Potential energy surfaces of superheavy nuclei are investigated within the multidimensionally constrained relativistic mean-field model. The results are analyzed using the Strutinsky shell-correction method, with particular emphasis on ${}^{296}\mathrm{Lv}$ and isotopic chains of $Z=114$ and $Z=120$. The analysis reveals that triaxial degrees of freedom substantially reduce the barrier height along the triaxial fission pathway compared to the axial fission path in ${}^{296}\mathrm{Lv}$. A steplike behavior emerges in proton shell corrections for $Z=114$ isotopes, contrasting with the smoother patterns observed in $Z=120$ isotopes, is attributed to the differences in the ground-state deformations. The observed correlation between fission-barrier maxima and shell-correction minima points to the shell closures at neutron numbers $N=172$ and $N=184$ at $Z=114$ and 120.

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• Nuclear structure & decays
• Rare & new isotopes
• Synthesis of new superheavy elements
• Nuclear density functional theory