Review: 71834 Zane's Ultra Combiner Mech
Posted by CapnRex101,
NINJAGO features no shortage of mechs, which can feel repetitive at times. However, there are various interesting examples, including 71765 Ninja Ultra Combo Mech from 2022, given this mech's ability to separate into multiple smaller vehicles.
71834 Zane's Ultra Combiner Mech revisits the concept and arguably refines it, as this version seems more cohesive. I find its chunky proportions appealing and the individual vehicles are neatly designed, although their need to combine has resulted in a few notable compromises.
Summary
71834 Zane's Ultra Combiner Mech, 1,187 pieces.
£89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99 | 7.6p / 8.4c / 8.4c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Zane's Ultra Combiner Mech is outstanding for play, with clever engineering
- Ingenious and easy transformation
- Very stable and fairly poseable
- Stunning colour scheme
- Unique design for Zane
- Riyu and Sora's jet are superb
- Off-roader is quite dull
- Lacks knee articulation, although understandably so
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Zane was revealed to be a Nindroid in season one, but has been represented by a standard minifigure, until now. It seems he will become a larger robot in the next series and I think this figure looks good, especially given his size because Zane is much bigger than the other ninja, although not so enormous that he looks silly when interacting with them.
I like the use of wedge slopes and angled plates and tile to match the icy features on many of Zane's vehicles and the printed head is perfect, with similar proportions to a normal minifigure. However, the use of stickers on the torso and arms is disappointing, as they are susceptible to damage during play. Zane's heart, also seen on a few of his past minifigures, should certainly have been printed.
Even so, I like this new version of Zane very much and the figure is extremely poseable. The bulky feet and ankle joints are easily stable enough for various one-legged stances, while the hinged elbows are essential for Zane to wield his sword in dynamic poses.
The other ninja look a little underwhelming, compared to Zane's beefy form! Nonetheless, it is nice to see Sora finally sporting a head wrap to match her colleagues and I like the pearl gold mask, which complements her mechanical arm. Still, I wish there was greater variety in Sora's appearances, as the torso and legs debuted in 2023.
Cole, meanwhile, is dressed in his armoured Storm Suit. This minifigure is currently exclusive, but will soon appear in 71836 Arc Dragon of Focus too. Personally, these are not my favourite suits for the ninja, although Cole's attire is highly detailed and I like the dark bluish grey straps on the torso, as well as the dual-moulded black and orange head wrap element.
P.I.X.A.L. has only appeared quite rarely in recent years, so her availability here is welcome, wearing new armour. The familiar Samurai X symbol on her chest looks perfect and I like the lavender and purple details alongside the predominant white, which makes a change from her dark blue minifigures produced between 2017 and 2022.
Also, I like the red mechanical features on the back, corresponding with red hands. The silver arms and hair element work perfectly together as well, although part of P.I.X.A.L.'s alternative expression is visible beneath her hair, which is a shame.
The masked face looks excellent though, with the character ready for combat. Sora and Cole both include their standard heads and I would appreciate a fresh design for Sora in particular, given how often this element appears. The minifigures' weapons are splendid though, notably including Cole's pearlescent Prismatic Blade.
The second season of Dragons Rising introduced the Forbidden Five and these imprisoned Elemental Masters are starting to arrive in sets this year. As expected, Nokt looks extremely sinister, dressed in dark colours and with ghoulish faces on his robes. However, the character wears a ragged cloak in the animated series, so it is a shame that is missing.
Like the other members of the Forbidden Five, a highly stylised Ninjargon number five adorns the minifigure's back. Nokt's vibrant facial markings and teeth resemble the Keepers from The Island, but this seems to be a coincidence, or at least is unexplained so far.
Though the Forbidden Five would doubtless be a threat alone, any self-respecting NINJAGO villain needs an army to command. It would seem the Dragonians occupy that role in the new season, hence a Dragonian Warrior and a Dragonian Scout are provided. The warrior's dark red wings and helmet look fantastic and the wings are actually linked to a detachable dragon, mounted on the minifigure's back.
The scout is less eye-catching by comparison, despite their mohawk! The shoulder armour is beautifully detailed and matching armour is printed on the torso and legs. These are definitely good minifigures, although their colours are very similar to the Vermillion from a few years ago, so I think more should have been done to differentiate the animal-based villains.
The Completed Model
Zane's enhanced form makes him look more intimidating, but even that may not be enough for every circumstance. Fortunately, he can transform into an even larger robot once connected to other vehicles, meaning this is not a proper mech, despite the set name. Regardless, the model has superb presence on display, measuring 27cm in height to the top of Riyu's head and much bigger depending on how the dragon's wings are posed.
71765 Ninja Ultra Combo Mech is an ideal point of comparison. The earlier combination mech stands taller than Zane's vehicle, but the new version is considerably bulkier and seems more coherent to me. Part of me likes how various sections of the 2022 mech are easily identifiable, but I much prefer the overall appearance of the new one, thanks in part to its colours.
Also, this model offers far better articulation. Clearly, it comes nowhere near the likes of 71821 Cole's Titan Dragon Mech, but the stability is fantastic and the arms in particular can be posed almost however you choose. As is common among mechs of this size though, the lack of knee joints is quite restrictive, but this instance is understandable, given the transformation.
Like most mechs, this robot is humanoid in design, although how it reaches that shape is quite unusual. The head, for example, is created by Riyu peering over the shoulders, while Zane is folded up and attached on the front of the torso, rather than driving from inside, as normal for LEGO mechs.
The latter feature is among my favourite aspects of the set because Zane really looks like he has become part of a larger vehicle, instead of simply riding on board. The figure folds neatly onto the chest and I love how its arms and legs line up, so the separate limbs are not obvious immediately, especially when viewed from a distance.
In addition, the mech still looks reasonable without Zane in place, thanks to some mechanical detail where the figure is connected. The 2x2 round tile situated here is actually printed, unlike that on Zane himself, which further highlights that admittedly minor issue.
I am impressed with this model's appearance from the back as well. Riyu does not become a bulky backpack, but looks natural clinging to the torso, while his wings remain fully articulated for display. Perhaps the tail could have folded away completely, although that can be arranged as you wish because it is also very poseable.
There are two clips on Riyu's back, used to store minifigure accessories when the dragon is detached from the robot, or to hold Zane's sword in this configuration. Also, two studs on the animal's back provide somewhere for a minifigure to sit, as though riding Riyu.
Quite a few stickers are included and several are applied on the shoulders. The quantity is far from ideal, but these stickers look nice. Similarly, the forearms are constructed with interesting texture and the segmented colours across the arms are highly effective, from dark blue and red to black and finally white and gold.
The only features I find slightly awkward are the golden fins beside the elbows. They look like they should move with the forearms, but are connected with the shoulders instead. Had these been attached further down, they could have resembled Batman's bladed vambraces!
However, the left arm is already equipped with two blades, while the right includes a blaster of some sort. There is space for a minifigure inside the cockpit on the left arm and this strikes me as a suitable location for P.I.X.A.L. to interface directly with Zane's robot, maybe controlling any ranged weapons while Zane focuses on movement and hand-to-hand combat.
While their limited articulation is sometimes frustrating, the legs look excellent. Their standard wide stance works well with the bulky upper body and the white thighs complement the hands, so the colour scheme looks cohesive. Additionally, the angular dark blue canopies on the lower legs are nicely integrated and the articulated feet feel stable, helped by rubber Technic beams on the heels.
The view from behind is not as appealing, but even here, the grey colours are not bad. I would have liked the wheels to swing behind the legs somehow for this mode, though such a feature would doubtless be complicated and this mech splitting into multiple vehicles already requires some complex engineering on the part of the designer.
Speaking of which, the transformation is very easy. Zane and Riyu both detach from the torso and fold quickly into their standing positions, before the upper and lower bodies are separated. The torso and arms become a jet, with the hands forming the cockpit and engine, while the legs snap together and the front wheels move forwards, transforming into an off-road car.
Riyu started as a baby dragon in 2023, before growing to 71810 Young Dragon Riyu last year. The ninja's animal companion has since grown further and now features the wing components often used for full-size dragons. These are arguably a little too big relative to the body, although different parts of animals growing at varying rates is quite realistic.
The head returns from 71810 Young Dragon Riyu, so retains its qualities and drawbacks. The shape and moulded detail are great, as are the printed scales, but the absence of an opening jaw is unfortunate. Also, I wish the scales on the legs had been printed, especially since those curved slopes could now have been used in two sets and potentially more in future.
This version of Riyu is slightly longer than its predecessor too, with a more substantial saddle and ample room for a minifigure. The white and pearl gold colours mirror Sora's attire and her swords can be kept on the aforementioned clips. On the other hand, I think the minifigure looks a bit odd with nothing to hold, nor armrests.
Nonetheless, I am pleased with Riyu's latest design. The earlier model was probably cuter, but the dragon is more articulated than ever and I look forward to seeing how he continues to grow in subsequent sets, hopefully to a size like 71822 Source Dragon of Motion!
According to the set description on LEGO.com, this jet belongs to Sora, hence the whisker-like stickers on the nose. Its colours definitely work with Sora, but would be equally appropriate for P.I.X.A.L. and I appreciate that versatility. Furthermore, the aircraft seems very sleek, while its wingspan of 31cm, to the tips of the pearl gold fins, is impressive.
I like the blades mounted under the cockpit and the angled flag element, decorated with those whiskers, create an attractive shape. The windscreen looks perfect too, matching the angular bodywork and making its first appearance in trans-clear, concurrently with 71830 Kai's Mech Storm Rider.
The cockpit and engine modules are both connected using ball joints, meaning you can rotate the cockpit in relation to the wings. This is a nice feature and I am glad it does not rotate freely, thanks to the friction of the ball joint, as functions like that can be quite irritating for display.
While the front of the aircraft is heavily armoured, the back includes more mechanical detail. I love how 1x2 panel elements are used to form radiators flanking the engine and you can pose the fingers to resemble a manifold underneath. The forearms lack in texture by comparison and could perhaps be improved, though they suit the jet's overall aesthetic.
I have never been hugely enamoured with cars from NINJAGO and P.I.X.A.L.'s off-roader does not change my opinion, unfortunately. The vehicle certainly looks reasonable and has plenty of ground clearance for traversing rough terrain, plus large tyres. There are few functions for such a substantial vehicle though, measuring 21cm in length.
The scarcity of functions is quite noticeable at the front, where pearl gold 1x1 cones serve as simple weapons, but there are no firing missiles, for instance. Headlights are included though and I understand the need for compromise, especially here because this section becomes the mech's hips, hence the focus on strong joints for articulation over smaller details.
P.I.X.A.L.'s version of the Samurai X symbol appears on stickers beside the twin cockpits and their opaque canopies look awkward. These elements suited the robot form, but I would much prefer conventional windscreens on the off-roader. That said, I can imagine P.I.X.A.L. favouring an enclosed cockpit and relying on external cameras.
There is space for a minifigure inside the right-hand cockpit, albeit lying down to fit. The other houses two stud shooters, which can be removed easily to accommodate a second character inside. Personally, I would rather the designer had fully committed to this area being dedicated to weaponry, with something like a pop-up turret underneath the dark blue canopy.
Continuing the trend of this whole vehicle, there is little to see at the back. I like how the feet double as adjustable thrusters and you could even rotate them to resemble a spoiler, but the area underneath is pretty underwhelming.
Overall
The idea of various vehicles combining to build a mech has existed for decades, but is rather ambitious in LEGO form! 71765 Ninja Ultra Combo Mech was a clever exploration of whether this was possible and 71834 Zane's Ultra Combiner Mech undoubtedly takes lessons from the previous mech, improving in basically every way, in my opinion.
The new model is significantly stronger and seems more complete as a robot, with the wheels on its legs the only obvious signal of a transformation. I find the smaller vehicles appealing too, although there are compromises with the off-roader in particular. Nonetheless, this is a splendid set on the whole and the price of £89.99, $99.99 or €99.99 seems fair, given the play value on offer, although there are better mechs for display.
115 likes
29 comments on this article
buying it tonight
Zane looks goofy
I have this and its fantastic- it is satisfactorily chunky on display, and easy to split up/combine for my son when he fancies
Very cool ( no pun intended)
Nice review! The comparisons to 71765 are definitely appreciated. As you mention, the biggest difference is that that model's color scheme helps code the component vehicles to specific ninja, whereas here the colors make the whole thing read as Samurai X tech. That said, the components also share aspects with Sora and Zane's color schemes, making the whole thing work very nicely with all three "pilots".
Including an armored version of Riyu for the wings and head of the combined form really is the cherry on top! While he is the only part of the model to use Sand Blue, the end result still looks very coherent (and avoids any unsettling implication that the vehicles use dragon hide as one of their components).
I don't think this bigger version of Zane will necessarily be his default look in the upcoming season, particularly since he also has a storm suit in some of the other sets. I suspect it'll be either an alternate body he can upload himself into or a transformation of his regular body (perhaps Sora uses her technology elemental power to temporarily graft larger robot body parts onto him).
The storm suits themselves are very interesting to me — with their angular gold armor and glowing details, they kind of remind me of Imperium tech, making me wonder whether the Ninja might turn to that now liberated kingdom for an equipment upgrade to help them against whatever new threat it is they're facing in the upcoming series.
I also wonder whether in the animated series this mech will be a collaborative engineering project between Sora and Pixal? Both characters are very technically inclined, and building a transforming mech together would be an excellent way for the two of them to bond (since in the episodes released so far they haven't yet met each other).
Overall, it's a very nice set design with a lot of play and storytelling potential, as well as an impressive display presence! Very good work by the Ninjago design team yet again.
Seems inspired by Predaking.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/f/ff/G1_Predaking.png/revision/latest?cb=20210428051518
Cool build and Minifigures, but I'd prefer it it stays built as one mech.
@Username28 said:
"Zane looks goofy"
He’s just standing there MENACINGLY!
@Maxbricks14 said:
"Cool build and Minifigures, but I'd prefer it it stays built as one mech."
Good news- no one is forcing you to separate it once you build it ;)
@Terreneflame said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Cool build and Minifigures, but I'd prefer it it stays built as one mech."
Good news- no one is forcing you to separate it once you build it ;)"
I was just sharing my opinion, you don't need to be smart about it.
Such a great looking set. Reminds me of a Transformer like Twinferno or Predaking.
@Maxbricks14 said:
" @Terreneflame said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Cool build and Minifigures, but I'd prefer it it stays built as one mech."
Good news- no one is forcing you to separate it once you build it ;)"
I was just sharing my opinion, you don't need to be smart about it."
I share your opinion in the sense that it looks much better as one mech- however, I think it immensely adds to the play value for KFOLS by having a separatable aspect to it, so I think it's a very good design choice, seeing as if kids want a large mech that doesn't separate, they can get Cole's.
Swooshability rating for the jet?
@Maxbricks14 said:
" @Terreneflame said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Cool build and Minifigures, but I'd prefer it it stays built as one mech."
Good news- no one is forcing you to separate it once you build it ;)"
I was just sharing my opinion, you don't need to be smart about it."
But this is the internet, being smart is the whole point?
@beatnik said:
"Swooshability rating for the jet?"
I will give it a 4/5 on the swooshometer. The model definitely feels sturdy and is easy to grip, but the thruster on the back can wobble a little because it is connected via a single ball joint. It will not fall off accidentally, but still.
Your review seriously might of just made me consider buying this. I was indifferent about it but now I really want it.
Is the mech stand up easily or would it tend to fall over say if someone bumped the table it was standing on?
Nokt not having cape like in show in such big set is really bad sign.
Great review, especially the images of the mech, the separate vehicles and all the poses are spot on!
@MandoEli37 said:
"Is the mech stand up easily or would it tend to fall over say if someone bumped the table it was standing on?"
So far it seems to stands up securely, way better than the old combiner mech. The tires and the rubber pieces at the bottom make it very stable.
This is a pretty wild idea for a set. One could call it... zany.
@powercrusher said:
"Seems inspired by Predaking.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/f/ff/G1_Predaking.png/revision/latest?cb=20210428051518"
For me, this all began with Devastator.
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Devastator_(G1)
Not normally into Ninjago, but the review may have sold me on it. I'm primarily a Lego fan, but there's still a Transformers fan in me, too!
@CapnRex101 said:
" @beatnik said:
"Swooshability rating for the jet?"
I will give it a 4/5 on the swooshometer. The model definitely feels sturdy and is easy to grip, but the thruster on the back can wobble a little because it is connected via a single ball joint. It will not fall off accidentally, but still."
HOORAY!
The first unofficial swooshability rating has now happened. Thanks Capt. I'm as happy as a pig in brown squelchy runny stuff :o)
I didn't want this, and now I do. Huh.
@Terreneflame said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Terreneflame said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Cool build and Minifigures, but I'd prefer it it stays built as one mech."
Good news- no one is forcing you to separate it once you build it ;)"
I was just sharing my opinion, you don't need to be smart about it."
But this is the internet, being smart is the whole point?"
I don't think any of this is truly very smart.
@yellowcastle said:
" @powercrusher said:
"Seems inspired by Predaking.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/f/ff/G1_Predaking.png/revision/latest?cb=20210428051518"
For me, this all began with Devastator.
https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Devastator_(G1)
"
Yes! maybe we get Lego Devastator after Soundwave.
@StyleCounselor said:
" @Terreneflame said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Terreneflame said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Cool build and Minifigures, but I'd prefer it it stays built as one mech."
Good news- no one is forcing you to separate it once you build it ;)"
I was just sharing my opinion, you don't need to be smart about it."
But this is the internet, being smart is the whole point?"
I don't think any of this is truly very smart."
Sorry. I didn't mean to be as harsh as I was.
It's just that you guys set that up so perfectly.
I should have followed my comment with the following onomatopoeia so the comedic implication was clear: 'Ba-dum-bump-ching!'
@StyleCounselor said:
"I should have followed my comment with the following onomatopoeia so the comedic implication was clear: 'Ba-dum-bump-ching!'"
Now that is a word I’ve not heard in a long, long time. Pew pew.
I'm not especially into mechs or Ninja but this set looks really cool and playable. As a kid, I would have been thrilled to get it.