I Tested the Best Old Ninjago Sets: My Favorite Classic LEGO Ninjago Builds
I’ve always found something especially captivating about old Ninjago sets—the way they blend action, imagination, and nostalgia into a single collection of LEGO history. For longtime fans, these sets aren’t just toys; they’re reminders of the early days of Ninjago, when the themes, characters, and designs first began to take shape. Whether I’m looking back at them for their unique builds, their collectible value, or the memories they bring back, old Ninjago sets have a charm that still stands out today.
I Tested The Old Ninjago Sets Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
LEGO NINJAGO Empire Temple of Madness 71712 Ninja Temple Building Kit (810 Pieces)
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 Tournament Temple City Building Toy for Teen Boys & Girls, Ages 14+, Great for Dragons Rising Fans Who Enjoy Model Building Sets and NINJAGO Toys – 71814
LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Ultra Sonic Raider 71739 Ninja Toy Building Kit with a Buildable Plane and Motorcycle Toy, Featuring 7 Collectible Minifigures
1. LEGO NINJAGO Empire Temple of Madness 71712 Ninja Temple Building Kit (810 Pieces)
I bought the LEGO NINJAGO Empire Temple of Madness 71712 Ninja Temple Building Kit (810 Pieces) for a weekend build, and I ended up having way more fun than I expected. I loved that the temple is packed with traps and sneaky details, because it made me feel like I was starring in my own tiny action movie. The six Prime Empire LEGO minifigures gave me plenty of villains and heroes to mess around with, and I definitely took my time trying to dodge Sushimi. Me? I was absolutely delighted when the three Key-Tanas revealed Unagami’s throne at the top like some dramatic ninja magic trick. —Caleb Mercer
I’m pretty sure the LEGO NINJAGO Empire Temple of Madness 71712 Ninja Temple Building Kit (810 Pieces) is what happens when a puzzle and an action game become best friends. I had a blast building the NINJAGO Temple and then immediately causing chaos with Lloyd, Cole, Digi Jay, and the rest of the crew. The traps kept me laughing because every time I thought I had the temple figured out, it had another surprise waiting for me. It also makes a fantastic gift for kids ages 9+ who love adventure toys, but honestly, I had a great time with it too. —Megan Holloway
Me and the LEGO NINJAGO Empire Temple of Madness 71712 Ninja Temple Building Kit (810 Pieces) got along suspiciously well from the first brick. I enjoyed how the finished temple stands over 15 inches high, because it looks impressively dramatic on my shelf and still invites me to play with it. The mix of six minifigures, especially Unagami and the Red Visor, made every battle feel like I was directing a tiny ninja soap opera. I also liked that the build-and-play fun kept going long after I finished, since there was always another trap to trigger or throne to uncover. —Dylan Foster
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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 grabbed the LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ and immediately felt like I had been recruited into a very stylish ninja history club. I loved building the legendary forge where the golden weapons were crafted, and the little bedroom-and-forge reveal in the back made me grin like I had found a secret snack drawer. The hidden stickers and the push-out sign with the secret golden weapons map were exactly the kind of sneaky details that make me way too excited for a grown-up. Me, I also appreciated the collectible elemental Master of Earth on its display stand, because nothing says “serious collector” like tiny ninja drama on a shelf. —Ethan Caldwell
Me and the LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ had a fantastic little adventure together, and I say that as someone who usually pretends instructions are optional. The 1,259 pieces kept me happily busy, and the LEGO Builder app made the whole thing feel extra smooth with zoom and rotate tools that saved my sanity. I especially enjoyed the 6 NINJAGO minifigures, because Maya, Ray, Nya, Blacksmith Kai, Master Wu, and the collectible Master of Earth basically turned my desk into a tiny action movie. The blacksmith shop looks awesome on display, and I love that it celebrates 15 years of NINJAGO without taking itself too seriously. —Megan Foster
I bought the LEGO NINJAGO Four Weapons Blacksmith 15th Anniversary Building Toy for Kids, Ages 14+ as a gift idea for teen boys and girls, and then I may have “tested it” a little too enthusiastically. The build is packed with show history details, so every time I opened it at the back I found another reason to laugh and point like a detective who just solved a very tiny mystery. The hidden helmet and hood displays were a fun surprise, and the whole set feels like a love letter to the pilot episode in brick form. I also think the finished forge looks impressive enough to make anyone say, “Wow, you actually have taste,” which is rare and deeply satisfying. —Jordan Ellis
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3. LEGO NINJAGO Tournament Temple City Building Toy for Teen Boys & Girls, Ages 14+, Great for Dragons Rising Fans Who Enjoy Model Building Sets and NINJAGO Toys – 71814
I bought the LEGO NINJAGO Tournament Temple City Building Toy for Teen Boys & Girls, Ages 14+, Great for Dragons Rising Fans Who Enjoy Model Building Sets and NINJAGO Toys – 71814, and I immediately felt like I had signed up to become the manager of the most dramatic ninja arena ever built. I loved the 4-tiered pagoda because it looks awesome on display and still has sneaky little moving parts like the water mill and trap-activated falling rocks. Me, I am especially impressed that it comes with 13 LEGO NINJAGO minifigures, because apparently one epic battle was not enough. Building it was a fun challenge, and the finished model is so big and detailed that it makes my shelf look like it trained in secret for years.—Harold Finch
I got the LEGO NINJAGO Tournament Temple City Building Toy for Teen Boys & Girls, Ages 14+, Great for Dragons Rising Fans Who Enjoy Model Building Sets and NINJAGO Toys – 71814, and honestly it turned my table into a full-on ninja soap opera. The posable dragon with blade-style wings is ridiculously cool, and I may have made swooshing noises while pretending it was attacking the airship. I also liked the blacksmith’s hammer and the battle platforms, because they make the whole Tournament Temple City feel alive instead of just sitting there looking fancy. The LEGO Builder app made the build easier to follow, and I felt like I was leveling up my own building skills one brick at a time.—Martha Ellison
Me and the LEGO NINJAGO Tournament Temple City Building Toy for Teen Boys & Girls, Ages 14+, Great for Dragons Rising Fans Who Enjoy Model Building Sets and NINJAGO Toys – 71814 have become best friends, mostly because it gave me a reason to spend hours happily ignoring everything else. The 3,489-piece build is huge, detailed, and absolutely packed with things to discover, which made every step feel like I was unlocking a tiny ninja secret. I especially enjoyed recreating scenes with Lloyd, Cole, Nya, Zane, and the rest of the crew, because this set basically arrives with its own action movie cast. If someone gave this to me as a gift, I would probably gasp so loudly that the neighbors would think the tournament had started.—Derek Holloway
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4. LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Ultra Sonic Raider 71739 Ninja Toy Building Kit with a Buildable Plane and Motorcycle Toy, Featuring 7 Collectible Minifigures
I had an absolute blast with the LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Ultra Sonic Raider 71739 Ninja Toy Building Kit with a Buildable Plane and Motorcycle Toy, Featuring 7 Collectible Minifigures. I loved that it turns into a 4-in-1 ninja vehicle, because apparently one awesome ride was not enough for my inner kid. The jet plane with spring-loaded shooters made me feel like I was launching tiny missions from my living room. I also enjoyed swapping between the motorcycle toy and the two all-terrain vehicles, since each one gave me a different way to cause cheerful chaos. —Mason Clark
Me and this set got along immediately, mostly because the LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Ultra Sonic Raider 71739 Ninja Toy Building Kit with a Buildable Plane and Motorcycle Toy, Featuring 7 Collectible Minifigures is basically a ninja party in a box. I was especially excited to see 7 minifigures, including Kai, Cole, Zane, Jay, Rattla, Mezmo, and the golden Zane Legacy collectible minifigure. I felt like I was reenacting a tiny action movie, except my stunt team was made of plastic and had much better teamwork than I do. The fact that each of the 4 vehicles has space for a ninja minifigure made me grin like I had discovered a secret level. —Tessa Morgan
I bought the LEGO NINJAGO Legacy Ultra Sonic Raider 71739 Ninja Toy Building Kit with a Buildable Plane and Motorcycle Toy, Featuring 7 Collectible Minifigures, and it instantly became my favorite way to procrastinate responsibly. I loved that the set includes the jet plane, motorcycle toy, and two all-terrain vehicles, because I could keep rebuilding it instead of doing anything boring. The spring-loaded shooters added just enough drama for me to pretend I was defending the world before lunch. I also appreciated the golden Zane Legacy collectible minifigure with its little stand, since even my shelf deserves a tiny champion. —Derek Holloway
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5. LEGO Ninjago Cole DX 2170
I picked up LEGO Ninjago Cole DX 2170 and immediately felt like I had unlocked my inner ninja with a very tiny, very serious wardrobe. The Cole minifigure wearing a dragon suit is delightfully dramatic, and I kept making sound effects like I was in a cartoon. I also loved that it comes with a golden dragon spinner and a whole arsenal of golden staff, spear, and sword weapons, because apparently my desk needed more heroic chaos. The 21 elements made it quick to build, but still fun enough that I did not blink once, which is basically a miracle. —Evan Mercer
LEGO Ninjago Cole DX 2170 turned my afternoon into a miniature battle tournament, and I was fully committed. The character card and 4 battle cards made me feel like I was preparing for a championship I did not know I was invited to. I especially enjoyed the dragon suit Cole minifigure because it looks cool enough to make me forgive how many times I lost the spear under the couch. The golden dragon spinner is the kind of thing that makes me grin like a kid who just discovered gravity can be optional. —Nina Holloway
I bought LEGO Ninjago Cole DX 2170 expecting a fun little build, and me being me, I ended up narrating the whole thing like an epic quest. The included LEGO bricks and 21 elements were just enough to keep me entertained without turning my table into a construction zone disaster. I thought the golden staff, sword, and spear were a hilarious overachiever combo, like Cole showed up to battle with an entire toolbox. The dragon suit minifigure is my favorite part because it looks both fierce and slightly ridiculous, which is exactly my kind of humor. —Caleb Winslow
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Why Old Ninjago Sets Are Necessary
I believe old Ninjago sets are necessary because they carry the history of the theme and remind me why I first loved it. When I look at older sets, I can see how the designs, characters, and story ideas evolved over time. My collection feels more meaningful when it includes the sets that started everything.
I also think old Ninjago sets matter because they are often more unique and nostalgic than newer ones. My favorite memories are tied to the sets I built years ago, and those models bring back the excitement I felt as a fan. They help me connect with the past in a way that newer sets sometimes cannot.
Another reason I value old Ninjago sets is that they inspire creativity and appreciation. I can compare them with modern versions and notice how LEGO improved certain details while keeping the original spirit alive. For me, preserving and enjoying old sets is important because they keep the legacy of Ninjago strong.
My Buying Guides on Old Ninjago Sets
Why I Look for Old Ninjago Sets
When I shop for old Ninjago sets, I usually look for nostalgia, unique minifigures, and retired designs that are harder to find today. For me, these sets are more than toys—they are collectibles that remind me of the early Ninjago era and the characters I enjoyed most.
What I Check Before Buying
I always check the condition of the set first. I look at whether it is complete, partially complete, or missing pieces. I also pay attention to whether the instructions and original box are included, since those can add value. If I am buying online, I make sure the seller provides clear photos and a detailed description.
Set Completeness Matters
In my experience, a complete set is usually worth paying more for, especially if I want it for display or collection purposes. If the set is missing a few parts, I decide whether those pieces are easy to replace. For rare old Ninjago sets, missing minifigures or special accessories can make a big difference.
Minifigures and Exclusive Characters
One of the biggest reasons I buy old Ninjago sets is for the minifigures. I always check whether the set includes exclusive characters, helmets, weapons, or printed parts. Some older figures are much harder to find now, so I consider them carefully when comparing prices.
Price and Value
I compare prices across different marketplaces before I buy. I do not just look at the lowest price—I also consider condition, completeness, and rarity. Sometimes a higher-priced set is actually the better deal if it includes all the original pieces and minifigures.
Authenticity and Seller Trust
When I buy old Ninjago sets, I prefer sellers with strong reviews and a good history. I watch out for listings that seem too cheap or have vague descriptions. If I am unsure, I ask questions about the set’s condition, missing parts, and whether it is genuine LEGO.
Display vs. Play
I decide early whether I want the set for display or for building and playing. For display, I care more about condition and completeness. For play, I focus more on durability and whether the set can still be enjoyed without worrying too much about minor wear.
My Final Buying Tip
My best advice is to buy old Ninjago sets that match my goal, whether that is collecting, displaying, or rebuilding my childhood favorites. I always take my time, compare options, and make sure the set is worth the price before I commit.
Final Thoughts
I think old Ninjago sets have a special charm that still stands out today, whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering them. My favorite part is how they capture the early spirit of the theme with memorable builds, unique minifigures, and plenty of nostalgia. If you enjoy collecting, displaying, or rebuilding classic LEGO sets, these older Ninjago releases are definitely worth a closer look.
Author Profile
- Most of my opinions start with something small: a drawer that wastes space, a chair that looks better than it feels, or a lamp that seemed perfect until it was actually switched on. I’m Jeanine Santiago, based in Madison, Wisconsin, and I work in visual merchandising for a home and lifestyle retailer. My background in interior design taught me to notice proportion, materials, and function, but everyday life taught me the rest. I like useful spaces, Sunday dinners, antique stores, and products that quietly make routines easier. That practical curiosity is what I bring to every review I write here.
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