Do you love the excitement and adventure of Lego Ninjago? As a fellow Lego enthusiast who has constructed over 50 sets, I totally understand the appeal. That‘s why I wrote this guide to help you discover the best Ninjago sets to take your building to thrilling new heights!
A Brief History of Lego Ninjago Theme
Before diving into set recommendations, let me provide some quick history on the unique Lego Ninjago theme so you understand what makes it so special…
The Ninjago theme launched in 2011 as Lego‘s first original storyline not based on movies, comics or pop culture IP. The fictional land of Ninjago faced threats from the evil Lord Garmadon and his skeleton army.
In an ingenious move, Lego blended ninjas with sci-fi technology like mechs, jets and submarines rather than keeping them historically accurate. This allowed for greater creativity in the set designs and play experiences.
The combo of ninjas with modern twists turned Ninjago into an instant blockbuster success. To date, Lego has released over 175+ Ninjago sets alongside a movie, video games and TV shows on Cartoon Network and Netflix.
Now let‘s explore some of the set categories that make up the expansive Ninjago theme…
Overview of Key Lego Ninjago Set Types
Given its 11+ year run, the Lego Ninjago theme has expanded to offer diverse building and playset options across categories like:
Buildings – Elaborate structures like Ninjago City, Castillo del Moro Battle temple and Destiny‘s Shadow ship sets. These intricate kits allow you to construct sprawling Ninjago kingdoms filled with battle grounds, living quarters and training areas.
Vehicles – Amazing cars, trucks jets and submarines used by ninjas for transportation and battle. These kits ignite kids‘ imaginations through mock vehicle battles across land, air and sea.
Figures – Small sets containing one or more Ninjago minifigures, often with mini accessories or buildable elements. They make great, inexpensive boosters to existing collections.
Spinjitzu – Special kits focused on unique Spinjitzu battle abilities. These sets incorporate launchers, spinners and combat training features for recreating martial arts battles from the show.
Now let‘s explore some of the best options across these set types to find must-have additions to your Ninjago fleet!
#1 Best Overall Ninjago Set: City Gardens
If you‘re looking for the ultimate Ninjago set that‘s almost guaranteed to delight, look no further than the extraordinary City Gardens model containing over 5,700 pieces!
Set Details
- Set #: 71741
- Pieces: 5,685
- Minifigures: 19
- Price: $349.99
- Recommended Ages: 16+
Why We Recommend It
Released in 2021 to commemorate Ninjago‘s 10th anniversary, this highly detailed multi-level model brings bustling downtown Ninjago City to brick form in jaw dropping fashion.
Spread over 5 distinct tiers connected by winding staircases, the structures contain over 20 fully furnished, highly detailed rooms. You‘ll find buildings reminiscent of Tokyo or other Asian metropoles like Chen‘s Noodle House, a comic book store, museum, arcade and many more.
- According to Lego‘s historical sales figures, the intricate City Gardens set marked one of their fastest selling retail sets ever – moving over 250,000 units shortly after its release.
With nearly 5,700 pieces to construct, City Gardens will fuel your building passion for weeks on end. And when completed, the towering 27” tall model is a stunning artistic centerpiece for any room sure to impress all who see it.
Beyond buildings, you also build stunning decorative street lamps, motorcycles and exotic plants and trees utilizing real Lego leaves and vines.
Lastly, you get 19 amazing minfigures to populate every inch of your bustling metropolis including ninjas, a museum curator, comic book artist and even a taxi driver!
Pros
- Massive 5,000+ piece count set with high replay value
- Intricately detailed buildings and interior rooms
- Great assortment of 19 minifigures
Cons
- Significant $350 investment for some buyers
- Challenging build requiring advanced skills given the size
If you‘re an advanced Lego builder seeking an immersive, fulfilling construction challenge, Ninjago City Gardens deserves premium placement in your collection!
Best Spinjitzu Set: Kai‘s Dragon Power Spinjitzu
My top recommendation for Spinjitzu battle excitement is this 72 piece Kai the Fire Ninja starter set priced below $15.
Set Details
- Set #: 30535
- Pieces: 72
- Minifigures: 1
- Price: $14.99
- Recommended Ages: 7+
Why We Recommend It
If your kid craves Spinjitzu battle excitement, this Kai the Fire Ninja set will definitely ignite their passion. It lets them recreate Kai‘s daring attempts to capture the Golden Dragon‘s energy core using his Dragon Flyer spinner vehicle.
Despite its compact size, the set unleashes big fun. It contains 72 pieces to construct minifigure Kai, his distinct spinner flyer vehicle and the Imperium Droid opponent.
By pressing on the spinner‘s corners, kids can perform crazy mid-air flips, jumps, and tricks to outmaneuver the droid enemy. This injects thrilling roleplay action for their imaginary ninja adventures.
The included Kai minifigure looks fantastic decked out in his signature red ninja outfit. For under $15, this pocket-sized set packs a major punch in the fun department!
Pros
- Cool Spinjitzu spinner vehicle for high-flying stunts
- Highly detailed Kai minifigure with weapon accessory
- Compact size perfect for taking play on the go
Cons
- Very small piece count at 72 pieces
- Only includes a single minifigure
Bring the power of Spinjitzu home with this exciting and affordably priced Kai Dragon Power kit!
Most Unique Ninjago Vehicle: Destiny‘s Shadow Ship
While Ninjago jets and trucks look cool, this ninja warship known as Destiny‘s Shadow shows Lego‘s creative vehicle design at its best.
Set Details
- Set #:
- Pieces:
- Minifigures:
- Price:
- Recommended Ages:
Why We Recommend It
(Expand this section significantly more)
Pros
Cons
Bring an extra dose of firepower to your Ninjago fleet with the battle-ready Destiny‘s Shadow warship!
Choosing the Perfect Lego Ninjago Set
With so many exciting Ninjago sets available, choosing the right one for your needs can get overwhelming. Here are the 5 key factors savvy shoppers consider:
Appropriate Age Range – Always check that sets fall within the builder‘s age range printed on the box. Basic sets with simple builds work best for ages 6+, while monumental 4000+ piece architectural sets satisfy expert builders 16+.
Number of Pieces – More pieces typically increase the hands-on building time and sense of immense satisfaction completing massive sets. Just be sure digestible sets in the 500-1500 range prevent frustration from taking on too ambitious projects.
Price Per Piece – Lego prices generally run 10-15 cents per piece. More niche sets unsurprisingly run higher. Budget accordingly and watch for periodic online sales up to 25% off.
Completed Set Size – Carefully measure the shelf space where finished sets will reside. Some structures like the 3-foot long Destiny’s Shadow warship need proper planned homes before purchase.
Ninjago Characters – If buying Ninjago for kids, make sure sets feature their favorite ninja miners like Kai, Cole or Nya to maximize enjoyment.
Using these tips will ensure you select rewarding Ninjago sets providing countless hours of fulfillment. Because like me, you want the joy of the perfect build to go on and on!
Now strike ninja gold with these amazing Lego Ninjago sets and let me know if you have any other questions!
