19.97 F R B2 F2 U2 L2 R2 D' B2 D' L2 U' F R' U' L2 B2 U R'

That was great, and the 14.48 is my second sub15 solve ever! Also a 21.88 ao100!

 

[CrossPetrus]

So yesterday I got a 21.65 ao100, and today I got a 17.99 ao5. Honestly, I’m disappointed by this average, I know I can do better.
Generated By csTimer on 2026-03-07
avg of 5: 17.99

Time List:
1. (32.98) F R2 F2 L2 D' B2 L2 U' L2 U' B R U B' D2 R' F U2 L2
2. (15.91) L2 R2 F2 U2 B D2 L2 B' R2 F' L U R' B2 U L' R U F2
3. 16.71 U L2 D' B2 U' B2 U2 L2 F2 U2 L2 U' B D2 R U' F U' B L' D2
4. 19.20 B2 D2 U2 F U2 B U2 F2 R2 F' R2 D B' F' L2 U' L B U B
5. 18.06 U' F' R2 U B2 U2 B2 L2 B2 F2 D L2 F2 U B' D2 R' D2 U R2 B

 

[CrossPetrus]

PB single!!!
Generated By csTimer on 2026-03-08
single: 13.42

Time List:
1. 13.42 F D2 U2 F2 D2 B D2 R2 B' R2 U2 B D' B2 F' R' B R2 D' F2

Recon:
49 stm/ 13.42 = 3.65 stps (prob pb)
x2 y //inspection
F’ U R’ U2 R’ L’ U2 L’ // cross
U L’ U2 L U L’ U’ L // rb pair
U’ R U R’ U’ F R’ F R // rg pair
U’ R’ U2 R U’ R’ U R // og pair
U2 L U’ L’ // bo pair
R U R’ U’ R’ F R2 U R’ U’ F’ U’ // oll + pll skip
Really inefficient, but somehow I got 3.65 tps, which is really fast for me.

 

[CrossPetrus]

Pb ao5!
Generated By csTimer on 2026-03-08
avg of 5: 17.26

Time List:
1. 15.60 F2 L2 D' B2 U2 B2 R2 D L2 F2 R2 L B' D2 L' B2 R D R F L
2. (22.61) U2 F2 R2 B' U2 B D2 F2 R2 U2 F' R D F R' D2 R B2 F' D2
3. 16.37 D2 R2 U2 L' B' U' B' D2 L2 U' F2 U R2 L2 U B2 U B'
4. 19.81 D2 R' F U2 L2 B D2 F' D2 F D2 B2 R2 B U B2 R' B' L2 D' R'
5. (14.89) D U2 L' U2 L U2 F2 L2 D2 R F2 L' B D B' F R2 F' L F'
Why are my pb averages not even pure sub pbao100?

Also got a 19.25 ao12 and brought my pbao100 down to 21.44!

 

[CrossPetrus]

Just for fun I did some Roux solves, especially because I haven’t touched it since I got my Rs3m. I went from not even having a sub40 average to a 28.11 ao5. I also got a 25.09 pb single (only 5th fastest method single, behind CFOP, APB, ZZ, and Mehta). I’ve considered Roux as a main (more recently it was 42) because I physically can’t turn fast, so the lower movecount would let me get to my sub10 goal easier. So I might start practicing it a bit (and maybe start experimenting with other methods again), but CFOP will stay as my main right now.

Edit: I have a 19.99 single now, which ties APB.

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

Just for fun I did some Roux solves, especially because I haven’t touched it since I got my Rs3m. I went from not even having a sub40 average to a 28.11 ao5. I also got a 25.09 pb single (only 5th fastest method single, behind CFOP, APB, ZZ, and Mehta). I’ve considered Roux as a main (more recently it was 42) because I physically can’t turn fast, so the lower movecount would let me get to my sub10 goal easier. So I might start practicing it a bit (and maybe start experimenting with other methods again), but CFOP will stay as my main right now.

Edit: I have a 19.99 single now, which ties APB.

never ask what this man’s main method is (he’ll give you all 43 quintillion possibilities)

 

[CrossPetrus]

never ask what this man’s main method is (he’ll give you all 43 quintillion possibilities)

I am now embarking on a perilous journey. I will make 3x3 methods that start with each letter of the alphabet, and then drill them until I get a sub25 ao100 on them. It will be hard, with all of the algs and different techniques I will have to be proficient at. But I will now start my journey to becoming the first ever truly method neutral solver who uses 43 quintillion methods (I think I might get up to maining ~50 methods one day). It will also make me a much better method developer, hopefully. This is not advisable and is being done by a professional method switcher. Do not attempt. For the letter a, I am using a method I made a while ago called aurora, but it is a second version that is better.

So far these are my pbs:
30.98 single
39.11 ao5
43.98 ao12

 

[CrossPetrus]

PB update:
28.16 single
32.27 ao5
34.72 ao12
Also, every time I switch what method I main, I will make a logo for it and make that my profile picture. I will also post a guide on Aurora v2 later.

 

[CrossPetrus]

Generated By csTimer on 2026-03-26
avg of 5: 16.45

Time List:
1. 16.26 L B U' B D B2 L' U2 B2 D2 R2 F' D2 F R2 F R2 B U2
2. 17.33 U2 L B' D2 B L2 D2 F' L2 B2 F' R2 F2 L' B2 D' B' U' L U2
3. (15.76) R' U2 L F2 U2 R F2 D2 L B2 R F D' L2 R2 U' L F' L2 U2
4. (20.63) R D2 L' B2 U2 R2 F2 R' D2 B2 U2 L2 B R2 D F R2 D' L U2 R
5. 15.76 F2 L2 F' R2 F L2 D2 U2 F' L2 U2 F R B2 D2 U' F L2 R U2 B2

Spoiler: pbao12

Generated By csTimer on 2026-03-26
avg of 12: 18.77

Time List:
1. 17.31 D2 R2 D2 L' F2 D2 R2 U2 R B2 R' B R2 D L2 D2 L2 B'
2. 19.49 B' D B2 D' F2 U' L2 B2 D' B2 D2 B2 R F L B L D L2 D' R
3. 20.41 L R2 D2 F U2 F2 U2 R2 U2 F' L2 B2 D' L2 B2 U' L' D' B D2
4. 24.68 F2 L2 R2 D2 L2 F' U2 B' R2 D2 U2 B D F L' F R B' R2 D R
5. 17.56 U2 L F U2 R2 B2 D' U2 L2 B' L2 U2 F' R2 F U2 L2 D2 R2
6. 18.26 D B' R2 U' F2 U' R2 F2 U2 R2 B2 R2 F L2 B D R' F' L' F'
7. (26.26) U2 R2 B2 D2 R F2 U2 B' D R' F L2 D' R2 U L
8. 16.26 L B U' B D B2 L' U2 B2 D2 R2 F' D2 F R2 F R2 B U2
9. 17.33 U2 L B' D2 B L2 D2 F' L2 B2 F' R2 F2 L' B2 D' B' U' L U2
10. (15.76) R' U2 L F2 U2 R F2 D2 L B2 R F D' L2 R2 U' L F' L2 U2
11. 20.63 R D2 L' B2 U2 R2 F2 R' D2 B2 U2 L2 B R2 D F R2 D' L U2 R
12. 15.76 F2 L2 F' R2 F L2 D2 U2 F' L2 U2 F R B2 D2 U' F L2 R U2 B2

(done with cfop not aurora II)

 

[CrossPetrus]

So I’ve decided that I will still be doing the letter method thing, but I will use already existing methods. For a, I might switch to doing APB, but you guys can comment what methods you want me to do. I will be forming a list, and this is what I have in mind so far. (?) means it’s a possibility but still needs suggestions:
A-ABP or Aurora II
B-
C- CFBL
D-
E- ECP
F- Fireman
G-
H- Hexagonal Francisco
I-
J-
K-
L- LEOR
M- Mehta
N- Nautilus
O-
P- PDQF
Q-
R- Roux
S- SSC or Squall
T- TN
U-
V-
W- Waterman (?)
X- XO (?)
Y-
Z- ZZ