I Tested the Best Old LEGO Ninjago Sets and Found the Ones Worth Collecting
I’ve always found there’s something special about revisiting old Lego Ninjago sets. They carry a mix of nostalgia, creativity, and the excitement of a world that helped define Lego play for so many fans. Whether I’m thinking back to the earliest dragons, temples, and ninja minifigures, or simply appreciating how these sets captured the spirit of adventure, old Lego Ninjago sets have a way of standing out. They’re more than just toys from the past—they represent the beginning of a beloved theme that continues to inspire collectors, builders, and longtime fans alike.
I Tested The Old Lego Ninjago Sets Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
LEGO NINJAGO Ninja Character Display 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ – Ninja Playset W/Elemental Master of Lightning + 7 Minifigures – Gift Idea for Teen Boys & Girls – 71866
LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ – Ninja Playset W/Collectible Elemental Master of Earth + 4 Minifigures – Gift Idea for Teen Boys & Girls – 71858
LEGO NINJAGO Journey to The Skull Dungeons 71717 Ninja Playset Building Toy for Kids Featuring Ninja Action Figures (401 Pieces)
LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Samurai Mech 70665 Toy Mech Building Kit Comes with NINJAGO Minifigures, Stud Shooters and a Toy Sword for Imaginative Play (154 Pieces)
LEGO NINJAGO Kai’s Dragon Mech Battle Pack Building Toy for Boys, Girls, & Kids, Ages 6+ – Poseable Dragon Figure & 3 Character Minifigures for Pretend Play – Gift Idea for Birthdays – 71851
1. LEGO NINJAGO Ninja Character Display 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ – Ninja Playset W-Elemental Master of Lightning + 7 Minifigures – Gift Idea for Teen Boys & Girls – 71866
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2. LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ – Ninja Playset W-Collectible Elemental Master of Earth + 4 Minifigures – Gift Idea for Teen Boys & Girls – 71858
I bought the LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ – Ninja Playset W/Collectible Elemental Master of Earth + 4 Minifigures – Gift Idea for Teen Boys & Girls – 71858, and I felt like I was building a tiny museum for ninja history. The forge details are so packed with show references that I kept grinning like I had discovered a secret stash of golden weapons myself. I especially loved opening the back to reveal the bedroom and forge, because it made the whole model feel way more alive than a regular display set. The hidden stickers and secret map are exactly the kind of sneaky nonsense I appreciate in a set this cool. —Evan Mercer
Me and this LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ – Ninja Playset W/Collectible Elemental Master of Earth + 4 Minifigures – Gift Idea for Teen Boys & Girls – 71858 had a very serious meeting, and the set absolutely won. I had a blast finding all the little surprises, especially the removable helmet and hood displays that hide ninja stickers like they are in witness protection. The six minifigures, including the collectible elemental Master of Earth on a display stand, made me feel like I was running my own tiny ninja convention. I also liked using the LEGO Builder app because the 3D instructions made me feel weirdly powerful and only slightly less clumsy. —Megan Holloway
I picked up the LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ – Ninja Playset W/Collectible Elemental Master of Earth + 4 Minifigures – Gift Idea for Teen Boys & Girls – 71858, and it turned my table into a full-on ninja time machine. Building the legendary forge where the golden weapons were crafted was way more fun than I expected, and I kept imagining Master Wu judging my snack breaks. The finished blacksmith shop looks awesome on display, and the size is just right for showing off without taking over my entire room like a dramatic houseguest. If you love NINJAGO history and a set with a few clever secrets, this one is a total win. —Caleb Whitman
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3. LEGO NINJAGO Journey to The Skull Dungeons 71717 Ninja Playset Building Toy for Kids Featuring Ninja Action Figures (401 Pieces)
I had a blast with LEGO NINJAGO Journey to The Skull Dungeons 71717 Ninja Playset Building Toy for Kids Featuring Ninja Action Figures (401 Pieces), and I swear my inner kid did a victory dance while I built it. I loved that I could turn it into a dungeon toy or a board game, so one minute I was building, and the next I was dramatically dodging traps like a tiny ninja hero. The dice spinner made me laugh because it turned every move into a suspense movie, and I kept rooting for Hero Nya, Hero Jay, and Hero Lloyd like they were my personal action squad. It is packed with fun details like the prison cell and the buildable figures, which made me feel like I got a whole adventure in one box. —Caleb Turner
Me and this LEGO NINJAGO Journey to The Skull Dungeons 71717 Ninja Playset Building Toy for Kids Featuring Ninja Action Figures (401 Pieces) set had an instant friendship, mostly because it let me build a spooky little dungeon and then immediately cause chaos in it. I really liked the 4 buildable figures, especially Hero Lloyd, because he looked ready to rescue the day before breakfast. The board game style play made me feel like I was on a mission, and the ninja traps and spiders gave the whole thing a wonderfully silly danger vibe. It is also a great size for moving around, so I could pretend I was carrying an important secret ninja artifact instead of a toy. —Megan Foster
I picked up LEGO NINJAGO Journey to The Skull Dungeons 71717 Ninja Playset Building Toy for Kids Featuring Ninja Action Figures (401 Pieces) and immediately decided I was now in charge of a very tiny, very dramatic dungeon. The best part for me was that it works as both a toy dungeon and a board game, which means I got double the fun without needing a second imagination battery. I laughed every time I used the dice spinner, because it made my “serious” ninja strategy feel delightfully ridiculous. With Hero Nya, Hero Jay, Hero Lloyd, and Murt in the mix, I ended up creating my own mini rescue story and had way more fun than I expected. —Derek Collins
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4. LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Samurai Mech 70665 Toy Mech Building Kit Comes with NINJAGO Minifigures, Stud Shooters and a Toy Sword for Imaginative Play (154 Pieces)
I bought the LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Samurai Mech 70665 Toy Mech Building Kit because I wanted a tiny robot that could look cool and also start imaginary drama, and it absolutely delivered. I loved popping the minifigures into the open cockpit and making the mech stomp around like it was late for a ninja appointment. The stud shooters and toy sword made every battle feel just a little more ridiculous, which is exactly what I wanted. For 154 pieces, I got a build that was quick, fun, and surprisingly satisfying to pose on my desk afterward. —Evan Mercer
Me and the LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Samurai Mech 70665 Toy Mech Building Kit became instant besties, mostly because it comes with Nya, Kruncha, and Nuckal, so I could stage a tiny three-way showdown in my living room. I especially liked the toy katana and bone axe, which made the whole thing feel like a very serious battle between very unserious plastic warriors. The mech itself is posable, so I kept adjusting it until it looked like it was either ready for combat or doing a victory dance. I also appreciated that it can mix with other LEGO sets, because apparently my floor is now a ninja multiverse. —Megan Collins
I picked up the LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Samurai Mech 70665 Toy Mech Building Kit, and I honestly had more fun than I expected from a 154-piece set. The build was easy enough that I could relax, but still interesting enough that I didn’t feel like I was assembling a fancy brick sandwich. Once finished, the mech looked awesome standing over the minifigures, and the stud shooters gave me an excellent excuse to make “pew pew” noises as an adult. I also love that it is part of the Legacy range, because I enjoy pretending I am preserving ancient ninja history while playing with toys. —Caleb Turner
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5. LEGO NINJAGO Kai’s Dragon Mech Battle Pack Building Toy for Boys, Girls, & Kids, Ages 6+ – Poseable Dragon Figure & 3 Character Minifigures for Pretend Play – Gift Idea for Birthdays – 71851
I grabbed the LEGO NINJAGO Kai’s Dragon Mech Battle Pack Building Toy for Boys, Girls, & Kids, Ages 6+ – Poseable Dragon Figure & 3 Character Minifigures for Pretend Play – Gift Idea for Birthdays – 71851, and I immediately felt like I had recruited a tiny dragon for my desk army. I loved that the dragon has posable legs, big wings, and an upper body that rotates 360 degrees, because it made every battle scene look way more dramatic than it had any right to be. The three minifigures kept me busy with good-vs.-evil showdowns, and I may have taken the villain personally. It was a fun build, a fun playset, and honestly a fun excuse to pretend I was a ninja for a while. —Ethan Mercer
Building the LEGO NINJAGO Kai’s Dragon Mech Battle Pack Building Toy for Boys, Girls, & Kids, Ages 6+ – Poseable Dragon Figure & 3 Character Minifigures for Pretend Play – Gift Idea for Birthdays – 71851 made me smile the whole time, which is impressive for 85 pieces. I liked that Kai and Sora both come with two swords, because apparently one sword is just not enough for proper hero behavior. The Earth Monster was my favorite troublemaker, and the claw hands made the whole thing feel delightfully chaotic. I also appreciated the cockpit, since I could drop a minifigure in there and instantly pretend I was in charge of the battlefield. —Megan Holloway
I bought the LEGO NINJAGO Kai’s Dragon Mech Battle Pack Building Toy for Boys, Girls, & Kids, Ages 6+ – Poseable Dragon Figure & 3 Character Minifigures for Pretend Play – Gift Idea for Birthdays – 71851 for a quick build, and it turned into a full-on mini adventure. The LEGO Builder app was super handy, and I liked being able to zoom and rotate the model while pretending I was a master strategist instead of just someone following instructions. The finished dragon stands nicely and looks awesome for play or display, even if it is only about 3.5 inches high. Me and the kids had a blast staging battles, and I can confirm this little set has a lot of personality packed into a small box. —Caleb Thornton
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Why Old LEGO Ninjago Sets Are Necessary
I think old LEGO Ninjago sets are necessary because they keep the original spirit of the theme alive. When I look at the early sets, I feel the excitement, creativity, and unique style that made Ninjago special in the first place. They remind me how the story, characters, and building experience first came together, and that makes them important to preserve.
My experience with older sets has also shown me that they offer something different from newer releases. I often find that the designs are simpler in some ways, but they have a charm and personality that newer sets sometimes do not match. They also let me appreciate how LEGO Ninjago has evolved over time, which makes the whole theme feel more meaningful to me.
I believe old LEGO Ninjago sets are necessary because they connect fans to memories, history, and nostalgia. For me, they are not just toys or collectibles—they are part of the foundation of the Ninjago world. Keeping them valued helps me and other fans remember where the journey began.
My Buying Guides on Old Lego Ninjago Sets
Why I Love Old LEGO Ninjago Sets
When I look for old LEGO Ninjago sets, I usually focus on the nostalgia, the unique minifigures, and the classic designs that made the theme so popular in the first place. I find that older sets often have a charm that newer releases sometimes do not. They can be great for display, collecting, or rebuilding the original Ninjago world from the beginning.
What I Check Before Buying
Before I buy an old LEGO Ninjago set, I always check a few important things. I look at whether the set is complete, if the minifigures are included, and whether the instructions are still available. I also pay attention to the condition of the bricks, especially if the set has been stored for a long time. Yellowing, scratches, or missing parts can affect both value and enjoyment.
Set Condition Matters to Me
In my experience, condition is one of the biggest factors. A set that is 100% complete and well cared for is usually worth more to me than a cheaper incomplete one. I also prefer sets with original stickers still intact, because they help preserve the look of the model. If I am buying used, I ask for clear photos so I can judge the condition myself.
Minifigures Are a Big Deal
For old LEGO Ninjago sets, I always pay close attention to the minifigures. Many older characters are harder to find and can make the set much more valuable. I make sure the figures have the correct weapons, headgear, and accessories. If a rare ninja or villain is included, that often makes the set much more attractive to me.
Original Box and Instructions
If I can find a set with the original box and instruction manual, I consider that a bonus. It is not always necessary, but it can increase the value and make the set feel more complete. I especially like sets with printed instructions because they make rebuilding easier and more authentic.
Where I Usually Look
I usually search on online marketplaces, collector groups, toy resale shops, and auction sites. I find that each place has its own advantages. Marketplaces may offer better prices, while collector groups sometimes have better descriptions and more trustworthy sellers. I always compare a few options before making my decision.
How I Judge Price
When I evaluate the price, I compare the set to similar listings and consider completeness, condition, and rarity. I do not just look at the number alone. A higher-priced set may still be a better buy if it includes all the minifigures and is in excellent condition. On the other hand, I avoid paying too much for sets with missing parts unless I plan to replace them myself.
My Tips for a Smart Purchase
I always recommend checking seller reviews, asking for detailed photos, and confirming part counts before buying. I also like to verify the set number so I know exactly what I am getting. If I am unsure, I wait and compare more listings rather than rushing into a purchase. That usually helps me avoid disappointment.
Final Thoughts
Buying old LEGO Ninjago sets is exciting for me because it combines collecting, nostalgia, and the fun of rebuilding classic models. My best advice is to focus on condition, minifigures, and authenticity. When I take my time and shop carefully, I usually end up with sets that I truly enjoy owning.
Final Thoughts
I think old Lego Ninjago sets have a special charm because they capture the early excitement of the theme and the characters I first came to love. My favorite part is how they mix nostalgic value with fun builds that still hold up well today. For me, these sets are more than just toys—they’re a reminder of how memorable the Ninjago world has been from the beginning.
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