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Full PLL - The 21 Fastest Algorithms
PLL stands for “Permutation of the Last Layer”. Just as the name suggests, after the top layer has been completely oriented, you then use one of 21 possible algorithms to permute the last layer and solve the rest of the cube in one go. This makes PLL a very powerful method enabling time saves of a couple seconds per solve once mastered!
FAQ
When should I learn PLL?
In particular, we recommend that you finish learning full 4 Look Last Layer (meaning both 2 Look OLL and 2 Look PLL) before starting to tackle full PLL. The 2 Look OLL part is needed to orient the top layer so that you’re ready to permute all the pieces and finish your solve. The 2 Look PLL part is useful since you’ll learn at least six out of 21 PLLs already before starting your full PLL journey!
Want to learn all algorithms in optimal order? Check out our Road to WR Guide.
Edges Only PLLs
Ua Perm
Setup: M2' U' M U2' M' U' M2'
While the alg with M-moves is slighty trickier to finger trick at first, it can be slightly faster once you get the hang of it.
M2' (U M U2' M' U) M2'
(U2) (R U R' U R' U') R2 (U' R' U R' U R)
Ub Perm
Setup: M2' U M U2' M' U M2'
The M-move alg is primarily recommended for the same reason as above. For executing the R3 in the alternative algorithm fast, simply continue beyond a classic R2 by doing the final R with your right middle finger.
M2' (U' M U2' M' U') M2'
(U2) (R' U R' U') R3 (U' R' U R U) R2'
Z Perm
Setup: M' U' M2' U' M2' U' M' U2' M2' U
Just as with all the other edges only PLLs (EPLLs), learning how to do M2
M' U' (M2' U' M2' U') M' U2' M2'
(U) (M2' U' M2' U') (M' U2' M2' U2' M')
H Perm
Setup: M2' U' M2' U2' M2' U' M2'
M2' U' (M2' U2' M2') U' M2'
M2' U (M2' U2 M2') U M2'
Adjacent swap PLLs
T
Setup: R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
(R U R' U') R' F R2 (U' R' U') (R U R') F'
Jb
Setup: R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U'
(R U R') F' (R U R' U') R' F R2 U' R'
Ja
Setup: L' U' L F L' U' L U L F' L2 U L U
Once you have finished full PLL, this is definitely one of the PLLs where it can be worthwhile to return later in your career to also learn some of the alternative algs. This is as they start from different angles, which can lead to saved AUFs (and time!) if you know multiple algs for the same case.
(L' U' L) F (L' U' L U) L F' L2' U L
(U) R' U L' U2 R U' R' U2 L R
(U2) x R2' F R F' R U2' Rw' U Rw U2' x'
Aa
Setup: x R2 D2 R U R' D2 R U' R x'
Remember to practise your left handed D2 double flicks for optimal execution of all A perm variants.
x (R' U R') D2 (R U' R') D2 R2 x'
(U) x' R2 D2 (R' U' R) D2 (R' U R') x
Ab
Setup: x R' U R' D2 R U' R' D2 R2 x'
x R2' D2 (R U R') D2 (R U' R) x'
(U) x' (R U' R) D2 (R' U R) D2 R2' x
F
Setup: R' U' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' U R
Notice how this algorithm is a R' U' F' setup to almost an entire T Perm, where only the last F' move of the T Perm is omitted in favor of the U R ending of the F perm.
R' U' F' (R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R') U R
Rb
Setup: R' U2 R U2 R' F R U R' U' R' F' R2 U'
This is another case where the alternative alg is equally fast as the main recommendation, meaning that it can be worthwhile learning both in the future.
(R' U2 R U2' R') F (R U R' U') R' F' R2
(U) R2' F R (U R U' R') F' (R U2' R' U2 R)
Ra
Setup: R U' R' U' R U R D R' U' R D' R' U2 R' U'
Both alternatives are equally fast, choose the first one if you like D-moves or the second one if you like F-moves.
(R U' R' U') (R U R D) (R' U' R D') (R' U2 R')
(R U R') F' (R U2' R' U2) R' F (R U R U2' R')
Gd
Setup: R2 U' R U' R U R' U R2 D' U R U' R' D
(R U R' U') D R2 (U' R U') (R' U R' U) R2 D'
Gc
Setup: R U R' U' D R2 U' R U' R' U R' U R2 D'
The alternative algorithm is only advisable if it would save a U2 AUF before starting the normal variant from its angle.
R2' (U' R U' R) (U R' U) R2 D' (U R U' R') D
(U2) R2' F2 (R U2 R U2') R' F (R U R' U') R' F R2
Ga
Setup: R' U' R U D' R2 U R' U R U' R U' R2 D
R2 (U R' U R') (U' R U') R2 D (U' R' U R) D'
Gb
Setup: R2 U R' U R' U' R U' R2 D U' R' U R D'
(R' U' R U) D' R2 (U R' U) (R U' R U') R2' D
Diagonal swap PLLs
Y
Setup: F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'
This algorithm is especially beneficial to memorize in the form of the short move sequences that constructs it. Notice for example the ending in the form of a sexy and then a sledge.
F (R U' R') U' (R U R') F' (R U R' U') (R' F R F')
V
Setup: R' U R' U' R D' R' D R' U D' R2 U' R2 D R2
The V Perm might be the PLL with the most different viable options. All these three options have their pros and cons - try them out and pick the one that you like best!
(R' U R' U') (R D' R' D) R' U D' (R2 U' R2' D R2)
(R' U R') Dw' R' F' R2 (U' R' U) (R' F R F)
(R' U R U') R' Fw' U' (R U2 R' U' R U' R') Fw R
E
Setup: x' R U' R' D R U R' D' R U R' D R U' R' D' x
Another PLL built up of easily distinguishable triggers. Pick the alternative alg if you heavily dislike rotations.
x' (R U' R' D) (R U R' D') (R U R' D) (R U' R' D') x
(R' U' R' D') (R U' R' D) (R U R' D') (R U R' D) R2
Na
Setup: R U R' U R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U2 R U' R'
Just like most diagonal swap PLLs, since the algs are a bit worse than the other cases on average, there are more viable alternatives to choose from. Here, alternative 1 is for TPS spam, alternative 3 is for those who prefer a short move count and alternative 2 is a hybrid.
R U R' U (R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R') U2 R U' R'
R F (U' R' U R U) F' R2' F' (R U R U' R') F
z (U R' D R2 U' R D') (U R' D R2 U' R D') z'
Nb
Setup: R' U R U' R' F' U' F R U R' F R' F' R U' R
Arguably the worst PLL case you can run into. Alternative 1 is for those who prefer "normal" moves. Alternative 2 is for those who enjoy a fancy alg which some people claim is the fastest once it has been practised enough (notice how it ends in a version of a classic 2 Look OLL case only with all R-moves being Rw-moves instead). Alternative 3 is for those who prefer a short move count.
(R' U R U') R' (F' U' F) R U (R' F R' F') (R U' R)
Rw' D' F (Rw U' Rw') F' D (Rw2 U Rw' U' Rw' F Rw F')
z (D' R U' R2 D R' U) (D' R U' R2 D R' U) z'
Guide Author - Daniel Wallin
Thanks for checking out my guides. My name is Daniel Wallin and I'm a world class speedcuber in almost every single event. Now, I'm looking to share my knowlage with the world. Below are some of my achievements. (2026-07-24) You can check out my full WCA profile here.
✔️ Former Rubik's Cube national record (5.52 seconds)
✔️ 1 World Championship gold
✔️ 4 World Championship medals
✔️ 11 European Championship medals
✔️ 2000+ competition medals, out of which 1000+ have been gold (most in the world!)
✔️ 11 European records
✔️ 102 Swedish records (out of which five are current)