Review: 71829 Lloyd's Green Forest Dragon
Posted by CapnRex101,
71829 Lloyd's Green Forest Dragon occupies an interesting place in the NINJAGO range, smaller than many dragons developed for this theme in recent years, though still including the features associated with some of Lloyd's earlier dragons.
The colour scheme is a good example, given its similarity to the excellent 71766 Lloyd's Legendary Dragon. In addition, this set introduces a new wing piece and contains an exclusive baby dragon, so there is much to like for the price of £17.99, $19.99 or €19.99.
Summary
71829 Lloyd's Green Forest Dragon, 128 pieces.
£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 | 14.1p/15.6c/15.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Despite some peculiar features, the Green Forest Dragon is generally a good set
- Nicely detailed dragon, for its size
- Attractive colour scheme
- Unique baby dragon
- Lloyd's minifigure is odd
- Limited wing movement
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Strangely, this Lloyd minifigure blends elements from a couple of sources, including Dragons Rising seasons one and two. While the ninja sometimes wear their older garb in the animated series, surely including his new figure would make more sense. Regardless, I like the individual pieces and the combination of bright green and dark green looks superb, with golden accents.
Two variants of Dragonian appear in this year's NINJAGO range and the Dragonian Scout is maybe the less interesting design, lacking the warrior's helmet. However, I love the pearl dark grey armour element and I think it works surprisingly well without the helmet on top, giving the scout a distinct silhouette. The mohawk is obviously an eye-catching feature as well.
The scout wields a double-head axe, while Lloyd includes a standard pearl gold katana, which fits into the scabbard on his back. I wish Lloyd was wearing his new Storm Suit here, but these two minifigures suffice for play.
By far the most appealing figure provided is the Baby Dragon, re-using the mould created for Riyu as an infant. The flame yellowish orange colour stands out, with reddish brown highlights similar to Riyu's dark blue splotches. Moreover, the sculpted details look superb and I hope we continue to receive baby dragons like this in the future, now that Riyu has grown up.
The Completed Model
Four-legged dragons have become increasingly common in NINJAGO sets, so this two-legged Forest Dragon feels like a throwback to the theme's early years, or even dragons predating the range altogether! For that reason, the design is far from innovative, but actually seems unusual, relative to the other dragons produced nowadays.
The dragon measures 24cm in length, with a 35cm wingspan, which is rather substantial given its price. However, the wings are arguably too large in relation to the body and their articulation leaves much to be desired, with no ability to fold up against the body. The neck and tail are fully articulated though, while the legs and feet also include moveable joints.
Unfortunately, the dragon's jaw is fixed in place because the head is a single piece, introduced for Riyu last year. The decoration across the sides is nice though, with crackling energy behind the eyes to match Lloyd's elemental power. There is space for the minifigure to sit on board and grip a pair of golden reins, although the handles on the reins tend to detach from the whips.
Despite their limited articulation, the new wings include some fantastic sculpted details and the connection points for the claws are welcome. I doubt these were created for the Forest Dragon, so I will interested to see where else they appear.
I do wonder why this is named the Forest Dragon, given its only apparent connection to forests is the colour green. A nature-themed dragon could be extremely interesting, but would probably not be associated with Lloyd. I would generally say the same for dark blue, which is not a colour Lloyd uses much, although this is consistent with the aforementioned 71766 Lloyd's Legendary Dragon.
The extra splash of colour looks great and continues along the tail. Small ball joints provide a brilliant range of motion and the trans-bright green 1x1 slopes are effective, again creating an impression of energy passing through the dragon's body. Also, the banner attached to its back looks marvellous and this printed tile is shared with 71826 Dragon Spinjitzu Battle Pack.
Overall
I am quite pleased with 71829 Lloyd's Green Forest Dragon on the whole, although it certainly has some odd features. I am not sure why this is considered a Forest Dragon, nor why it really needed new wings. Similarly, the Lloyd Garmadon minifigure is a strange combination of earlier designs, when including his updated figure would surely be simpler.
However, none of these attributes are necessarily problems and the titular dragon looks lovely overall, as does the exclusive baby dragon. I think the price of £17.99, $19.99 or €19.99 is fair and I would recommend this set, but it is overshadowed by larger NINJAGO sets released this year, admittedly.
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25 comments on this article
I kind of like how this is more of a European-style dragon. You could probably plop this in your Castle world and nobody would bat an eye.
...Although I do feel like this is a bit of a problem for Ninjago in particular. I wish they'd do more Asian-style serpent dragons (I think the closest we've ever got was 70612, which is technically just a dragon mech instead of an actual dragon)
Good price, cheap way to get a baby dragon mold, cool enemy figure, and good-looking small dragon build. Good stuff all around.
Lloyd: Hello?
Garmadon: Who is this?
Lloyd: Lloyd Garmadon, your son.
Garmadon: Hmm... I must have butt-dialed you.
Lloyd: Ugh.
@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I kind of like how this is more of a European-style dragon. You could probably plop this in your Castle world and nobody would bat an eye.
)"
I completely agree, I’m at the point where another large Ninjago dragon isn’t really adding anything to my collection, but this just fits in with so many other scenes, as well as having a useful parts pack feel too.
I like the new armor piece. Can’t wait to see it on P @B.
I got this wyvern set for my Ark survival mocs
Green Forest dragon?
"Lloyd! What are you doing? Hurry and get back here right now, before the dragon blows up with you on it!"
Great review! I assume the forest dragon is just from a clan of dragons that lives in a forest somewhere (perhaps in the Wyldness?), similar to the Mountain Dragons introduced in Dragons Rising season one.
This is quite a beautiful dragon model, especially for its size. Its articulation is very impressive, and its layered colors (Earth Green back, Bright Green sides, and Earth Blue underbelly) are very striking. Moreover, the wyvern-like body plan differentiates it nicely from Riyu, who it shares a head mold with.
It's a shame that the hinges for the wings mean that the wing membrane doesn't really line up neatly with the body, but kind of understandable — as you mention it's doubtful the wing pieces were designed just for this one set, and a Technic hinge that attaches closer to the body (like how the dragon wings in the 2016 LEGO Elves dragons were attached) probably wouldn't have enough friction to support the weight of wings as large as these.
The baby dragon is also giving me some 2016 LEGO Elves flashbacks — it was very fun collecting all the baby dragons that year, and I would not mind at all if Ninjago did something similar! Sadly, its wingspan is probably too large for them to fit inside the 4x4 dragon egg pieces from back then (the bottom of which showed up as recently as last year in a Star Wars set)
The Lloyd minifigure's Dragons Rising season one gi kinda makes sense to me, since a more "low-tech" outfit feels more fitting here than either last year's mech pilot suits or this year's storm suits. A part of me DOES miss the era of every ninja having their own signature weapon — we've seen a lot less of that sort of thing in Dragons Rising, aside from Arin's grappling hook. But in a small set like this, it's possible they'd have stuck with just a katana for Lloyd anyway, particularly since there's nowhere on the saddle to clip a spare weapon while he's holding the reins.
Thanks for the review!
@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I kind of like how this is more of a European-style dragon. You could probably plop this in your Castle world and nobody would bat an eye.
...Although I do feel like this is a bit of a problem for Ninjago in particular. I wish they'd do more Asian-style serpent dragons (I think the closest we've ever got was 70612, which is technically just a dragon mech instead of an actual dragon)"
There have been a number of other Ninjago dragons with a serpent-like body plan, but usually still with wings — presumably to add play value/"swooshability" and communicate to kids that they can fly. That would also explain why the mech dragon from the movie could get away with NOT having wings, since it had jet engines in their place!
@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I kind of like how this is more of a European-style dragon. You could probably plop this in your Castle world and nobody would bat an eye.
...Although I do feel like this is a bit of a problem for Ninjago in particular. I wish they'd do more Asian-style serpent dragons (I think the closest we've ever got was 70612, which is technically just a dragon mech instead of an actual dragon)"
I think 70734 Master Wu Dragon is another good Asian-style dragon, especially its face.
I have a soft spot for European style LEGO dragons, but am not enamoured of this one. The Dragonian minifigure and baby dragon are cool, but the dragon itself needs heavy modding/MOCing. If I get it at all, it’ll mostly be for the head and wing parts. The rest is meh.
@LegoMaster2006 said:
"I got this wyvern set for my Ark survival mocs"
There’s the obligatory wyvern comment.
The banner attached to the dragon gives me nostalgic memories of the first ever Ninjago Pilot Season dragon sets I have.
"[T]he wings are arguably too large in relation to the body..." Better than being too small. Looking at you, 71760.
@ricecake said:
" @WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I kind of like how this is more of a European-style dragon. You could probably plop this in your Castle world and nobody would bat an eye.
...Although I do feel like this is a bit of a problem for Ninjago in particular. I wish they'd do more Asian-style serpent dragons (I think the closest we've ever got was 70612, which is technically just a dragon mech instead of an actual dragon)"
I think 70734 Master Wu Dragon is another good Asian-style dragon, especially its face."
70736 was also a good one
@TheOtherMike said:
""[T]he wings are arguably too large in relation to the body..." Better than being too small. Looking at you, 71760."
oh yea, I could easily accept too big of wings rather than the other way around!!
It makes me think that this dragon is capable of long distance flight or excellent at gliding.
Those wing pieces are looking nice. Similar but bigger than piece 57004 which I got many of with castle set with dragons or in ones like 8821
I like the new dragon face piece, too!!... it just looks really good, though I do wish it had the ability for a mouth piece.
" I am not sure why this is considered a Forest Dragon..."
Correction: Forrest Green Dragon
Like others, I am pleasantly surprised at the value of this set. The figs are wonderful, and the build is simple, but nice- especially those molded wings.
This is one of best dragon we got. I am serious.
We dont need 123124pieces dragons.
The WIngs are actually GOOD, its most of dragons having UNDERSIZED Wingspan.
@lordofdragonss said:
"This is one of best dragon we got. I am serious.
We dont need 123124pieces dragons.
The WIngs are actually GOOD, its most of dragons having UNDERSIZED Wingspan."
Here, here!
The Lord of Dragons knows well of these things!
Love this moc of it to make it more fantasy green dragon
https://www.reddit.com/r/legocastles/comments/1jhm3v8/the_new_dragon_rising_ninjago_sets_are_great_for/lightbox
What's with the How to Train Your Dragon ripoff?
I agree with the sentiment that Ninjago should have 'Asian' dragons.
I know Chinese dragons dont have wings and are more like flying snakes.
For our Japanese and Korean friends here is that the same in your culture?
@BlackFalconBirdman said:
" @lordofdragonss said:
"This is one of best dragon we got. I am serious.
We dont need 123124pieces dragons.
The WIngs are actually GOOD, its most of dragons having UNDERSIZED Wingspan."
Here, here!
The Lord of Dragons knows well of these things!"
They're not the Lord of Dragons. They're the Lord of Dragonss. The extra "s" is important.
@ Alphonse42 said:"Love this moc of it to make it more fantasy green dragon
https://www.reddit.com/r/legocastles/comments/1jhm3v8/the_new_dragon_rising_ninjago_sets_are_great_for/lightbox"
Now *that's* a forest dragon!
The wings remind me of the ones we saw from the Vikings range on the likes of Nighoggr and Fafnir
@Brickalili said:
"The wings remind me of the ones we saw from the Vikings range on the likes of Nighoggr and Fafnir "
yes. the three largest dragons have the same piece (57004) I mentioned above (with 2 instead of the now 3 technic pin holes).
The only other wing was on the Wyvern of 7016, which was foil piece 54255.
I've started replacing the gold parts for the claws with red ones, and removing the seat to have a free dragon (waiting of some parts availability on PaB to finish it), found a way to pose it on the 71819 which looks awesome, baby dragon has it's place on the platform. Also removed all the minifigs except for a custom one standing in the library, and added a Tiger drinking from the pond.