Face-centered　cubic　(FCC)　metals　were　subjected　to　heavy　rolling　and　two-step　recrystallization　annealing　to　form　sharp　cubic　textures.　The　traditional　theory　states　that　the　formation　of　recrystallized　cubic-oriented　grains　originates　from　rolling　cube　grains.　However,　in　our　study,　the　Ni8W　alloy　underwent　severe　deformation　during　rolling,　forming　a　typical　brass-type　rolling　texture　with　almost　no　cubic-oriented　grains.　The　quasi-3D　electron　backscatter　diffraction　results　indicated　that　the　newly　generated　cubic　grains　were　not　necessarily　adjacent　to　the　rolling　cubic　grains.　Instead　of　growing　from　excited　rolling　cube　grains,　we　found　newly　oriented　recrystallized　cubic　grains　generated　from　twin　growth.　Initially,　most　recrystallized　grains　undergo　grain　boundary　migration　or　merging　during　low-temperature　recrystallization　annealing.　Under　such　conditions,　the　initial　recrystallized　grains　maintained　the　same　orientation　as　the　original　matrix.　However,　it　is　also　possible　that　the　initially　newly　oriented　recrystallized　grains　were　generated　through　twinning.　The　{221}＜122＞　orientation　grains　can　cause　cubic　orientation　by　Σ3　boundaries.　This　twinning　process　reveals　another　pathway　for　generating　initially　recrystallized　cubic　grains　in　highly　deformed　FCC　alloys.　The　recrystallized　cubic-oriented　grains　ultimately　evolved　into　cubic　textures　owing　to　their　growth　advantages,　as　described　by　the　traditional　theory.　This　discovery　solves　the　puzzle　of　the　recrystallization　nucleation　mechanism　for　cubic-oriented　grains.　It　can　help　us　better　understand　the　evolution　of　the　recrystallized　cubic　texture　in　heavily　deformed　FCC　alloys.　©　2023